If you’ve ever dreamed of working in a busy kitchen, creating beautiful dishes or one day running your own café or restaurant – now’s the perfect time to turn up the heat on your career goals.
At TAFE Gippsland, our Certificate III in Commercial Cookery course is serving up real-world skills, passionate trainers, and incredible opportunities to build a future in the hospitality industry. And the best part? Thanks to Free TAFE, eligible students can study the non-apprenticeship stream of this nationally recognised course without tuition fees.
Learn by doing
Our commercial cookery students don’t just learn from textbooks – they learn from the best. With trainers who’ve worked in restaurants across the region and beyond, every class is hands-on, dynamic and full of flavour.
From mastering knife skills to plating restaurant-quality dishes, you’ll learn in purpose-built kitchens and gain practical experience that will prepare you for the fast-paced hospitality world.
Beyond the kitchen
And it’s not just about what happens in class. We love getting students out into the real world for events, industry visits and special experiences that bring learning to life. Just recently, our third-year cookery apprentices visited Peppermint Ridge Farm in Tynong North for a Bush Foods Masterclass, where they foraged native ingredients and created their own stunning menu.
Cookery students get a taste for native ingredients at Peppermint Ridge Farm
TAFE Gippsland culinary trainer Kellie Smith said Experiences like this help students connect food with culture, country and community – and spark a deeper appreciation for the ingredients we often overlook.
“We had an incredible day where our third-year apprentices were inspired and excited about Native Australian ingredients,” Kellie said.
“The opportunity to forage, learn and then create morning tea and lunch from what they gathered was something really special. Also connecting them to local producers, sustainable food systems and Australia’s rich culinary heritage.”
A memorable day out of the kitchen for students foraging for their native ingredients.
Free TAFE = Less stress, more opportunity
Thanks to Free TAFE, eligible students can complete the non-apprenticeship Certificate III in Commercial Cookery course without worrying about tuition fees. That’s more money in your pocket, and fewer barriers between you and a future career in hospitality.
Whether you’re fresh out of school, looking to change careers, or returning to study, Free TAFE makes it easier than ever to step into the commercial kitchen.
Ready to cook up a career?
Find out more about our Certificate III in Commercial Cookery course and how to enrol at TAFE Gippsland today.
Explore Commercial Cookery
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