Chef Caitlin savours early career success

“I need a lot of inspiration and encouragement – as someone who struggles with my anxiety, I often tell myself I'm not good enough to do what I’m doing. But, this award really made me realise, ‘Hey, I'm not half bad. I’m actually doing something right’,” Caitlin began, reflecting on her win.

“When I initially got the nomination form for the Queensland Training Awards, I looked at it and thought I would not be a good candidate. So I forgot about it. And then my boss came to me asking if I would be okay with the nomination going forward and, in which I was like, ‘Oh, if you think I can do it, I’ll give it a shot.”

Caitlin is employed as a Demi Chef de Partie at Encores Restaurant, located within the renowned entertainment venue – The Empire Theatre in Toowoomba. 

Growing up, both of Caitlin’s parents loved experimenting in the kitchen, and their creativity inspired her to pursue a career in the food and hospitality industry.

“I grew up in a house where both parents wanted to get very creative in the kitchen, and that just lit a fire underneath me,” Caitlin shared.

“It just got a lot brighter and came on strong and hard all throughout high school, resulting in me studying hospitality and kitchen operations during my senior years, all of which eventually led me to this job,” she said.

She began her apprenticeship, a Certificate III in Commercial Cookery (SIT30821), at the age of 17, and over three years she completed both the theoretical components of the course and hands-on employment at Encores.

Caitlin accessed Free apprenticeships for under 25s funding which meant the training fees associated with her study was covered by the Queensland Government.

Caitlin’s apprenticeship involved block training in TAFE Queensland’s commercial grade kitchen facilities at the Toowoomba campus, and together with her classmates, she had the opportunity to attend key industry events.  

“As part of the apprenticeship we trained at the TAFE Queensland kitchens and then got to travel to several hospitality events like those held at the Brisbane Convention Centre,” explained Caitlin.

“We worked with producers and suppliers – from many industries – whether it be for fresh baked goods or high-quality meat products.”

“We would go on those trips, we’d get to communicate to suppliers, talk to them as if we were a qualified chef, working for our business. That was quite eye-opening and important for us to know and learn, because as a Head Chef – that's your job – to communicate with local distributors, trying to find the best and cheapest products, while still keeping your customers happy,” she said.

TAFE Queensland’s industry-experienced cookery teachers worked closely with Caitlin to offer guidance and assistance when it was needed.

“At TAFE Queensland, I trained predominantly with Hospitality and Cookery Teacher, Steve Simon. He was incredible. He knew a lot about me personally, the struggles that I had, and he worked with that, helped me manage it, and helped to remind me how far I can go,” Caitlin shared.

“When I was struggling with my book work, he was the first person I'd text and he'd get back immediately with responses of how to help.”

“He'd book meetings so that we could go over what I was having trouble with.”

“When we did our big assignment at the end, he was extremely resourceful in what I needed to know, having previous documents and examples, things to help me get through it,” Caitlin said.

And Caitlin encourages others to who are considering saying “Yes Chef!” to an apprenticeship in the industry.

“My advice to anyone who's even contemplating taking up an apprenticeship or just going to TAFE in general? Take the plunge. It can be daunting, but ultimately will change your life in the best way,” Caitlin beamed.

“In the future I want to get to the UK, travel, learn as much as I can by working in as many restaurants as I can, but ultimately I’ll always come home to Australia, as I want to be my own boss, and have my own restaurant.”

“I know that we struggle to get employees around here, and I want to push and encourage people down this path, because I think it was the best choice I could have made for myself, and I’m sure it’d be the same for many others, with a little encouragement,” Caitlin finished.