From top kitchens to the classroom

For TAFE Queensland cookery teacher Bernice “Bernie” Sildatke, the most rewarding part of teaching is seeing a student discover what they are capable of and helping to ignite the passion that can carry them through a career.

Based at TAFE Queensland’s Bundaberg campus, Bernie has spent the past six years delivering both the Certificate II (SIT20421) and Certificate III in Commercial Cookery (SIT30821). Before becoming an educator, she built about 15 years of industry experience running restaurants and kitchens in high-end establishments and hotels.

She moved to Bundaberg in 2012 in search of a quieter lifestyle and soon fell in love with the region and its produce. After starting a family, encouragement from a TAFE representative prompted her to complete her training and assessment qualification.

When an opportunity to teach arose, the timing proved ideal.

“I absolutely love the challenge and the excitement of new students,” Bernie said.

That enthusiasm is reflected in the achievements of her students. Bernie taught River Willet, an apprentice with the Windmill Cafe, who was named TAFE Queensland Apprentice and Trainee of the Year for the Bundaberg region.

It’s an achievement that highlights both River’s talent and the value of industry-experienced teachers who help apprentices turn potential into professional skill.

For Bernie, teaching extends well beyond recipes and techniques. It is about cultivating curiosity, encouraging students to taste critically and giving them the confidence to experiment.

“Keep trying new things, keep trying new methods of cookery and don’t be afraid to experiment with your food,” she said.

“Food is fun. It can be science. It’s about nourishment, but it’s also about having fun and being creative.”

Her connection to Bundaberg’s hospitality community gives her a front-row seat to the long-term impact of vocational education. Former apprentices are now working across the region, and a night out often comes with a familiar greeting: “There’s my chef.”

Bernie also values opportunities that take students beyond the classroom, including skills competitions and industry engagement. She has represented Bundaberg on a WorldSkills cooking competition judging panel, an experience that reinforced the breadth of opportunities available to teachers and students through TAFE Queensland.

“There’s so much value for them, the opportunities that arise, not just for us, but for our students and the things we help create,” she said. “I think it’s igniting the fire in their belly. Being part of that is amazing.”

Bernie’s story shows how an experienced teacher can shape not only individual careers but also the strength of a regional industry.

“If I can inspire even a handful of students to go forward in their career, be the best they can be or run their own place, that makes me happy.”

“There is a lot of automated machinery in food production, but real food is made with love and comes from the heart. It is created by people who carefully plan the flavours, textures and presentation,” Bernie said. “I don’t think there is any AI-powered machinery that can do what we do.”