About
The Welcome Table began in 2018 as House of Welcome Catering, with a borrowed kitchen, a Head Chef, four client cooks and an ambitious idea: to use food and hospitality to create pathways to employment for people seeking asylum and refugees.
Over eight years, it grew into a dedicated commercial kitchen, a structured Chef Training program and a community of trainees, graduates, chefs, customers, partners and supporters.
At the heart of the work was the belief that creating pathways to employment takes more than technical skills. Through paid training, real workplace experience and the wraparound support of House of Welcome, participants had opportunities to build skills, confidence and connections while working towards greater independence.
And along the way, we learned that food could do even more. It created opportunities for people to share their skills and culture, contribute to their community and build connections with people, workplaces and organisations beyond their immediate networks.
Eight years around the table
What began in a borrowed kitchen grew through the contribution of many people — trainees and graduates, chefs and staff, customers, partners, funders, volunteers and supporters.
Across eight years there were firsts, milestones, celebrations, challenges, friendships, meals shared and thousands of moments that made The Welcome Table what it became.
This is some of our journey.
Learning by doing
At the heart of The Welcome Table was our Chef Training program designed to give people seeking asylum and refugees the opportunity to learn in a real workplace while earning an income.
Participants combined paid, hands-on experience in our commercial kitchen with accredited training and practical support. Alongside commercial cookery and food safety, they developed workplace English, confidence, communication skills and experience of Australian workplace culture.
Working as part of a professional kitchen team gave trainees the opportunity to learn by doing: preparing food for real customers, working to deadlines, solving problems and building the skills and confidence that come through meaningful workplace experience.
The aim was never simply to train chefs. It was to create a supported pathway towards sustainable employment, further training and greater independence.
support beyond the kitchen
The Welcome Table was created by House of Welcome, which has supported people seeking asylum in Sydney since 2001.
Our experience reinforced the importance of seeing employment as part of a person's broader journey towards stability, independence, connection and belonging.
Being part of House of Welcome meant Chef Training participants could access a broad range of wraparound supports alongside their training. These included transitional housing, intensive casework support, employment assistance, emergency financial assistance, and access to material aid and referrals to childcare and healthcare services.
For many participants, these supports were critical to their ability to engage in and complete the program. House of Welcome assisted trainees with practical barriers that often sit outside the scope of a training program, including access to safe and stable accommodation through our transitional housing program, support navigating complex systems and visa-related challenges through casework, employment search and job-readiness assistance, transport costs, phone and data access, and emergency material aid when needed.
Supported people seeking asylum and refugees
Created opportunities for people seeking asylum and refugees to build confidence, independence, and meaningful participation in the Australian workforce and community.
Delivered food experiences that went beyond expectations
Offered exceptional, flavour-rich food that celebrated diverse cultures through culinary connection and sharing of stories.
Provided a warm, welcoming space
Created a supportive environment where people seeking asylum and refugees built community, found connection, grew their skills, and discovered opportunities.
What we achieved
Through the power of food to create connection, dignity, and opportunity, we:
Created high-quality community meals
Provided fresh, delicious meals that supported the needs of our multicultural community and demonstrated the contribution that people seeking asylum and refugees could make to Australian society.
Advocated for change
Created opportunities for people seeking asylum and refugees to determine and achieve their goals and have their voices heard and acted upon.
“Every day I’ll miss the vibrancy and energy the kitchen team and activity brought to the place. There was always something going on, a delicious smell wafting through the building. I’d wonder what they were cooking this time, starting to feel hungry, would there be leftovers or a new recipe we ‘needed’ to test?
But most importantly, the TWT traineeship provided incredible employment opportunities to so many people. The trainees usually began the 6 months traineeship subdued and not a little anxious. Each week they would gain in confidence, we’d start to hear their voices, their delight in mastering new skills and becoming increasingly competent in the kitchen. They would share a coffee or lunch break with the rest of the HoW team, their unique personalities emerging from the shell so many people seeking asylum cling to. Every week it felt like a glowing note of thanks and appreciation for the delicious TWT food would arrive. The trainees positively vibrated with pride hearing how their customers enjoyed their food.”
— Jacqui
Our Impact
Numbers weren’t the only thing that mattered to us.
What we cared about most was that our trainees left us feeling empowered to enter the local job market and shape their own futures.
We are proud that 100% of our graduate client chefs:
strongly agreed that on-the-job training was delivered to assist with their role as trainee chef
reported that their traineeship increased their confidence to seek employment opportunities
reported that the program increased their skills and training as a chef and in hospitality.
what changed for participants
With 24 program participants since 2018 we saw that employment was an important outcome of Chef Training, but it wasn't the only one.
The program was designed to build the practical and personal capabilities that help people participate confidently in Australian workplaces and pursue their own goals.
Our graduate feedback showed:
100% reported that the quality and relevance of their on-the-job training supported them in their trainee chef role.
100% reported increased confidence to seek employment.
100% reported increased chef and hospitality skills and training.
These outcomes reflect something we saw repeatedly over the life of the program: meaningful workplace participation can build skills, but also confidence, relationships and a stronger sense of what might be possible next.
What we’re bringing with us
Eight years around The Welcome Table reinforced that food can do much more than nourish.
It can create common ground between people from different backgrounds. It can provide meaningful ways to participate and contribute. It can help build confidence and capability. And the connections formed around food can introduce people to new relationships, information, workplaces and opportunities.
The Welcome Table also showed us that pathways towards employment rarely come from technical training alone. Skills matter, but so do confidence, supportive relationships, real-world experience and opportunities to build connections beyond our immediate circles.
These lessons and the generosity, skills and experience of everyone who helped shape them are an important part of The Welcome Table's catering and chef training legacy.