News Item

CATERING MILESTONE FOR TEAM FROM COOINDA HILL

December 21, 2011

A group off five adults from Cooinda Hill at Traralgon have achieved a catering milestone.

The group has been undertaking training at Community College Gippsland in food handling, safety and preparation and have discovered a passion for cooking.

The group showcased their culinary talents, cooking an afternoon tea for staff at Cooinda Hill and Community College Gippsland at the Traralgon Golf Course.

Cooinda Hill Manager, Alyson Walsh, said the trial program with Community College Gippsland had opened up new opportunities for members of Cooinda Hill to expand their skills, confidence and experience.

“This partnership has enabled Cooinda Hill to offer training to our members in a mainstream community college setting. It has been fantastic for the participants who have attended the Traralgon campus of Community College Gippsland one day a week. The Slice and Dice Cooking Class has grown their confidence in leaps and bounds. They have learned food handling, hygiene and safety, undertaking shopping trips to learn budgeting, researched recipes on-line and learned new cooking skills.”

Ms Walsh said the afternoon tea was an opportunity for the group to showcase their skills and recognise their achievement.

Community College Gippsland trainer, Wendy Johnstone, said the five had been a pleasure to teach.

“They came with enthusiasm to learn and have applied the skills they learned in the classroom into their lives, cooking for themselves, family and friends.

“Some of the group are keen to use their skills to gain work in canteens and tuckshops and in volunteering roles.”

Community College Gippsland also ran a Life and Leisure program for Cooinda Hill members and is planning to run a Beauty program in 2012.

Cooinda Hill’s Alyson Walsh said the success of these first programs has highlighted what adults with intellectual disabilities can achieve when they learn in a supported, structured environment in the mainstream community.

“Some of the members of this class have expressed interest in undertaking accredited Certificate II level training in Hospitality at the College next year which will further their life and work skills and opportunities, “ she said.

For more information on Cooinda Hill phone 03 5174 4834 or visit: wwww.cooindahill.asn.au.

Front from left: Virginia Didio, Andrea Demetrios, Gladys Steadman, Sharon O’Connell, Dianne Rowley, Sarah Millsom, Jody Jorgensen, Alyson Walsh, Sharon Dean.
Back row from left: Danielle Daniel, Rebecca Massaro, Cassandra Taylor, Julie White, Laura and Wendy Johnstone

For further information contact:

Jeff Tellefson
Deputy CEO
Community College Gippsland
Ph: 5622 6000