Practical Introduction to Cookery course

There’s a tasty new kitchen in Taree which is providing practical hands-on training for local students with the intention to eventually become a commercial enterprise to raise funds for those in need.

Located at the OneLife Church premises in Muldoon Street, the kitchen was built by local volunteers including ETC’s Work for the Dole participants.

“It’s been great having the ETC students here all dressed in their black outfits – they look fantastic. Nick, ETC’s Chef was talking them through how to cook and the food smelled really good as well,” said OneLife Church Pastor John Parer.

According to ETC’s Business Relationship Advisor Tracey Croker, the kitchen was a great new facility for ETC’s practical WorkIT Intro2Cookery course.

“It’s a really nice partnership that we have established with OneLife Church. We’ve just had seven of our students training onsite and look forward to bringing more in the future. Hospitality is the Number 1 industry in the world and these students of ours get to learn hands-on skills in a commercial kitchen. We can then market them to employers in this industry in the surrounding areas and hopefully sustain some employment for them,” Mrs Croker said.

During the course ETC students were taught things like how to properly use knives and cooking utensils, different methods and temperatures for cooking, hygiene, safe food handling practices and much more.

“I really wanted to improve my knife skills, I love it when they do the really fast chopping. I learn a lot better when I’m hands-on, so training here at this facility has made it a lot easier to learn,” said ETC Student Chloe Lauder.

After completing the Intro2Cookery course, Chloe gained employment with a local Café thanks to her bubbly personality and newly acquired skills.

OneLife Church Pastor John Parer said his vision was to create a community hub where people could come to volunteer, socialise and gain some new skills.

“Lonely people, people with disability, long term unemployed or anyone needing some employability skills – this can be a place for them to be encouraged, mentored and gain a reference to get work,” Mr Parer said.

Intro2Cookery

(Statement of Attainment in SIT30616 – Certificate III in Hospitality)

Duration: 2 days per week for 4 weeks

Delivery method: Face to Face with hands-on practical

Units covered: 

• SITXWHS001 Participate in safe work practices
• SITXFSA001 Use hygienic practices for food safety
• SITHKOP001 Clean kitchen premises and equipment
• SITHCCC002 Prepare and present simple dishes (including Knife skills- non-accredited)

To find out more about dates and locations for upcoming courses, contact our Training Team on 1800 007 400 or complete an enquiry form online.