At Queensland Parliament, we’re proud to support Eat for Your Life.
The charity was set up by local chef Alison Taafe of Brisbane’s Institute of Culinary Excellence, to help disadvantaged job seekers into full time employment whilst also addressing staffing issues faced in the hospitality industry.
Eat for Your Life also makes up to 300 meals a week, which are donated to facilitate other charities, meal programs and communities.
“Our motto is transforming lives through education and food,” says Eat for Your Life’s Program Manager, De-arne Wicks.
Eat for Your Life provides support through two key programs.
“The first program is a Work Skills Traineeship, which is a 20-week paid traineeship where trainees also undertake a Certificate 1 in Hospitality,” Dee-Arne explains. “They do on-the-job barista training in our community coffee hub and also spend time in the kitchen preparing and packaging meals for those in need with food sourced from Second Bite and Foodbank.
“The 2nd program is a ‘Skill Up’ program – 14 week course Certificate 2 in Kitchen Operations where we look to have them complete work placement which will lead to full time employment after.”
Two of the program’s graduates are employed through Catering Services at Queensland Parliament.
“Parliament House have been absolutely open to partnering with us,“ Dee-Arne says.
“I had two trainees who had been the standouts for me and I knew they deserved to work somewhere special. Somewhere where I know they never imagined that they could work. They are so grateful for the opportunity. It gives them a sense of pride that they are able to work in a place where their disability and culture are respected.”
We look forward to continuing to work with Eat for your life and welcoming its graduates into our kitchens and function spaces.
You can support our Eat for your Life trainees by booking your table with Strangers’ Restaurant.
Try a bite of everything that’s great about Strangers Restaurant with the five-course tasting. You’ll sample the best of Queensland, right now. To find out more about Eat for Your Life, you can check out their website here.
