The Commercial Cookery Program delivers a broad suite of programs to a diverse range of students. These include Certificate III (Commercial Cookery), Certificate IV (Commercial Cookery) and Certificate IV (Patisserie).
Graduates of these courses may be eligible to articulate into the Diploma qualification (specialisation in Commercial Cookery or Patisserie) at TAFE SA Regency International Centre. This assists in the provision of a supportive and hospitable learning environment, and building of professional relationships between students and members of the TAFE SA staff.
The Certificate IV (Patisserie) is unique in Australia and only offered in its current format at TAFE SA Regency International Centre. TAFE SA has working relationships with specialist chefs, patissiers and confectioners from across Australia, together with a cohort of highly qualified and experienced TAFE SA lecturing staff.
Facilities
The TAFE SA Regency International Centre has world class facilities including:
- Two operating commercial kitchens that service Graduates Restaurant
- Five multi-purpose commercial training kitchens
- A specialist commercial Asian training kitchen
- A specialist commercial patisserie training kitchen with humidity and temperature controlled chocolate room
- A lecture theatre complete with cooking demonstration facilities, power point, audio visual & computer facilities
- On-line computer suite equipped for 16 students
The practical training areas are all multi-purpose and designed to accommodate 16 students, each with their own work space. All of the facilities are fully self-contained, inclusive of deck and combi ovens, walk-in cool rooms, commercial mixers and slicers and a range of utensils and equipment, with specialist equipment able to be accessed on a needs basis.
A dedicated Asian kitchen is equipped with wok stations and steamers to allow for the preparation and cooking of regional and cultural specialities and the patisserie kitchen is equipped with a range of commercial bakery equipment, humidity and temperature controlled chocolate room, specialist sugar work equipment as well as a large range of European sourced mould and forms for a variety of patisserie products.
All students have access to a fully functional computer suite with on-line and printing facilities. The multi function lecture theatre accommodates 80 students and is complete with cooking demonstration facilities with a separate preparation kitchen, power point, audio visual and computer facilities.
Students benefit from these world class facilities in many ways including:
- Exposure to fully functioning commercial kitchens
- Being trained to operate a range of industry standard commercial equipment
- Using highly specialised equipment to learn a range of both traditional and contemporary skills.
Employment
Career opportunities for graduates from Cookery include: Cook, Leading Hand or Food Service Assistant, Chef, Chef Patissier, Catering Manager, Executive Chef or even starting your own business.
Employment prospects in cookery are excellent as there is a current skills shortage across the hospitality industry. To pursue a career in cookery you need to have a passion for food and a friendly and open disposition with the ability to withstand the pressures of a working kitchen. Good communication skills and the ability to work autonomously and take responsibility are essential.