THEME - HEALTH AND WELLBEING FOR EDUCATORS AND STAFF

Accredited Food Safety Supervisor Course

Educator Resources - Hydration

Educator Resources - Physical Activity

Educator Resources - Food and Mental Health

Recipes

Events and Training Opportunities

How to Download your Subscription Certificate

How to Access Previous OSHC E-newsletters

Monthly Update from Nutrition Australia Qld

The fourth and final theme for the subscription year is
Health and Wellbeing for Educators and Staff. 

This very important topic will be explored in depth by the Nutrition in OSHC team over three months, from January to March 2023. Encompassing the National Quality Standard, such as Quality Area 4 focusing on staffing arrangements, this theme will support educator and staff health and wellbeing. 

We hope you enjoy this newsletter and the targeted information for your setting.

Interested in becoming a Food Safety Supervisor? 

As a Registered Training Organisation (RTO), our accredited food safety supervisor courses include industry specific content and are designed with the needs of our students in mind. Our accredited food safety supervisor courses:

• Meet the requirements of nationally recognised training
• Prepares food safety supervisors to supervise and oversee day to day operations and to prevent and recognise food safety hazards
• OSHC courses are specifically designed for those working with vulnerable populations

Upon completion, students achieve a statement of attainment for the following units of competency:

• HLTFSE001: Follow basic food safety practices
• HLTFSE007: Oversee the day to day implementation of food safety in the workplace
• HLTFSE005: Apply and monitor food safety requirements

We provide opportunities for students to complete the course in one day at a face to face training. Click on the above button for more information on the venue, cost and to register.

Focusing on health and wellbeing, this month's eNewsletter aims to provide a variety of hydration, physical activity and mental health strategies to support educators and staff.

Here are our top tips for hydration:

– Get into a routine of having a glass of water when you wake up and before each meal and snack
– Carry a water bottle with you to ensure you're not caught out without a drink
– If plain water isn't your style, try sparkling/soda water, infused water, herbal teas, water with lemon
– Remember to monitor when going to the bathroom - your pee should be clear or straw coloured

Australian Physical Activity Guidelines

Recommendations

Adults should be active most days, preferably every day. Each week, adults should do either:
– 2.5 to 5 hours of moderate intensity physical activity - such as a brisk walk, golf, mowing the lawn or swimming
– 1.25 to 2.5 hours of vigorous intensity physical activity - such as jogging, aerobics, fast cycling, soccer or netball
– An equivalent combination of moderate and vigorous activities

Doing any physical activity is better than doing none. Start by doing some, then slowly build up to recommendations.

Building activity into your day

Physical activity doesn’t have to be structured. Making some small changes to your daily routine can make a big difference. For example, you could:
– Walk or ride your bike for short trips instead of driving
– Drive to a ‘park and ride’ spot, and walk or ride your bike the rest of the way
– Use the stairs instead of the lift or escalator
– Get off the bus one stop earlier and walk the rest of the way
– Park further away from your destination and walk
– Walk to the park to eat lunch

Click here for more information on the Physical activity and exercise guidelines for all Australians.

What we eat often gets overlooked in the role it plays on our mental health. The complex composition of vitamins, minerals and organic compounds contained in certain foods may help to give you a mental boost, hit you with an energy slump or help you to feel calm and relaxed.

The brain releases chemicals called neurotransmitters when we eat. For example, serotonin is a calming and relaxing chemical, whilst dopamine is responsible for alertness, excitement, action and mental clarity. Some nutrients in foods are precursors to the neurotransmitters and decide how much of the neurotransmitter is produced, affecting how we think and feel.

Now to bring the brain and the gut together. This gut brain axis describes a complex interconnected network between the brain and gut via the vagus nerve. You may notice that you feel nauseous or have an upset stomach when you are stressed/anxious - this is the message pathway between your brain and your gut at work. The bacteria living in our digestive system plays a crucial role in our mental and physical health.

So how do we create a healthy gut?

– Eating a high fibre diet - think fruit, vegetables, wholegrains, legumes, nuts and seeds
– Drinking plenty of water
– Eating a diet low in added sugar 
– Focusing on plant-based foods - aim for 30 different plant foods a week
– Choosing lean protein options - think poultry, fish, prawns, eggs, tofu, legumes
– Eating less red meat and processed meat
       – Great for gut health and to reduce risk of heart disease, stroke and bowel cancer
       – The Heart Foundation recommends less than 350g cooked red meat/week
       – Eat less processed meats, including ham, salami, bacon, devon etc.
– Choosing gut friendly foods
       – Probiotic rich and fermented foods - think yoghurt, kefir, kimchi, sauerkraut
       – Prebiotic rich foods (food for the probiotics) - i.e. a high fibre diet

Here are two smoothie recipe ideas that you might like to try at your service, at either breakfast or afternoon tea!

Online Training

We offer a suite of online training programs through our partner In Safe Hands. Click on the following buttons for more information and to register.

Remember to download your certificate of subscription to display on your centre wall by clicking on the button below.

To download your certificate you must be logged in to the subscriber section
of the website.

To login, please click on the green 'Subscribe / Login' button on the top right hand side of our website. Your email to login is the email which this newsletter is sent to. If you do not know your password, click on the 'Forgot Password' link.

Did you know you can access previous OSHC E-newsletters on our website?

To access these E-newsletters you must be logged into the subscriber section
of the website.

Click on the link below and then scroll down to 'E-newsletter'. Enjoy!

Interested in our upcoming events and some more recipe ideas?
Check out our Upcoming Events eNewsletter via the link below and please feel free to forward on to families!

Nutrition Australia acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of the land we work on and pays respect to Elders past, present and emerging.