SCHOOLS’ UBER EATS BAN
Elite schools take action after surge in student lunch deliveries
ELITE Geelong schools have had to ban UberEATS, with cashed-up kids ditching the school canteen and packed lunches in favour of their favourite takeaway.
Geelong College took action after stray UberEATS drivers were found wandering the school’s campus looking for their student customers.
Young pupils are downloading apps from UberEATS and other online delivery providers to their phone, allowing them to order takeaway with the press of a button and have it driven to them on campus.
ELITE Geelong schools have had to ban UberEATS, with cashed up kids ditching the school canteen and packed lunches in favour of their favourite takeaway.
Geelong College took action after stray UberEATS drivers were found wondering the school’s campus looking for their student customers.
Kids are downloading the UberEATS app to their phone, enabling them to order takeaway food at the press of a button and have it delivered.
A note from Geelong College Head of Senior School Simon Young in the school’s term-two bulletin said: “we have been experiencing an in- crease in UberEATS deliveries to students, particularly around the Keith Humble Centre and Austin Gray.”
“On the surface, this service may seem like nothing more than a convenient and con- temporary method of having a modern-day lunch delivered, not to mention a little less embarrassing than having parents delivering a lunch box to Student Admin,” it said.
“In keeping with our staff theme for 2018, ‘Keeping them Safe’, we do not wish to encourage or condone a culture where transactions are taking place through car windows on the street between our students and unknown members of the public.
“We have also had a few lost UberEATS drivers wandering through the Keith Humble Centre looking for their customers.”
Mr Young told the Geelong Advertiser students ordering delivery food during school hours “never really became an issue, rather we moved on it early and made students and parents aware that it was not condoned”.
“Occasionally, students working after hours or waiting for a function will order but they know to check this with staff.”
Geelong Grammar School did not provide comment on the issue when questioned by the Geelong Advertiser.
However, it is understood students use delivery apps to order meals and have them dropped off nearby.
The Corio boarding school is one of the country’s most expensive, and boasts a large dining hall.
It’s understood the school’s expectation is that Saturday evening is the only time students can have food delivered on campus.
UK-based mobile phone food order service Deliveroo launched in Geelong in July last year, while UberEATS launched in December 2017.
Uber did not respond to the Geelong Advertiser’s request for comment by deadline.
Its website’s ‘community guidelines’ page says “you must be 18 years old or older to have a Uber Eats account”.
“All deliveries to schools should be made through the school reception or equivalent in accordance with the school authority’s official procedures.
“If a child is using a parent or guardian’s account to receive food, a parent or guardian must be with them at all times.”
An Education Department spokesman said “Policies on students using food delivery apps are made at the local level by individual schools in consultation with their communities.”