While tuckshops are a place for students to purchase meals, snacks and drinks, the rules around whether children are allowed in the physical tuckshop space are not clear cut.
Schools to choose to implement their own policies and procedures based on their specific needs and requirements.
QAST recommends working with the tuckshop’s governing body (e.g. the P&C/P&F) and/or the school Principal to determine the best course of action for your school.
Key points to keep in mind:
Insurance
Check your current insurance policy to see if there are age restrictions on who is permitted on the premises and who is covered.
Safety
Children are generally not permitted in commercial kitchens because of the risk of injury. Tuckshops are professional spaces that prepare food for sale and are designed for large-scale food preparation. If children are in the tuckshop, ensure they are supervised at all times.
Personal Accident Policy
The Personal Accident Policy covers voluntary workers aged between 10 and 90 while carrying out voluntary work on behalf of the P&C or school.
Under the Personal Accident Policy, ‘voluntary workers’ are defined as being members of the community aged between 10 and 90 years, noting that policy sub-limits and benefits are as defined and on a sliding scale subject to age.
There is no cover for children accompanying voluntary workers unless those children are aged 10 or over and are voluntary workers themselves.
Student volunteers
Some schools allow students to volunteer for a selection of jobs in the tuckshop. However, always check with your insurance provider before implementing this at your school.
Parents/guardians should provide written permission before the student commences volunteering in the tuckshop.
Check out our useful resource for Student Volunteers.
