Supporters run up a great fundraising tally

Thanks to everyone who went the distance at Run Melbourne earlier this month to raise funds for Mission Australia services in Victoria.

The 16-person strong Run DMC from Digital Pictures, who raised almost $1,800, made up a large part of the 22 supporters who took to the streets to help raise money for services such as Charcoal Lane in Fitzroy and the Urban Renewal program. Together they raised a very much appreciated $2,698.

Among the runners was Emily Day (pictured on her way home after the run) who was decked out in a blue cap, red tights and neon-pink shorts and top. Despite a few wardrobe malfunctions, she had a great day – and exceeded both her personal best and fundraising target by pulling in $365.

“Yes, everyone at work was very generous!” she wrote this week. “The day was awesome, I wore a super-hero costume with a cape and despite the cape strangling me at various times during the course, I still managed a PB of 26 minutes 15 seconds for the 5km.

“I ran with my dad the whole way until the end when I pipped him at the post, which was good because he kept winning on our training runs!”

The marathon and fun-run season is still far from over, so you can still sponsor a runner who is trying to raise money for Mission Australia. We have 69 registrations for Sydney’s City2Surf on Sunday 14 August but still need plenty of support to reach our target.

If you’d like to get behind any of the teams running in support of Mission Australia – including those MA Team runners from our Sydney homeless services who are being coached by the Sydney Roosters - visit this page. You’ll also find links to other fundraising events, such as our 2011 Winter Sleepout.

Good luck to our Run Melbourne supporters

Mission Australia wishes all of our supporters taking part in Run Melbourne this weekend the best of luck.

Runners for Team Mission Australia in Melbourne and Digital Pictures’ Run DMC team will tread the city’s streets on Sunday to raise money for Mission Australia services in Victoria, including our Charcoal Lane social enterprise restaurant in Fitzroy and the Urban Renewal program.

They are part of a community of active supporters taking part in winter and spring fun runs and marathons in Perth, Sydney, Brisbane and Adelaide to help fund our life-changing services.

Among the runners are several clients from our Sydney homeless services who are taking part in this year’s City2Surf on Sunday 14 August.

This morning, for the fifth week in a row, Sydney Roosters players led Mission Australia City2 Surf team members through a training session at the club’s HQ in Moore Park. Big thanks to Roosters Jake Friend (pictured with the MA Team’s Wayne), Lama Tasi, Ethan Lowe and Cheyse Blair for taking the time out to offer advice, fitness tips and motivation to our City2Surf Team. Also a huge thank you to the generous people from Fit for Good for kitting out the MA Team members with new shorts and drink bottles.

If you’d like to support the MA Team as they take on the City2Surf challenge next month, go to their City2Surf fundraising page.

If you’d like to get behind any of the teams running in support of Mission Australia, visit this page. You’ll also find links to other fundraising events, such as our 2011 Winter Sleepout.+

Charcoal Lane marks NAIDOC Week and its second birthday

Mission Australia’s Charcoal Lane, Melbourne's unique Australian and native cuisine restaurant, is marking NAIDOC Week by celebrating its two year anniversary of helping young Indigenous people get a start in hospitality.

Since opening in July 2009, Charcoal Lane has served almost 30,000 diners and hosted over 100 events, including the successful Taste of Reconciliation Bridge Lunch in March as part of the Melbourne International Food and Wine Festival. Charcoal Lane has quickly become recognised as one of Melbourne’s best dining experiences and scored 14/20 in The Age’s prestigious Good Food Guide 2011.

The fine dining restaurant provides hospitality training and personal development for Aboriginal and disadvantaged young people in partnership with the Victorian Aboriginal Health Service and the William Angliss Institute of TAFE.

Yet a more telling sign of success, according to Head Chef Richard Wills, is that students have graduated from the award-winning training program and moving into full-time employment.

“Having left home myself at the age of 14 I know how hard it can be to get a foothold in a good kitchen. This is a fantastic opportunity for these young people to build some really useful skills and get a head start in a great industry” Wills says.

One of these students is Marley Kennedy (pictured bottom left), who is graduating with a Certificate III in Hospitality.

“Without the support of Charcoal Lane I wouldn’t have the same confidence that I do now. I’ve been able to meet some really great people who have inspired me to have careers just like them,” Marley said.

Marley has been nominated for Koori Student of the Year in the Victorian Training Awards and is now hoping for an opportunity to work in a resort in Uluru where she can combine cooking food and travel – two things she loves.


Further reading:

• Taste of Reconciliation dinner
• 'Fantastic food and spirit of a fair go come together' at Charcoal Lane

RaboDirect Melbourne Rebels ‘Stand Up for Youth’

Mission Australia partner, RaboDirect Melbourne Rebels, took some time out of their busy training schedule recently to visit some of Mission Australia’s programs and services.

In May, players, Gareth Delve, Richard Kingi, Adam Byrnes and Tom Chamberlain enjoyed the flavours and delights of Mission Australia’s social enterprise restaurant, Charcoal Lane.

In Melbourne’s Fitzroy, Charcoal Lane serves high-quality modern and native Australian cuisine and aims to give disadvantaged youth the opportunity to train in hospitality and pursue careers in the industry.

“We really enjoyed our visit to the restaurant. We did a tour of the kitchen, met the staff and then enjoyed a beautiful three course lunch. All the food was amazing but our favourite dish was definitely the kangaroo,” said Richard Kingi.

In addition to the Charcoal Lane visit, several players invited some of the participants from Mission Australia’s ‘Stand Up for Youth’ programs to watch a training session and have a short tour of Visy Park.

Seven young people took up the opportunity and they were not disappointed, with the players showing off their skills throughout the session.

Following training, the players had a brief chat with the participants about how hard they’ve worked to pursue their rugby dreams and achieve their goals – encouraging the participants to set themselves goals and continue to work hard to achieve them.

Mission Australia’s ‘Stand Up for Youth’ programs equip young people with the skills and resilience they need to make positive choices in their lives. We provide support to youth experiencing issues with drug and alcohol abuse, family breakdown, unemployment, homelessness and mental illness.

Image: RaboDirect Melbourne Rebels players with Mission Australia’s ‘Stand Up for Youth’ participants.

Mission Australia selected as Citi's charity partner for The Presidents Cup 2011

Citi is global partner for The Presidents Cup 2011, which will take place in Melbourne in November. Established in 1994, The Presidents Cup pits top players from the United States against an International Team comprised of the finest golfers from Asia, Australia, New Zealand and Africa. between the United States and an international team.

For the past two years Mission Australia has been a key community partner for Citi, so we were thrilled to learn Citi had chosen Mission Australia to be its charity partner for The Presidents Cup this year.

Through its involvement in The Presidents Cup, Citi is aiming to increase awareness and raise funds for the work Mission Australia does in delivering programs that support Indigenous Australians.

Programs such as Charcoal Lane, and the establishment of the Financial Education, Counselling and Community Hub in south west Sydney, are supported by Citi as part of its community partnerships.

The Community Hub has prevention and early intervention programs to educate the local community about budgeting and how to access support early when families are at risk of financial crisis. The Community Hub also provides crisis support through referrals to financial and gambling counselling and transitional and longer-term support to help break the cycle of hardship, with access to case management and referrals to employment services programs.

Citi employees also actively assist Mission Australia through volunteering and staff fundraising activities.

Taste of Reconciliation dinner

Mission Australia kicked off Reconciliation Week last Wednesday, with our second annual Taste of Reconciliation dinner, held at the Sofitel Melbourne.

The night provided a chance for Melbourne's business community to celebrate Aboriginal culture, discuss ways to provide real opportunities for Aboriginal Australians and sample the native flavours of Charcoal Lane – our social enterprise restaurant in Fitzroy.

The event, held on the eve of Reconciliation Week was a huge success, attracting over 250 attendees including Elders and members of Victoria's Aboriginal community and leaders from government, corporate and not-for-profit sectors.

Throughout the evening guests heard from Hon Minister Jeanette Powell, Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, and Stephen Roberts, Chief Country Officer and CEO Institutional Clients Group, Citi Australia and New Zealand, who provided keynote speeches.

In addition, Rueben Berg from Aboriginal Affairs Victoria coordinated a 'Thought Leaders' panel, which included a speech from Toby Hall, CEO of Mission Australia.

Guests were also entertained during the event by the music of James Williams, CEO of 3KnD Radio – Melbourne’s first Indigenous radio station.

Mission Australia would like to thank the Victoria Government (Aboriginal Affairs Victoria), Reconciliation Australia, Sofitel Melbourne, Accor, Citi and Red Letter Management.

Mission Australia encourages all its supporters, staff and volunteers to participate in this important week by taking part in activities in your community or simply reflecting on what this week is all about.

Visit Mission Australia's Aboriginal & Torres Strait Island resources page for our Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP), the latest indigenous news, current affairs and policy updates.

Further reading:

• Previous MA news - Charcoal Lane
• Previous MA news - Reconciliation

Reconciliation Week

Today is National Sorry Day, which heralds the start of Reconciliation Week. This year’s theme is recognition.

Reconciliation Australia wants us to think about what it means to feel recognised, and how valuable that is for our self-esteem and our ability to recognise the best in others.

Recognition is important to all of us, of course. It is crucial for Indigenous Australians, whose existence and rights as traditional owners have been overlooked in history – and who continue to struggle for justice and equality today.

As the first Australian charity to develop a Reconciliation Action Plan, this is a topic close to our heart as an organisation and this vital national conversation will help us create a fairer Australia for all.

The theme of recognition is also timely. The Federal Government recently established a panel to consider amending the Constitution to recognise Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people within it, and we may all have the chance to vote in a referendum on this issue in the near future.

Mission Australia kicked off Reconciliation Week last night with our second annual Taste of Reconciliation dinner, held at the Sofitel Melbourne on Collins. The night provided a chance for Melbourne's business community to celebrate Aboriginal culture, discuss ways to provide real opportunities for Aboriginal Australians and sample the native flavours of Charcoal Lane - our social enterprise restaurant in Fitzroy.

Mission Australia encourages all its supporters, staff and volunteers to participate in this important week by taking part in activities in your community or simply reflecting on what this week is all about.

Further reading:

• Previous MA news - Charcoal Lane
• Previous MA news - Reconciliation
  

Aboriginal jobs and development on the menu at VIC's premier reconciliation event

More than 250 of Victoria's business and Aboriginal leaders will meet to consider ways to tackle Aboriginal disadvantage and enhance reconciliation at the Taste of Reconciliation event on May 25th.

The event, which will examine business solutions to alleviate the inequality experienced by Aboriginals, will feature Victorian Minister for Aboriginal Affairs Jeanette Powell and Chief Country Officer and CEO Clients Institutional Group, Citi Australia and New Zealand, Stephen Roberts.

Mr Roberts, who is Chair of the Australian Indigenous Minority Supplier Council, a group which provides purchasing links between corporate Australia, government agencies and indigenous-owned businesses, will advise how businesses can get involved in reconciliation.

Mission Australia Victorian State Director Paul Bird said Taste of Reconciliation, the state's premier celebratory reconciliation event, primarily provides corporate and indigenous Victoria an opportunity to come together to talk about practical ways to overcome Aboriginal disadvantage

"Victoria's businesses can play a hugely significant role in furthering reconciliation by promoting job growth, skills development and boosting individual self-confidence," said Mr Bird.

"Purchasing, where possible, products and services from Aboriginal suppliers, providing opportunities for Aboriginal trainees and apprentices and hiring Aboriginal employees are all ways in which corporate Australia can make a real difference," he said.

According to Mr Bird, while the Victorian Government has made progress through its funding of Reconciliation Victoria, the Indigenous Honour Roll initiative and supporting leadership and mentoring programs for Aboriginal youth, more can be done by government, business and community service organisations to renew their commitment to reconciliation.

"That's what Taste of Reconciliation is about - assisting in that renewal by providing an event where business leaders and the Aboriginal community can meet to discuss ways forward," said Mr Bird.

And leading by example, Mission Australia, through its own Reconciliation Action Plan, exceeded its goal for increasing the number of employees who identified as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander with 120 staff members, almost five per cent of their total workforce, coming from these backgrounds.

Taste of Reconciliation - Wednesday, 25 May 2011

• Time: 6.30pm to 10pm
• Place: Sofitel Melbourne on Collins, 25 Collins Street, Melbourne
• For more information, visit www.tasteofreconciliation.org

Click here to browse past Taste of Reconciliation news

'Fantastic food and spirit of a fair go come together' at Charcoal Lane

There's been a lot of talk about Mission Australia's Charcoal Lane restaurant recently in the Melbourne press, with the Fitzroy social enterprise making the pages of The Age and Melbourne City newspaper.

This month the restaurant was the setting for the 'Lunch with…' column, with Peter Freier, the Archbishop of Melbourne, enjoying its native-flavoured dishes.

The Age's Danny Zwartz wrote that "The choice of Charcoal Lane is typical of his attention to detail and unerring political eye. It is a pleasant restaurant serving good food but he is also supporting disadvantaged young people - not least through the publicity he will bring - as well as deflecting possible criticism about the archbishop being seen doing something as frivolous as lunch."

He also noted that the restaurant, which trains young Aboriginal people and other local youth in hospitality, was a natural choice for the Archbishop, who had worked with Indigenous communities on Thursday Island an in Kowanyama and Yarrabar.

Dishes featured included saltbush lamb, pan-seared salmon, Sydney rock oysters with cider dressing and finger limes, yam fritters with bush tomato chutney, and flourless mandarin meringue cake and cheese were among the native-flavoured dishes that were highlighted.

Last month the restaurant also received a glowing review in the Melbourne City Newspaper.

Kimberly Yu wrote that "Fantastic food and the spirit of a fair go come together at Fitzroy's Charcoal Lane.

"The restaurant's innovative use of native meat and bush spices combines seamlessly with more familiar offerings, producing mouth-watering dishes like native peppered kangaroo fillet with a shallot and bush tomato tart, topped with a rosella flower jus," she added.

Head Chef Craig Hicks has been on a mission to bring "fresh tastes to the menu, incorporating his experience in some of the best kitchens in Asia, Europe and Australia into the new menu.

"I'm passionate about incorporating Australian Indigenous ingredients such as lilli pillies and quandongs with Asian flavours, which I don't think anyone else has achieved," he said, adding that kangaroo was the biggest drawcard.

Craig said he was looking forward to showing students the array of possibilities for a career in hospitality. Under his guidance, the trainees now make bread twice a day and also learning to make cheeses.

The restaurant - a partnership between Mission Australia, the Victorian Aboriginal Health Service and William Angliss Institute - provides 30 traineeships and 12 apprenticeships a year.

Charcoal Lane staff and trainees are preparing to host another Taste of Reconciliation event on the 25 May. The event is the second annual corporate dinner and will feature keynote speakers such as Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, Jeanette Powell, and Chief Operating Officer and CEO Institutional Clients Group, Citi Australia and New Zealand, Stephen Roberts. Visit www.tasteofreconciliation.org for more information.

Charcoal Lane is at 136 Gertrude St, Fitzroy. Open Tuesday to Sunday from noon to 3pm and 6pm to 10pm. Call (03) 9418 3400, email eat@charcoallane.com.au, or visit www.charcoallane.com.au

Further reading:

• Lunch with…Philip Freier at Charcoal Lane
• Previous Charcoal Lane news

Charcoal Lane Trainee wins Apprenticeships Plus Award

Congratulations to Charcoal Lane’s Marley Kennedy on winning the Apprenticeships Plus Monthly Apprentice/Trainee Award for March.

The trainee was recognised by Charcoal Lane’s partnered training provider for “outstanding achievement”, particularly during Charcoal Lane’s Taste of Reconciliation Lunch Bridge Lunch early in March – an open-air dining experience on Melbourne’s Sandridge Bridge that showcased the restaurant’s modern native menu and promoted reconciliation.

The Certificate III Hospitality trainee arrived at Sandridge Bridge early on the Sunday to help set up the event for 150 guests after working a late shift at Charcoal Lane the night before. During the lunch she impressed Aboriginal elders and other diners with her knowledge and hospitality skills, and stayed on to clean up.

It was a long and hot day, with many of the usual “hospitality frustrations”, but Marley played a real leadership role in keeping her colleagues cheery and positive until the end.

In recent months Marley has been something of a spokesperson for Charcoal Lane and Apprenticeships Plus, being interviewed in The Melbourne Times and on Indigenous TV station NITV to encourage other young Aboriginal people to reach their potential.

In the newspaper article Marley spoke of the positive impact Charcoal Lane has had on her life:

"I wanted to connect with the Indigenous side of it all, to be able to pass on my knowledge about our culture and food to others," she said. "I feel like I'm embracing a positive outlook. I have cousins up in Albury who look at me and see that if I can do it, they can do it.”

Charcoal Lane Program Coordinator Stephanie Simson said Marley was a very worthy recipient of the Monthly Apprenticeship/Trainee award.

“Marley is doing fabulously and is looking at a work experience placement at the Mercure Hotel in the city,“ said Stephanie.

“Apprenticeships Plus employs more than 500 apprentices and trainees, so she had plenty of competition. We’re very proud of her!”

Charcoal Lane trainees and apprentices are part of an integrated program that includes personal skills development and accredited education (Certificate II and III in Hospitality),
with the aim of transiting to sustainable employment.

Specialising in modern cuisine infused with native flavours, the restaurant has built up a reputation for quality since opening in July 2009 and featured in The Age Good Food Guide 2010.

Charcoal Lane is at 136 Gertrude Street, Fitzroy, and opens from Tuesday to Saturday from 10am to 10.30pm. To book call (03) 9418 3400 or email eat@charcoallane.com.au

Visit Mission Australia's Aboriginal & Torres Strait Island resources page for our Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP), the latest indigenous news, current affairs and policy updates.

Sun shines on Charcoal Lane event

Sunshine and a stunning location provided Charcoal Lane students with the perfect conditions for showing off their talents at Sunday’s Taste of Reconciliation Bridge Lunch.

Guests at Melbourne’s Sandridge Bridge and Southbank enjoyed a four-course meal prepared and served by staff from Mission Australia’s Charcoal Lane social enterprise restaurant.

Some of the native-inspired dishes included rice paper rolls, house-cured kangaroo prosciutto with shrimps and ruby red chilli, and mountain pepper salmon pastrami with avocado puree.

Mains ranged from king fish with palm sugar, soy mirin glaze, finger lime and salt bush salad with a kumara puree to slow-cooked lamb rump, wild thyme and bush tomato chutney, native mint young potatoes.

The desserts were also infused with Indigenous flavours. Diners had the choice of ending lunch with a raspberry and rosella flower cannelloni; baked lemon Aspen tart and vanilla panna cotta with passionberry jelly.

This 2011 Melbourne Food and Wine Festival event was held on the Yarra's iconic Sandridge Bridge - a symbol of bridging the gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians.

Among the guests was Yorta Yorta Elder Pam Pederson, who enjoyed the opportunity to sample Charcoal Lane and make friends: "Thank you so much for inviting me to the luncheon and what a beautiful day,” she told Mission Australia’s organisers after lunch. “I just so enjoyed meeting new people and talking to them."

The Charcoal Lane trainees who served and prepared food also enjoyed the day, according to the social enterprise’s Youth Support Worker Shera Angela: "The students had a great time and did really well. We are very proud of their efforts and perseverance on such a warm day."

Pictured, from left: Paul Bird, Mission Australia’s State Director Victoria, with Rod Jackson, CEO of the Victorian Aboriginal Health Service and Susan Riley, City of Melbourne Deputy Lord Mayor.

Media Release: 300 Melbournians to get a taste of reconciliation on Sandridge Bridge

In a first for Melbourne, Sandridge Bridge will be closed to host 300 guests for the inaugural Taste of Reconciliation: Bridge Lunch on Sunday 6 March 2011 as part of the Melbourne International Food and Wine Festival.

Taste of Reconciliation: Bridge Lunch is a sumptuous four-course lunch designed and served by Charcoal Lane that celebrates the11th anniversary of the Bridge Walks for Reconciliation.

Sandridge Bridge and the surrounding area is significant to Aboriginal history in Melbourne and has been a meeting place of peoples and cultures for centuries including the Indigenous Wurundjeri and Bunurong peoples.

Guests from 1pm to 4pm will be treated to a four-course meal of contemporary Australian cuisine infused with native flavours, while local Indigenous leaders share their stories.

Charcoal Lane’s Head Chef Craig Hicks said the Taste of Reconciliation: Bridge Lunch is set to be an unforgettable dining experience.

“The historic significance of Sandridge Bridge will set the scene for a unique celebration of Indigenous culture and food,” Mr Hicks said.

“We will start with canapés in Queensbridge Square before moving to Sandridge Bridge for the remaining courses, which will be served with matched wines.”

The event will be held as part of the Melbourne Food and Wine Festival and is supported by Aboriginal Affairs Victoria and The City of Melbourne.

Deputy Lord Mayor, Susan Riley said: “The City of Melbourne is pleased to partner with Mission Australia for this wonderful event.”

Tickets for the four-course lunch are $120, with all proceeds going towards Mission Australia’s Charcoal Lane for programs to provide hospitality training and personal development for young Aboriginals and other disadvantaged youth.

More information about the event can be found at: http://www.tasteofreconciliation.org/

Booking enquiries can be made through Charcoal Lane, contact: eat@charcoallane.com.au or (03) 9418 3400 between 9am and 5pm weekdays.

Event details:
What:  Taste of Reconciliation: Bridge Lunch
When:  1pm to 4pm on Sunday 6 March 2011
Where:  First course to be served at Red Stairs in Queensbridge Square, Southbank, before moving to Sandridge Bridge.
Why:  To celebrate reconciliation in a unique dining experience, as part of the Melbourne Food and Wine Festival.

Interview and photo opportunities:
Craig Hicks – Head Chef at Charcoal Lane
Paul Bird – Mission Australia’s State Director for Victoria
Charcoal Lane trainees

Media contacts:
Emily Lehmann, Fenton Communications on (03) 9600 0006 / 0421 852 501 or emilyl@fenton.com.au
Rachael Nightingale, Fenton Communications on (03) 9600 0006 / 0449881980 or rachael@fenton.com.au

Hope through hospitality

More Melburnians are finding out about the innovative work being carried out at Mission Australia’s Charcoal Lane thanks to features running in six Fairfax community newspapers.

Trainee Marley Kennedy and Head Chef Craig Hicks were interviewed by Mary-Jane Daffy and photographed by Teagan Glenane for a feature on the how hospitality can be used to tackle disadvantage.

Marley, 25, who is nearing the end of her traineeship at Charcoal Lane, talked about the positive impact the restaurant has had on her life:

"I wanted to connect with the Indigenous side of it all, to be able to pass on my knowledge about our culture and food to others," she said. "I feel like I'm embracing a positive outlook. I have cousins up in Albury who look at me and see that if I can do it, they can do it.”

She has since been approached to work at a resort in Uluru: "I feel like I'm getting into a new period in my life, and seeing things I never ordinarily would have."

Interviewed just 10 days into his new role at Charcoal Lane, Craig Hicks said he aimed to deliver the very best training to his students.

"We are setting up training sessions where they (the students) get sent out to a bakery, a butchery, a piggery and learn all the different skills," he said.

You can read the whole article on The Northern Weekly site

Taste of Reconciliation

If you’re in Melbourne on Sunday 6 March why not sample the unique native flavours of Charcoal Lane at the Taste of Reconciliation Bridge Lunch. Running for three hours from 1pm, this unforgettable outdoor dining experience on Melbourne's Sandridge Bridge celebrates the joining of Indigenous and non-Indigenous cultures.

Tickets are $120 per person for a four-course lunch with matched wines. There are only 300 places available for this unique event, so book early to avoid disappointment!

To learn more about this Melbourne Food and Wine Festival event, visit tasteofreconciliation.org

Visit Mission Australia's Aboriginal & Torres Strait Island resources page for our Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP), the latest indigenous news, current affairs and policy updates.

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

Charcoal Lane makes foodie news in Japan

Our very own Charcoal Lane, Mission Australia’s social enterprise restaurant in Melbourne, has been recognised by a prestigious Japanese food magazine.

‘The Cuisine Magazine’ featured the Fitzroy restaurant with an Indigenous flavour in the World Topics pages of the February issue. The write-up goes something like this (we think!):

“There are charity-run shops opening up all over the world and Charcoal Lane is a new one in Melbourne.”

It then explains how Charcoal Lane enables Aboriginal and disadvantaged young people to gain skills that will enable them to work in the hospitality industry. The program integrates personal skills development and accredited education in hospitality.

‘The Cuisine Magazine’ also highlights the use of native Australian ingredients, with “flavours that will impress the most gourmet types”.

Restaurant Manager Lucy Chambers (pictured) said she was delighted to see Charcoal Lane receive a plug in Japan – which has a very passionate foodie culture.

In February, Charcoal Lane is taking part in the 2011 Melbourne Food and Wine Festival event, holding a special ‘Taste of Reconciliation’ outdoor event over the Yarra. More details will follow in the next week.

You can find Charcoal Lane at 136 Gertrude Street, Fitzroy, Melbourne. It’s open Tuesday to Saturday from 10am to 10.30pm.

To book a table call (03) 9418 3400 or visit www.charcoallane.com.au 


Visit Mission Australia's Aboriginal & Torres Strait Island resources page for our Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP), the latest indigenous news, current affairs and policy updates.

Social Enterprise in Action: Charcoal Lane featured on Sky Business

The University of NSW's Centre for Social Impact recently featured Mission Australia's social enterprise restaurant, Charcoal Lane, on their 'Social Business' program on Sky Business.

Watch the video at this link

'Social Business' discusses the latest news in not-for-profit activity, corporate responsibility, philanthropy and volunteering. It focuses on key issues around social entrepreneurship, public and social innovation and the emergence of new social businesses.

Charcoal Lane is a restaurant in Fitzroy, Melbourne, which serves high-quality modern and native Australian cuisine. Charcoal Lane is a social enterprise launched in 2006 and is supported by Mission Australia. It aims to give disadvantaged youth the opportunity to train in hospitality and pursue careers in the industry.

A pre-flight flavour of Charcoal Lane

Travellers heading south from Sydney Airport can now feast their eyes on a striking new Charcoal Lane booth promoting the Melbourne restaurant.

The booth, which was supplied to Mission Australia by ACP Magazines as part of an ongoing promotional program, is positioned in the Qantas Club Lounge in the domestic terminal. 

The booth invites passengers to Melbourne to treat themselves “to a meal at Charcoal Lane and help make a difference”.

Charcoal Lane is a Mission Australia-operated social enterprise restaurant that offers modern Australian cuisine with an Aboriginal flavour.

The social enterprise enables Aboriginal and disadvantaged young people to gain experience in a supported work environment as part of a program that integrates personal skills development and accredited education in hospitality.

The promotional booth, which was launched last Wednesday, features images of the Charcoal Lane team as well as the menu to whet travellers’ appetites.

You can find Charcoal Lane at 136 Gertrude Street, Fitzroy, Melbourne. It’s open Tuesday to Saturday from 10am to 10.30pm.

To book a table call (03) 9418 3400 or visit www.charcoallane.com.au

Who's got The Ultimate Job?

Mission Australia is thrilled to be the charity partner in Drake International's new competition to find 'the ultimate job'.

'The Ultimate Job' competition was launched last Wednesday at Melbourne's Charcoal Lane restaurant with Premier John Brumby, Mission Australia CEO Toby Hall and a panel of celebrity judges.

The panel included Mal Walden (Network Ten), Peter Blunden (Herald Sun), Bernie Brookes (Myer), Eddie McGuire (Austereo), Andrew Swallow (AFL), Linda Brown (Swinburne University), Russel Howcroft (George Patterson Y & R) and The Victorian Government.

Following the launch, Sydney will follow in August and eventually all major cities of the world including New York and London.  Throughout the campaign Drake International is generously raising funds for Mission Australia.

The competition details are provided below, or visit www.theultimatejob.com.au

---

How The Ultimate Job Competition works:
(Information provided by Drake International)

Each capital city of Australia will be picking it's own Ultimate Job. Each campaign runs for 3 months.

1. Companies submit their applications
2. The Expert Panel from each city chooses their Top 10 jobs. (Note: If Companies have representatives on the panel, they can not vote for their own Companies.)
3. Drake will place candidates in all positions advertised throughout the competition.
4. Each Company that makes the Top 10 shortlist will be able to compile a video (Up to 5 minutes) of their Ultimate Job.
5. The public votes via text/SMS on their favourite job from the Top 10 list, with the winning Company being decided by the highest number of votes from the public.
6. A Gala Evening will announce the winning Company of The Ultimate JobT campaign for Melbourne, and there will also be a winning Employee (Placed into The Ultimate Job), who will be rewarded with a host of prizes including: A Myer Wardrobe and Fosters Grange Fridge, filled with Fosters Grange wines.

Further Points

• The Expert judges (listed above) will choose the top 10 jobs out of a list of real/vacant jobs that are submitted by Companies.
• On www.theultimatejob.com.au  Companies will have their logo and 200 words or less, to advertise their vacant positions to the public. The public can apply for all positions advertised, as these are real jobs.
• Mission Australia will receive revenue raised by public texting,  for The Ultimate Job, 30% of job placement fees, and all monies raised from the Gala Event.
• Companies with vacant jobs will be encouraged, through multiple sources to submit their applications to be short listed for The Ultimate Job.
• All Company applications, are real jobs that the public can apply for. Some companies are actually creating jobs specifically for this competition.
• The Ultimate Job will be announced at a Gala Event with the Top 10 companies in attendance (October 5 2010). All jobs will be introduced, No. 10 right down to the winner. The celebrities participating in the judging will be in attendance.
• The winning job applicant will be showcased on the Gala Evening.

You can check out the competition website here, or follow us on Twitter here.

'Taste of Reconciliation' event a success in Melbourne

On 26th May Mission Australia's Taste of Reconciliation dinner took place at the Sofitel Melbourne to bring together influential Victorians to talk, learn and be inspired on the path to reconciliation.

The inaugural event was held on the eve of Reconciliation Week, in the company of over 200 attendees including Elders and members of Victoria's Aboriginal community, along with leaders from government, corporate and not-for-profit sectors.

This, however, was no ordinary corporate event as each table of delegates were headed by an Aboriginal 'table leader' for direct discussion on reconciliation and personal experiences.

Over the evening delegates moved between tables so that everyone had the chance to meet each other and broaden their understanding of reconciliation, and its influence on individual Australians.

In addition to the table discussion the Deputy Premier, Hon. Rob Hulls provided a keynote address, followed by short speeches from the 'Thought Leaders' panel: the Hon. Richard Wynne, Minister for Aboriginal Affairs; Toby Hall, CEO of Mission Australia; David Thodey, CEO of Telstra; Jason Eades, CEO of Koorie Heritage Trust; and Jirra Harvey, Oxfam Youth Coordinator.

The event builds on the example set by the Charcoal Lane social enterprise restaurant, that engages patrons in contemporary Aboriginal culture and cuisine (while also working as a training provider).

The meals were cooked and served at the usual high standards from Charcoal Lane's Head Chef, with staff Lorcan Kan, Clarissa Kay Thorne, and trainees Spencer and Jimmy.

Mission Australia is looking forward to hosting the second Taste of Reconciliation event in 2011.

Visit Mission Australia's Aboriginal & Torres Strait Island resources page for our Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP), the latest indigenous news, current affairs and policy updates.

Functions are on the menu at Charcoal Lane

Mission Australia's social enterprise restaurant, Charcoal Lane, has recently opened its private dining room catering for groups of up to 20 people, offering a personalised seasonal menu.


The restaurant, located in Melbourne's trendy Fitzroy, now caters for up to 100 guests and has been attracting attention locally and internationally for it's role as a training provider to culinary students of disadvantaged backgrounds and its unique Modern Australian cuisine combining native influences.

The new private dining room will help build Charcoal Lane's reputation as a first-class fine dining venue, ensuring it can provide employment pathways for it's students in the future.

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For bookings or enquiries call: (03) 9418 3400 or visit  www.charcoallane.com.au/contact/booking

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