Commercial Kitchen on Wheels Takes off to Local Regions

Tuesday, 6 August 2019

Wodonga TAFE’s revolutionary mobile kitchen training truck has kicked off semester two with regional training in Myrtleford! Setting up base at Myrtleford Neighbourhood House, two students are currently enrolled and have commenced their studies in Certificate II in Kitchen Operations.

This innovative course will help students gain the practical skills they need to work in a commercial kitchen or catering operation. Students will learn food preparation and presentation skills to help them gain employment in this dynamic industry.

With the kitchen being industry standard and on wheels, it offers the opportunity that regional students not be disadvantaged by location when it comes to training opportunities.

This course has been specially funded by the Victorian Government’s Regional and Specialist Training Fund (RSTF). This fund helps set up training for specific skills in regional and specialist areas that are not being met by the current training market. Its aim is also to support students off-campus in their local community. Having the mobile kitchen training truck fully kitted out with a commercial kitchen ensures students are able to take part in a training opportunity that is the equivalent standard of what students have on campus.

This is the second instance of this specialised training model for Wodonga TAFE with the mobile kitchen, with the first being located in Tallangatta during semester one. Cookery teacher, Sarah Whitling is not only a brilliant, highly skilled and wonderful teacher, but also holds an MR truck driving license so she can take charge of the training by driving the mobile kitchen, teaching and guiding these students throughout the entire course all herself.

 “Taking the training environment to the students removes some of the barriers to training so students are not disadvantaged by distance from attending classes,” Sarah explains.

“The well-branded mobile training kitchen truck attracts a lot of interest in the local communities, which in turn raises the profile of the course and the hands-on training opportunities and industry experiences that are available to our students with Wodonga TAFE.”

By completing this course, students are well equipped to move into a full apprenticeship on completion. It offers a foot in the door to the industry and gains them practical, hands-on skills that are important to have when seeking work. Students are offered the opportunity to find a pathway to an apprenticeship, are supplied with a full chef’s uniform, a knife kit and are able to work in the mobile food truck during pop-up events around the region for real industry experience.

To enquire about the Certificate II in Kitchen Operations regional training and the future opportunities for students, please contact our customer service team on 1300 659 233. Otherwise you can browse all of our hospitality and cookery courses on our website at https://www.wodongatafe.edu.au/Courses/Hospitality-Tourism-Events-Outdoor-Recreation