Young chefs needed to fill grassroots skill shortage

Broome’s next generation of aspiring chefs and hospitality professionals put their culinary skills to the test when they took part in an interactive hospitality program.

The FutureNow Hospitality Ambassador program was delivered in Broome over three days to local students interested in pursuing a career in the hospitality industry.

FutureNow Creative and Leisure Industries Training Council launched the program last year to address the severe chef skill shortage at the grassroots level in WA schools and delivered a snapshot of the industry to students.

It is co-funded by the Department of Training and Workforce Development.

The initiative was launched in Perth last year and organisers have since launched FutureNow in other parts of WA including tourism towns.

FutureNow ambassador chef Matt Connell presented an interactive cookery demonstration to Broome Senior High School and St Mary’s College students to enhance their skills and knowledge of hospitality.

Mr Connell, who featured in the reality TV cooking show My Restaurant Rules, is an apprenticeship consultant with DTWD’s Apprenticentre where he works with hospitality apprentices, trainees and employers to support, monitor and assist them through the apprenticeship system.

As well as offering valuable tips about the industry, Mr Connell teamed up with students in the kitchen to create lamb koftas with mint yoghurt, a tapas plate and Vietnamese rice paper rolls.

He said he was impressed with the efforts and motivation of students and hoped they had shared his enthusiasm for cooking as well as taking away valuable skills.

Year 9 SMC student and program participant April Ford said the program had been a “great experience” and she learned different cooking techniques.

SMC hospitality trainer Bette Lake said it was a privilege for students to have access to a program which allows them to showcase their skills.

SMC VET co-ordinator Aidan Mitchell said it was great for students to engage in career development opportunities in a practical environment.