Media Release: Charcoal Lane appoints new Head Chef

Mission Australia’s Charcoal Lane, one of Melbourne’s most innovative restaurants offering Australian cuisine in a contemporary Aboriginal setting, will receive a boost of creativity and inspiration with the appointment of head chef Craig Hicks.

Hicks’ CV cites the Como Hotel, Hotel Windsor and Rupertswood Mansion, as well as Koto in Vietnam.

Mission Australia State Director for Victoria Paul Bird said: “Craig Hicks is an accomplished Australian chef who is classically trained and has worked all around the world. We’re thrilled to have him join the Charcoal Lane team.”

Hicks plans to bring fresh tastes to the Charcoal Lane menu, drawing on his 14 years in Asia where he was an ambassador for Australian food and wine at some of the top restaurants in Vietnam, Thailand and Macau.

“I’m passionate about incorporating Australian indigenous ingredients such as kangaroo, lilli pillies and quandongs with Asian flavours – which I don’t think anyone else has successfully achieved,” said Mr Hicks.

Under Hicks’ guidance, Charcoal Lane students will have the opportunity to go behind the scenes and learn about all aspects of running a restaurant.

“I’m looking forward to showing the students the vast array of possibilities in this industry and also helping them achieve their dreams,” said Mr Hicks.

Hicks has also called on his industry contacts to offer Charcoal Lane students extra specialized training, with the Windsor Hotel’s ex pastry chef scheduled to run patisserie classes.

And Hicks’ passion for local produce is something he’s hoping to pass onto the students.

“I’ll get the students out to visit the markets and growers to see where and how the produce gets into the kitchen.

“I want the trainees to be creative and involved in deciding Charcoal Lane’s direction as a top notch restaurant so I’ve already tasked them with designing a different amuse-bouche for me every week,” said Hicks.

For more information about Charcoal Lane visit charcoallane.com.au 

Mission Australia is committed to eliminating homelessness in Victoria, through addressing the underlying causes to help prevent people from becoming trapped in a long-term cycle, such as unemployment, family breakdown and poverty.

For more information on Mission Australia’s programs to prevent and address homelessness visit: missionaustralia.com.au

To arrange an interview with Craig Hicks or Mission Australia State Director for Victoria Paul Bird, please contact Rachael Nightingale, Fenton Communications, (03) 9600 0006 or 0449881980

Gold Coast job seekers impress local employers

Fifteen Gold Coast job seekers recently served up a free two-course meal for local employers to showcase a specialised hospitality training course aimed to address skill shortages in the region.

The job seekers, who have undertaken the six-week Certificate II in Hospitality course, have gained skills in front-of-house and back-of-house hospitality operations.

Training was delivered for Mission Australia by Icon Training Academy who saw that the job seekers complete the course with the skills and practical experience necessary to obtain sustainable work in the hospitality industry.
 
In addition to being a course assessment, the two-course meal formed part of the Gold Coast Employer Luncheon event, allowing students to demonstrate their abilities to potential employers.

Over 35 local employers were in attendance, along with Mission Australia Executive Leaders Prins Ralston and Lincoln Hopper, Queensland General Manager Phil Schultz and representatives from the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations - who all gave rave reviews on the student's handiwork.

Since then a number of the job seekers have been contacted by employers from the event and have gained full time, sustainable work - two of whom are now working at the prestigious 5-star Marriott Hotel.

Congrats to all the students and training staff for some brilliant results!