Skip over main navigation
  • Log in
  • Basket: (0 items)
Scarf Community

 Become a Trainee  Become a Mentor  Become a Scarf Champion  Donate 

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
Menu
  • About
    • What We Do
    • Our Approach
      • Hands-On Hospitality Training
      • Trainee & Graduate Wellbeing
      • Boosting Job Readiness
      • Trauma-Informed Approach
    • The Scarf Story
    • Vision, Mission & Values
    • Meet The Team
      • The Scarf Team
      • Trainees
      • Mentors
      • The Scarf Board
  • Programs
    • Program Overview
    • Graduate Voice
    • Who We Work With
    • 10-Week Seasonal Program
    • Skill Up with Scarf
    • Scarf Tasting Plate
    • Tasting Plate for Women
    • Graduate Focus Group
  • Scarf Dinners
    • Scarf Dinners 2023
    • What's a Scarf Dinner?
    • Partner Restaurants
    • Bookings/Refund Policy
  • Shop
  • Social Impact
    • The Difference We Make
    • Facts & Figures
    • Graduate Q & A
      • Wesley
      • Liz
      • Mel
      • Hayuran
      • Rawan
      • Danny
      • Diana
      • Negasi
      • Emma
      • Thelma
      • Mir
  • Supporters
    • Diners
    • Partners
    • Funders
    • Scarf Ambassadors
  • Get Involved
    • Hospitality Mentoring
    • Become a Partner Restaurant
  • Give
    • Donate
    • Become a Scarf Champion
    • Scarf's Charity Status
    • Workplace Giving
    • Corporate Partnerships
    • 2023 Mid-year fundraising campaign
  • What's Happening
    • Scarf Dinners, Events & Fundraising
    • Our News
    • Media Mentions
    • Scarf Campaigns
      • Do More Than Dine
      • Do More Than Drink
    • Stay Home with Scarf
  • Say Hello
  • Admin
    • Log in
  • Basket: (0 items)

Graduate Q & A

Negasi

We chatted with Negasi, who was a trainee during our Autumn Scarf ’15 program. Negasi’s been pretty busy since graduating from Scarf, and recently became the first graduate trainee to come back to Scarf as a volunteer mentor. Negasi worked behind the bar at Do More Than Dine ’18. 

Q. Why did you want to do Scarf?
A. I was looking for a job at the time.

What was the most beneficial part of the program?
Networking and getting experience.

Did you feel more confident to find a job after Scarf? If yes, why?
Yes. Because of having experience from working in the restaurant, and having a mentor beside you.

Have you been involved in any other Scarf events since you graduated?
I worked at the first Do More Than Dine fundraising dinner in 2016. I saw it as a chance to get good, paid experience at a big event. And to meet Matt Preston!  

What have you been up to since graduating from Scarf?
I worked at Shebeen bar for almost one year [after connecting with them through a Scarf mentor], then at Garden State Hotel for almost two years as a bartender. I recently left Garden State to move to a full time bartending job at Siglo. I’m about to start studying part time too – a Certificate IV to become an Operating Theatre Technician.

In your current job, do you ever draw on anything you learned/experienced in the Scarf program?
So much of what I know was learned at Scarf. I got experience with a mentor beside me.

What do you hope to be doing 5 years from now?
Hopefully I’ll be working as an operating theatre technician.

You’ve been mentoring the trainees in the Autumn Scarf ’18 program at Stomping Ground Beer Hall – why did you decide to come back to Scarf as a mentor?
To give back – it makes you feel good. I’m doing it on my only day off, I could be sleeping but I’m volunteering!

What is your advice to current and future Scarf trainees?
Be good at anything you do, if you want to improve just ask. Give a smile. Be positive.

What are you most excited about when you mentor new trainees in the program?
To see them get a job at the end of it. To help them to get that experience that they need.

Is there anything else you’d like to say?
I’m so happy to see Scarf growing. I tell people I’m mentoring on a Tuesday… they ask me “Oh, at Scarf?” So many people know about it now, it’s awesome.

Featured image: Negasi’s mentor portrait (Autumn Scarf ’18). Photo: Gareth Sobey. 

Published: 15th November, 2019

Author: JENNIFER CONROY SMITH

Share this page
  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Twitter

Latest

  • Scarf News in 2023

    Scarf News in 2023

    We've been a little slack in updating this news section on our website, but we're going to start adding to it more from September 2023 onwards! In the meantime, you might like to check out some recent newsletters!

  • Spring Scarf Dinners '23

    Spring Scarf Dinners '23

    Spring Scarf Dinners will run on Wednesday nights from 11 October - 29 November. Scarf trainees and mentors will serve a set menu designed and cooked by the experienced Noisy Ritual kitchen team. Bookings open soon!

  • Become a Scarf Champion

    Become a Scarf Champion

    Scarf Champions play a critical role in a young person significantly growing their knowledge, skills, confidence, networks, and ultimately, their job readiness. Find out more today!

  • Graduate Voice

    Graduate Voice

Most read

  • Autumn Scarf Dinners '23

    Autumn Scarf Dinners '23

    Autumn Scarf Dinners will run on Wednesday nights from 15 March - 10 May, at Cassette in Kensington. Food by the experienced Cassette team, front of house by Scarf trainees and mentors. Book now!

  • Winter Scarf Dinners '22

    Winter Scarf Dinners '22

    Scarf Dinners will kick off in 2022 in partnership with Pipis Kiosk and Perry's: A Refreshment Club. Join us and support recent Scarf graduates to gain paid work experience while enjoying a seriously delicious set menu.

  • Winter Scarf Dinners '23

    Winter Scarf Dinners '23

    Winter Scarf Dinners will run on Wednesday nights from 12 July - 30 August. Scarf trainees and mentors will serve a set menu designed and cooked by the experienced Molly Rose kitchen team. Book now!

  • Spring Scarf Dinners '22

    Spring Scarf Dinners '22

    Spring Scarf Dinners will run in partnership with The Mulberry Group on Wednesday nights from 12 October - 30 November. Dinners will be held at Liminal with food by Hazel and service from Scarf trainees and mentors.

  • What We Do

    What We Do

  • What's a Scarf Dinner?

    What's a Scarf Dinner?

  • Skill Up with Scarf

    Skill Up with Scarf

  • Scarf 2021 Mid-year fundraising appeal

    Scarf 2021 Mid-year fundraising appeal

    Help us provide training, mentoring, paid work experience and job readiness support to 50 young people this year!

  • Winter Scarf Dinners

    Winter Scarf Dinners

    Dine with us and help our new cohort of trainees gain awesome training, mentoring and paid work experience at one of Melbourne's best venues!

  • The Scarf Team

    The Scarf team comprises a bunch of passionate staff members and volunteers who are committed to Scarf's Vision, Mission and Values.

Sign up for our newsletter

Please enter your first name
Please enter your last name
Please enter your email address Please enter a valid email address (e.g. [email protected])

Find us


Worksmith
450 Smith St
Collingwood
VIC 3066


[email protected]

Links

  • Sitemap
  • Accessibility
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Privacy Policy

Scarf respectfully acknowledges the traditional owners of the land where we work and meet, the Boon wurrung and Woiwurrung (Wurundjeri) peoples of the Kulin nation. We acknowledge that this land was never ceded and we pay our respects to their Elders past, present and emerging.

Follow us

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram

© Copyright 2019 Scarf Community Organisation Melbourne