The Cooking Collective - Creating change with food.

My project idea is the establishment of a catering business and social enterprise called The Cooking Collective (TCC). This project will assist migrant and refugee women, to use their cooking skills, to gain employment. The menu will be created by the participants, with menu items strongly reflecting global diversity.
The cultural authenticity of each dish will be the heart of the menu. Participants will be responsible for all stages of the process, which includes planning the menu, budgeting, purchasing, food preparation and delivery of the finished product.
The Cooking Collective will cater to Melbourne's south-east and Melbourne's CBD.

The Cooking Collective aims to provide migrant and refugee women an opportunity to secure employment, via a pathway through the hospitality and food industry. Through participation, they will develop the necessary skills and confidence to gain employment.

This project will provide them with relevant qualifications for employment, including Food Handling Certificates, to ensure that they understand the practical requirements of the Food Industry, supporting workforce competency. In addition, the project will connect them to potential employers by hosting dinners and events with industry leaders. Finally, TCC will pursue partnerships with post-secondary institutions to promote a higher education pathway to employment.