Social enterprise Scarf to host two pop-up dinners at Liminal

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Melbourne-based not-for-profit Scarf has been transforming lives through hospitality since 2010, empowering young people from asylum seeker, refugee and migrant backgrounds with practical training, mentoring, and paid work experience in Melbourne restaurants.

Now in its 14th year, Scarf has proudly supported more than 350 young people to graduate from its programs, which include a range of short courses as well as its flagship 10-week seasonal course.

During this comprehensive program, trainees gain essential skills in hospitality and job readiness through weekly sessions.

This hands-on approach not only sharpens their practical skills, but also boosts their confidence within the industry.

“A friend and I were both working in restaurants, and we were just meeting a lot of young people from refugee backgrounds who were wanting to work but couldn’t get their foot in the door,” Scarf co-founder and CEO Hannah Brennan said.

“I was just frustrated by what I was hearing. I’d had a lot of experience with managers saying they couldn’t find enough staff, but they weren’t prepared to take a punt on someone who didn’t have experience,” she said.

“I could just see that vicious cycle; you can’t get experience if you don’t have a job, but you can’t get a job without experience.”

A fundamental component of the 10-week seasonal program is the opportunity for trainees to work at special Scarf events, where they gain front-of-house paid experience at some of Melbourne’s best hospitality venues.

This month, Scarf’s spring 2024 trainees will take part in two pop-up dinners at Liminal on November 20 and 27.

For $75 per ticket, guests can enjoy a delightful three-course menu prepared by two renowned Melbourne chefs, Square One Rialto head chef Laura Boulton, and Liminal head chef Travis Goodlet.

Scarf is dedicated to ensuring that trainees receive award wages for every shift they complete, which means that ticket sales also contribute towards wages for the current trainee cohort.

By providing them with fair wages, trainees are shown the value of their work while also offering them first-hand experience of what equitable working conditions should look like in Australia.

“The trainees are really taking the lead and getting that important opportunity to put some of these newfound skills into practice, dealing with all the ins and outs of a busy dinner service - communicating with chefs, communicating with one another, and fostering that teamwork as well,” Ms Brennan told CBD News.

“We’ve been running these dinners for a long time now, and we have a lot of loyal returning diners so I think that’s a really good sign,” she said.

“Our dinners are just a really great night out where you’re eating fantastic food, but you’re also playing a really important role in building the trainees confidence and experience.”

For those unable to attend a Scarf Dinner, there is also an option to purchase a pay-it-forward ticket. This ticket will be donated to a graduate from a previous program, allowing them the opportunity to enjoy a fine dinner as well.


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