Many of the young people who join Fifteen have had a pretty rough start to life: family breakdown, homelessness, problems fitting in at school or feeling that life is passing them by and find it hard to engage with the world.

When we take on a new group of apprentices at Fifteen we expect a lot from them. Turning up on time every time is a radical idea for many, however this is probably the most important requirement for working in a kitchen and being successful at Fifteen. After 16 months of sticking with the program the students graduate from Fifteen and hopefully go on to continue their career as incredible young chefs – passionate about food and with sustainable futures ahead of them.

So what do you have to do to become a Fifteen apprentice?
We get over 300 applications from people who are interested in the training program. In order to step up to the plate for an initial face-to-face interview you need to tell us as much as you can when filling out the application form online at www.fifteenfoundation.org.au . If you make it past this first interview we then put you through a bit of a taste test and finally we take approximately 30 people away on a 3 day team building camp. This process will give us some idea about how interested you are in becoming a chef, what support you need, and how well you can work as part of a team.

What’s involved with the Fifteen Foundation chef training program?
After selection you have a week of orientation to give you more of an idea of the journey you are about to embark on. In your newly kitted out chef whites you then begin a 10 week pre-apprenticeship course at Box Hill TAFE to give you some basic skills that will be valuable for the long road ahead.

Then in October it is time to get down to business and start work in the kitchen at Fifteen Melbourne. This is where you will spend the next 12 months working alongside the awesome and talented crew where you will rotate through the different sections learning how to prepare and cook entrées, pasta, desserts and work the grill. During your week you will spend one day out of the kitchen gaining the qualifications in Certificate III in Commercial Cookery under the guidance of the supportive chefs at Box Hill TAFE.

Depending on the season we may have the chance to visit some great farms, markets and wineries to learn more about the great locally grown produce we work with at Fifteen. These are learning experiences that are unique to Fifteen and are loved by the apprentices.

What next?
As you get closer to graduation from Fifteen we will then work with you on the skills needed to gain another job to continue your apprenticeship. Even after graduating from Fifteen our apprentices are encouraged to continue to access support through the Fifteen Foundation; we are always willing to assist our graduates develop great careers in a dynamic and fast paced industry. As part of the ever growing Fifteen family, you will have access to jobs overseas, handy travel tips and a trade that can take you anywhere in the world!

Happy Cooking!