Master Chefs at RAAF Base

Blaxland High School year 12 VET hospitality students, Sally Rozema and Amber Holmes are two of many students, who are lucky enough to complete their mandatory hospitality ‘work placements’ in such a supportive and instructive setting as the officers mess kitchen at Glenbrook RAAF Base.

Over a period of nearly five years Glenbrook RAAF base (Serco Sodexo) have hosted just under 150 local hospitality students with their ‘work placements’. Many of the students that Raelene Hards and her staff assist have special requirements that are managed thoughtfully by the sympathetic kitchen chefs, Noelene Briggs and Monique Simmons.

Monique says that students who may have disabilities, such as Asperger’s Syndrome, are ‘ideal for working in the kitchen as these students follow their instructions to the letter ’ and suggests that ‘many large businesses would be surprised at the abilities of these students, who make ideal employees in the hospitality field!’

Each year the Schools Industry Partnership (SIP) find ‘work places’ for over 2000 local high school students from 24 high schools, who study numerous framework courses (including Hospitality, Business Services, Entertainment, Construction.... etc) for their HSC, that have a compulsory component requiring work placements in both year 11 and 12.

The support of host employers who ‘host’ these students is paramount in assisting them attain their HSC and give them a better insight into potential career paths and prepare them for the world of work.

The support of host employers who ‘host’ these students is paramount in assisting them attain their HSC and give them a better insight into potential career paths and prepare them for the world of work.