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

Donate  Shop

  • 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 at Stomping Ground
    • 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
    • Donate
    • Shop
    • Scarf's Charity Status
    • Workplace Giving
    • Corporate Partnerships
    • 2021 Mid-Year Fundraising Appeal
  • What's Happening
    • 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)
  • The Scarf Story

The Scarf Story

.

We believe that hospitality can transform lives.

We knew heaps of young people hungry for hospitality jobs but facing barriers to getting them. We brought them together with mentors keen to share knowledge and networks, then mixed in sponsors and restaurants ready to create a new kind of dining experience.
We created the first Scarf Dinners season. It was a recipe for success.
Now Scarf pops up in a new Melbourne restaurant every season. Young people get hands-on experience and real confidence to get real industry jobs. They do it in a space where creativity thrives, individuality reigns and high fives are just part of the process.
Diners love seeing the training and mentoring in action, love being part of something much bigger, and love the moveable feast that is Scarf.

.

.

Why did Scarf start?

Whilst working in hospitality and volunteering with the refugee community in 2009, Scarf co-founders Hannah Brennan and Jess Moran observed firsthand how hard it can be for newly arrived young people to secure employment. We were meeting heaps of amazing, resilient and determined young people from refugee backgrounds who just wanted to get a job. But they couldn't even get a foot in the door. This made us angry. These young people were keen and willing to learn and they had a great attitude - qualities that we knew our own employers were looking for. But no-one would even give them an interview, let alone a trial shift. 

We started looking at research and learned that unemployment rates amongst humanitarian migrants can be staggeringly high – up to 43%. More research revealed that young people from asylum seeker, refugee and migrant backgrounds faced significant barriers to employment and economic participation including: lack of local work experience and references, English as a second or third language (low English level), mental health complexities due to trauma backgrounds, limited knowledge of employment pathways in Australia, caring responsibilities (disproportionately affecting female refugees), homelessness, discrimination and unconscious bias, and lack of confidence due to breaks in education or employment.

We saw consistent evidence that young people from refugee and migrant backgrounds and young people seeking asylum are not adequately served by traditional Job Service Agencies which often lack cultural competency. "A major challenge for refugees and other newly arrived migrants is understanding the local labour market. A lack of local work experience, awareness about the job search methods, local referees and lack of social networks all present barriers to employment." (Lenette & Ingamells, 2013; Colic-Peisker & Tilbury, 2003).

We became determined to start breaking down these barriers. We were frustrated at the injustice but hopeful that change was possible. In September 2010, Scarf was founded with the support of a bunch of generous hospitality workers and businesses who believed, as we did, that things could be better.

Our first program was the Scarf Pilot Program in Spring 2010. We had eight trainees take part, and within three months of graduating, seven of them were in meaningful employment. After some initial evaluation supported by Grace McQuilten (founder of The Social Studio), we created the Scarf 10-week Seasonal Program model. The rest, as they say, is history! 

.

See Scarf's latest statistics and social impact. 

.

.

Learn more about Scarf in this 2017 video, 'Inside 7 Years of Scarf', by Roger Ungers.

.

.
Cover Photo: Scarf Strategic Planning day '18. Photographer: Linsey Rendell

Published: 11th March, 2019

Updated: 20th April, 2022

Author:

Share this page
  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Twitter

Latest

  • 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 Partner for the past five years. James Irvine, Four Pillars Creative Director of Gin Drinks recently shared a few words.

  • Winter Scarf '21 Program Update

    Winter Scarf '21 Program Update

    The Winter Scarf '21 Seasonal Training Program is running remotely for now, but we hope to be back face-to-face with our trainees, mentors and diners soon!

  • 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!

Most read

  • 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

    Trainee applications are now open for Skill Up with Scarf - Autumn '22 which will run from 7 - 10 March. Find out more and apply now!

  • 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.

  • What's a Scarf Dinner?

    What's a Scarf Dinner?

  • The Scarf Board

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

  • 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.

  • A celebratory collaboration - Scarf x Olana

    A celebratory collaboration - Scarf x Olana

    2020 marks Scarf's 10th birthday and we've collaborated with artist Olana Janfa to create something really special.

  • The Scarf Story

    The Scarf Story

    At Scarf, we transform the lives of young people seeking protection, and those from refugee and migrant backgrounds, by getting them into work while adding flavour and heart to the Melbourne hospitality industry. Whilst volunteering with the refugee community in 2009 - 2010, Scarf co-founders Hannah Colman and Jess Moran observed firsthand how hard it can be for newly arrived young people to find jobs, despite having a great attitude and a willingness to take on anything!

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