Assistant Commissioner says food at the academy exceeds nutrition requirements
Concerns about the quality and variety of food at Victoria Police’s academy have been shut down by a top cop who says a leading dietitian works with kitchen staff to provide nutritional meals.
VIC News
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Food at Victoria’s police academy has copped a grilling from trainee officers.
The quantity, quality and variety of food has been branded suspect.
But one senior police officer said food-fussy “millennial recruits” needed to toughen up.
The police union late last year surveyed police and protective services recruits about meals at the Glen Waverley academy, telling members: “Responses have revealed mostly dissatisfaction across cohorts with the breakfast, lunch and dinner provided at the academy.”
“Members are especially concerned about the lack of variety and the lack of healthy, nutritional food available,’’ it said.
Victoria Police was aware of the concerns.
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Assistant Commissioner Kevin Casey said the force since 2015 had engaged a “leading Australian dietitian” who conducted a review into the food available at the academy as well as the nutritional requirements of recruits.
“The review found that Victoria Police provides a substantial variety in meal options available to recruits, while exceeding nutritional requirements and catering for special dietary needs,’’ Mr Casey said
“The in-house catering staff have weekly menu changes to ensure there is variety in what is offered, all while meeting the nutrition requirements of recruits.
“We continue to work closely with the in-house catering staff and with nutritional experts when required to ensure the food available is nutritious, of a high quality and caters to a wide variety of dietary requirements.
“We look forward to seeing the results of the Police Association’s research and will continue to monitor and assess the catering provided at the Victoria Police Academy on an ongoing basis.”
A senior officer told the Herald Sun: “Millennial recruits, whinge about everything. Literally everything.”
“How bad it is should be taken with a grain of salt,’’ they said.
Police Association Victoria secretary Wayne Gatt said questions about food were part of a wider survey about experiences among those living at the academy.
“The survey responses identified several areas for improvement,’’ Mr Gatt said.
“These include, better labelling of food and condiments as well as increasing the variety of food options, particularly for members with specific dietary requirements and food intolerances.
“We have reported the results of our survey together with our recommendations to Victoria Police’s Professional Development Command.”
The union was conducting additional consultation with affected members.