Students learn valuable life skills in the kitchen

A partnership between Charles Darwin University (CDU) and Project21 is giving Territorians with Down syndrome and other intellectual disabilities valuable life and career skills in the kitchen.

A cohort of Project21 students recently graduated from CDU’s Food Safety Supervision Skill Set at the Karawa Training Restaurant, based at the University’s Palmerston campus.

The students learned about hygiene practices for food safety and put their skills to the test in practical settings.

Students were given a Statement of Attainment in a moving ceremony at the Karawa Training Restaurant.

Project21 student and course graduate Rebecca Hell said the course gave her valuable skills which she plans to use in her goal to become a support worker.

“I feel proud of myself, I’ve got another certificate,” Rebecca said.

“The course gives you the opportunity to have a job working in a kitchen and other places like disability services.”

CDU Tourism and Hospitality Lecturer Rodney Sims congratulated the students on their accomplishment. He said the course helped prepare students to understand the expectations of food safety in commercial settings.

“They all wanted to learn and it’s important we give them every ounce of knowledge. Everybody deserves an opportunity to receive an education in some form,” Mr Sims said.

Mr Sims said the key to the success of the course was the collaboration between CDU and Project21, with students learning theory in the classroom and putting their knowledge and skills to the test at the Project21 learning centre.

“It’s all about taking what they’ve learned over the last few weeks with me and putting it into practice,” he said.

SITSS00069 Food Safety Supervision Skill Set is one of many courses in CDU’s suite of hospitality qualifications.