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Adult Learners Week

Study at GippsTAFE leads to a career in teaching cooking skills

By Eimear McNelis - 29th August 2002 - Back to News

Will Johnson has been studying for the past seven years at GippsTAFE, which has led him to a career teaching young people cooking skills.

Mr Johnson decided to return to study after he retired.

"I wanted to be accredited for the hospitality knowledge that I had, so I decided to try a TAFE course to see how I would go," said Mr Johnson.

Mr Johnson has completed a six month course, Certificate II Food and Beverage, and then continued on to complete Certificate IV Food and Beverage, Diploma of Hospitality Management, Certificate IV Sport and Recreation Management and then finished with a commercial cookery course back at GippsTAFE’s Waratah Restaurant in Morwell.

"I loved working at functions in the Waratah Restaurant because I was able to work front of house, back of house and communicating with guests and guest speakers," said Mr Johnson.

"We also cooked at the Grand Hyatt in Melbourne which was good experience, and we also got to cook in hotels all over Victoria through the Culinary Association."

Mr Johnson said he has learnt new skills such as computer skills, accountancy, better people management, new cooking skills and menu building.

"Study at TAFE us unique because it does not matter how old you are, everyone is treated the same. We all have our work to do and there is always someone there to help you," said Mr Johnson.

Mr Johnson has worked as a hotel manager, cooking for an aged care facility and now works at Lavalla Secondary College’s Senior Campus teaching the students how to cook.

Mr Johnson says that if you are considering undertaking a TAFE course to give it a lot of thought on what you want to do.

"Decide where you want to be in two to five years and progress from there. I started out small and now I am able to teach young people to cook!"

GippsTAFE’s Hospitality Department provides an opportunity for students to gain the first hand knowledge and skills required to gain fast entry into the hospitality industry, with students developing valuable practical skills at GippsTAFE’s Waratah Restaurant.

Source: http://gippsland.com/

Published by: news@gippsland.com

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