Wodonga TAFE and TAFE NSW (Riverina campus) will present Cheftalk on Monday.

Speakers will include David Kapay (Miss Amelie); Justin Hope (SS&A Club); Jamie Cox (Star Hotel, Yackandandah); Nick Gosnick (Settlers Tavern, Mount Beauty); and Anna-mei Telmo (Atura Hotel).

Wodonga TAFE Cookery and Hospitality programs team leader Sherren Rahaley said this cross-border initiative was in response to a national training shortage of qualified chefs, particularly on the Border.

“This forum is a great way for us to break down the barriers of false perceptions of the foods industry and generate interest around what sort of career you can have as a professional chef,” she said.

The free forum will be held at Atura Hotel on Monday from 5pm to 6.30pm. 

Ms Rahaley said Wodonga TAFE and Riverina TAFE were working hard to enhance the industry’s reputation.

“The food industry has come a long way and is an important part of our community,” Ms Rahaley said.

“There is such a broad range of career options available to you as a professional chef – whether you want to work internationally or stay in the local region, whether you want to work 9 to 5 in a commercial environment or put in the hours to own your own restaurant – you will always be employed and you can find work anywhere.”