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

2022 Fundraising Campaign  Book a Scarf Dinner 

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • 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
    • Who We Work With
    • 10-Week Seasonal Program
    • Skill Up with Scarf
    • Scarf Tasting Plate
    • Tasting Plate for Women
    • Graduate Focus Group
  • Scarf Dinners
    • Winter Scarf Dinners '22
    • What's a Scarf Dinner?
    • Partner Restaurants
    • Bookings Policy
  • Our 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
    • 2022 Mid-year fundraising campaign
    • Shop
    • Scarf's Charity Status
    • Workplace Giving
    • Corporate Partnerships
  • What's Happening
    • Winter Scarf Dinners '22
    • 2022 Mid-year fundraising campaign
    • Our News
    • Events & Fundraising
    • 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 2022 Mid-year fundraising campaign

    Scarf 2022 Mid-year fundraising campaign

    We need your help to raise $25K in 25 days so that Scarf can continue transforming lives through hospitality. With the help of some of Scarf's wonderful partners and friends, we'll be able to double it!

  • 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.

  • Scarf Wrap Up - 2021

    Scarf Wrap Up - 2021

    The pandemic continued to present challenges for our small team last year, but we still saw some solid outcomes for our trainees and graduates.

  • Q & A with James Irvine from Four Pillars

    Q & A with James Irvine from Four Pillars

    We're incredibly grateful that Four Pillars have been a Scarf PartnerĀ for the past five years. James Irvine, Four Pillars Creative Director of Gin Drinks recently shared a few words.

Most read

  • 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.

  • 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!

  • Skill Up with Scarf

    Skill Up with Scarf

    Skill Up with Scarf - Autumn '22 ran from 7 - 10 March with support from The Funding Network and Tip Jar Fund.

  • What We Do

    What We Do

  • 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.

  • Scarf 2022 Mid-year fundraising campaign

    Scarf 2022 Mid-year fundraising campaign

    We need your help to raise $25K in 25 days so that Scarf can continue transforming lives through hospitality. With the help of some of Scarf's wonderful partners and friends, we'll be able to double it!

  • What's a Scarf Dinner?

    What's a Scarf Dinner?

  • Our Vision, Mission and Values

    Our Vision, Mission and Values

    Vision: A society which embraces diversity, celebrates connected communities, and has equitable employment opportunities for all. Mission: To create a nourishing, supportive and inclusive space for trainees to gain confidence, skills, knowledge and networks. To foster connections in the hospitality industry to create equitable employment opportunities.

  • The Scarf Board

    The Scarf board currently comprises: Sara Webb, Lisa Jones, Matt Teran and Hannah Brennan.

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