The Gordon are setting up students for careers in culinary excellence.
Ben Herbert’s journey from casual pizza job to a promising culinary career underscores the transformative power of pursuing one’s passion. As an apprentice chef, Herbert divides his time between training at TAFE and hands-on kitchen experience, a balancing act that requires true dedication and commitment.
Herbert’s dream of diving into the culinary world became clearer when he was working casually in a pizza shop and was unexpectedly thrust into the role of head chef.
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“I realised I was enjoying cooking more than my studies at university. Being head chef was stressful, however, it showed me independent thinking and leadership in a kitchen. It also gave me the belief that I could become a great chef”, Herbert says.
Trading his uni books for cookbooks, Herbert shifted away from conservation, land management, and IT studies to start his cookery journey at The Gordon, which has played a pivotal role in his development and prepared him for real-life scenarios.
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“The training I receive at The Gordon is beyond what I had expected. It has laid the foundation for a lot of my work life. For example, I have applied units of communication training to help train new staff at work where I clearly explain a task, perform it for them, and then supervise the trainee performing the task”, explains Herbert.
Insights gained from learning French cooking techniques and the experiences shared by his teacher, Will Manning, have significantly shaped Ben’s aspirations to specialise in fine dining.
“The opportunity to learn from world-class chefs is really great. Every time I attend class I can feel improvement in my skills. My teacher is extremely inspiring and keeps fuelling me to learn more”, says Herbert.
The industry connections, knowledge, and award-winning Culinary School that Herbert accesses through his TAFE program, are second to none, leading to his shining success for a pork and celeriac dish at the AUS-TAFE Culinary Competition State Final last year.
“After researching my potential dish, typing up a workflow plan, and practicing my dish, I was able to cook without any setbacks, and achieved the silver medal”, says Herbert.
Currently working at Songbird, a vibrant Thai eatery in Geelong’s CBD, Herbert aims to refine his skills in flavour palettes and advanced techniques at fine dining venues, and travel the world as a chef, before opening up his dream restaurant one day.
Winning The Gordon’s Cookery Apprentice Excellence Award earlier this year for his exceptional dedication and commitment to his craft, Herbert shared inspiring words with his peers, confirming his limitless desire for growth and potential as a future leader in the culinary industry.
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“You must have a desire for the program and potential jobs it will create for you. TAFE will give you a lot of knowledge but it’s up to you and what you do with the knowledge, if you want to seek more.”
Make the cut and start your culinary career today! Apply to study The Gordon’s Free TAFE cookery program in 2025 at thegordon.edu.au. *Free TAFE eligibility criteria applies.
Head to The Gordon website to learn more about courses for 2025.
