Update July '23: We have no plans to run Tasting Plate in the next 12 months. If you're interested in undertaking a short course with Scarf, please consider Skill Up with Scarf. 

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Scarf Tasting Plate programs offer participants a “taste” of hospitality and the opportunity to gain paid work experience in a great Melbourne restaurant. Each Tasting Plate program provides 16 trainee positions, for young people from refugee or migrant backgrounds and young people seeking protection. 

Tasting Plate is a 3-day intensive program which includes a bunch of awesome, hands-on hospitality and job readiness sessions, allowing participants to grow their knowledge, skills and networks.

This photo album from our 2019 Scarf Tasting Plate (run with support from the Inner North Community Foundation) will give you a good idea of the program! 

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Tasting Plate programs have run at Five Senses Coffee, Two Birds Brewing and The Rochey, with paid work experience opportunities during 'Pop Up' Scarf Dinners at Ladro and Copper Pot Seddon.

During a Scarf Tasting Plate program, trainees will:

• Learn basic hospitality service skills (including how to carry three plates, take orders, follow an order of service, set tables and carry wine glasses)
• Learn bar basics (learn about different types of alcohol, how to pour wine, etc)
• Take part in hands-on espresso coffee training
• Take part in ‘customer service confidence’ training
• Complete an RSA (Responsible Service of Alcohol) certificate and a Food Handler certificate (accredited training)
• Learn how to write a resume for hospitality jobs
• Practice their interview techniques with real hospitality managers
• Take part in a ‘Work Rights and Responsibilities in Australia’ workshop
• Hear from Scarf graduates about how they found and sustained employment beyond the program
• Hear from hospitality professionals about the rewards and challenges of working in hospitality
• Engage in post-program job-seeking support from the Scarf team

Once they've completed the three days of training, Tasting Plate graduates are given the opportunity to put their new skills into practice, with paid work experience during a Scarf Dinner or at a shift at one of Scarf's partner venues. This experience, and a reference, can be added to their new resumes which have been created during the program, allowing graduates to showcase recent, local work experience.

Graduates of Tasting Plate are also welcome to apply for our 10-week Seasonal Program should they wish to gain further training and paid work experience with Scarf.

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Cover image: Tasting Plate '19 trainees at The Rochey. Photographer: Roger Ungers