Cooking her own recipe for success

Heston Blumenthal, Colin Fassnidge, Jamie Oliver – watch out because if Hannah Broughton’s talent and potential are a sign of things to come, she could be joining your ranks in the not too distant Michelin-starry future.

As the 2023 recipient of the inaugural Zonta Club of Bundaberg TAFE Queensland Bursary prize, Hannah’s culinary success to date is showing all aspiring cooks and chefs, especially young women and girls, what can be achieved when you combine passion, creativity and hard work.

The 23 year-old Certificate III in Commercial Cookery (SIT30816) student who’s currently into her second year of studying at the TAFE Queensland Bundaberg campus, is feeling on top of the world right now after winning this accolade.

“It’s like the icing on the cake for me because for as long as I can remember, I’ve always been passionate about cooking thanks to my mum and grandmother,” Hannah said.

“So it’s an amazing feeling to be awarded for doing something that I love, really enjoy studying about and am continuing to learn everything about all the time.”

The new Zonta Club of Bundaberg’s TAFE Queensland Bursary prize aims to help women pursue tertiary qualifications and overcome gender barriers from the classroom to the workplace.

The award recognises a female TAFE Queensland Bundaberg campus student who is committed to further education, training and employment in a non-traditionally female field of endeavour such as electrical, engineering, building and construction, agriculture and horticulture, cookery and information technology.

Hannah was awarded this accolade as part of a highly competitive process that saw many applications from across a range of study areas.

Hannah's love of cooking started at a young age as she would often help her mother and grandmother in the kitchen.

“As a child struggling with autism, ADHD and social inclusion, I found cooking was a great way to express myself so it became my creative outlet and something I genuinely loved,” Hannah said.

“I remember telling my nan as a kid that I, too, could one day do the things that Heston Blumenthal is doing!

“Growing up in the cooking industry, I’ve discovered where my true passion lies – challenging the way people see and perceive what they eat.

“I truly believe that the best chef is not always the best cook but someone who is a leader, is resourceful, and willing to share what they’re learning much like Dominique Crenn, a French chef who I absolutely admire.”

Hannah’s goal is to become one of the great culinary idols by showcasing new ways to eat food, changing our perceptions on what and how we eat, and becoming a Michelin-starred chef herself.

Hannah's dedication and hard work also saw her participating in the World Skills Australia regional competition in September 2022 for which she achieved gold for her efforts and working with renowned chefs such as Colin Fassnidge as a TAFE Queensland volunteer.

“I believe that every chef has something to learn and something to teach so I like to spend my spare time learning from fellow chefs and researching new ways of cooking and reinventing classics,” Hannah said.

“More than anything else, I hope this award can inspire other young women to see that no matter what obstacles you face, you can pursue your dreams and do amazing things.”

Like the Zonta Club, TAFE Queensland also strongly believes in supporting and enabling all women and girls to access educational and learning opportunities and to succeed in their chosen fields of study.

TAFE Queensland General Manager (East Coast region), Ana Rodger, said that she is incredibly proud of and thrilled for Hannah's success.

“This is a well-deserved and fantastic outcome for Hannah who’s not only a hardworking and committed student who does us incredibly proud but also embodies the spirit and success of TAFE Queensland,” Ms Rodger said.

“Hannah represents the quality of students that our Wide Bay campuses consistently produce and the calibre of training and education our educators provide every day.

“I believe this bursary prize from Zonta will further grow Hannah’s passion in food and cooking and provide more opportunities for her skills and greatness to shine.”

Hannah’s cash prize of $500 is aimed at supporting her in her studies by covering some of the potential costs related to her course such as course fees, resources, specific work clothing and tools.

According to the latest Labour Markets Insights data, females make up 54 per cent of the cookery workforce in Australia while cooks account for more than 20 per cent of all jobs in Queensland.

With the food services industry expected to experience significant growth over the next few years, the Wide Bay and Fraser Coast regions are in need of qualified cooks.

Hannah’s Commercial Cookery teacher, Bernice Sildatke, saw Hannah’s potential firsthand and knew she had the skills and ability to apply for the bursary prize.

“Hannah is one of the most promising and motivated students so I’m not surprised at all that she’s won this award which is a fantastic recognition of her talent,” Ms Sildatke said.

“Teachers at TAFE Queensland are passionate about supporting our students to get the skills they need and Hannah makes my job so easy and rewarding!”

We can’t wait to see what culinary delights Hannah is going to dish up in the near future as she carves her way in to the cooking and chef industry.

Visit tafeqld.edu.au to find out more about the Certificate III in Commercial Cookery (SIT30816) course or call 1300 308 233 for more information about the courses available and let TAFE Queensland help you define your greatness.