The ACT Health Directorate has produced a "Food for Sale" guide which would be useful to P&Cs and canteen managers attempting to promote healthy foods in canteens. It includes a two page guide to marketing healthy foods and covers a lot of issues raised at Council's Canteen Working Group Meeting held in June. To get a copy of this guide, email freshtastes@act.gov.au or phone Naomi Lee on 6205 1452.

Next week is National Gonski Week. It is a great opportunity to get involved in the campaign to improve the funding of our schools. Please help raise awareness of the issue by asking your school to add Council's statement to the next school newsletter. 

There are other great ways to show your support on the igiveagonski website, such as holding a Gonski-themed morning tea at school or work to let others know what is at stake.

The week of action comes at a critical time, with the federal government confirming it wants to cut the vital last two years of Gonski funding and end the needs-based funding arrangements for schools.    

The ACT Council of Social Services (ACTCOSS) is running a number of training seminars which may be of interest to P&C members as part of their Emerging Leaders Development Program:

Council is a member of ACTCOSS, so if you wish to participate, contact us to ensure you receive the member's rate ($90, rather than $125).

The Canberra CareersXpo is on next week at Exhibition Park in Mitchell. It is open from 9.30 am to 2.30pm and 4.30pm to 7.00pm on Wednesday July 30 and from 9.30 am to 2.30pm on Thursday July 31.  The event showcases a wide range of career pathways and is a great opportunity for young people to consider their post-school options. 

Last week, new board members were announced for the Australian Curriculum Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA), the body which runs NAPLAN testing. New members include respected academic Professor Brian Caldwell, Michael Hewitson, the foundation principal of Trinity College, Valerie Gould, Executive Director of the WA Association of Independent Schools, Dr Paul Sharkey, Director of SA Catholic Education, Patrea Walton from the Queensland Department of Education and Stephen Gniel from the ACT Directorate.