Rockpool Bar and Grill, Catalina, Icebergs Dining and Aria are some of the fine dining restaurants that have kicked off pre-apprentice courses for aspiring Aboriginal chefs in NSW.

Minister for Skills and Tertiary Education Geoff Lee said the National Indigenous Culinary Institute ‘Skills for Success’ program has trained more than 200 participants since 2012.

“This NSW Government funded pre-apprenticeship program run by the National Indigenous Culinary Institute offers an incredible introduction for budding Aboriginal chefs,” Mr Lee said.

“Ten students this year have had the chance to get up close and personal with some of the best chefs in the most prestigious restaurants in the entire country.

“This creates a direct training pathway for the participants to follow to be employed as paid commercial cookery apprentices in fine dining restaurants. It also completes their formal training qualifications with TAFE NSW while being mentored by Australia’s leading chefs in their own restaurants.”

The National Indigenous Culinary Institute was designed to offer elite training and experience for aspiring Aboriginal chefs with training and mentoring being provided by Australia’s top chefs at host restaurants.

National Indigenous Culinary Institute chief executive Nathan Lovett said the Institute was very excited to deliver their ‘Skills for Success’ program in 2021.

“The 2021 program again provides the necessary skills to our participants to be successful apprentices working in Australia’s top restaurants such as Rockpool Bar and Grill, Catalina and Icebergs Dining where we have had substantial success in the past,” Mr Lovett said.

“2020 also allowed us to expand into regional areas of NSW, but we have really embraced the opportunity to grow our flagship program here in Sydney this year.”