About
The Welcome Table is a work-integrated social enterprise that supports people seeking asylum and refugees to gain skills, confidence and independence, while helping break down the barriers that limit their employment opportunities and social inclusion.
People seeking asylum often lack access to the support they need to prepare for the Australian workplace and integrate into the community. Social and cultural barriers frequently prevent them from finding and keeping employment.
We believe this can change. Through cooking and hospitality training we co-create pathways with them to gain Australian workplace experience, build skills and networks and share culture in ways that enrich our nation
How we began
House of Welcome is a charity based in Granville, NSW. It offers wraparound services for people seeking asylum, including casework, housing, financial and medical support and employment assistance.
Since 2001 it has focused on supporting people on temporary bridging visas, and is now the largest provider of transitional housing in New South Wales.
In 2018, The Welcome Table (formerly known as House of Welcome Catering) launched as an employment pathway initiative by House of Welcome with a borrowed kitchen, a Head Chef, four keen client cooks and an ambitious dream.
Since then, we have worked with more than 20 people seeking asylum and refugees, supporting many of them to find ongoing work and further training opportunities.
Our food is now prepared at our dedicated kitchen at House of Welcome, enabling integrated support for our trainees and clients. House of Welcome is a service of St Francis Social Services.
Our Mission
To support people seeking asylum and refugees to achieve self-determination, independence and integration into the Australian workforce and community.
Our Vision
A future where people seeking asylum and refugees in Australia can find opportunity and fully contribute their skills, experience, and culture to enrich the nation.
What we do
We believe in the power of food to create connection, dignity, and opportunity.
Support people seeking asylum and refugees
Create opportunities for people seeking asylum and refugees to build confidence, independence, and meaningful participation in the Australian workforce and community.
Deliver food experiences that go beyond expectations
Offer exceptional, flavour-rich food that celebrates diverse cultures through culinary connection and sharing of stories.
Provide a warm, welcoming space
Create a supportive environment where people seeking asylum and refugees can build community, find connection, and grow their skills and opportunities.
Create high-quality community meals
Provide fresh, delicious meals that support the needs of our multicultural community and show the contribution people seeking asylum and refugees can make to Australian society.
Advocate for change
Create opportunities for people seeking asylum and refugees to determine and achieve their goals and have their voices heard and acted upon.
We deliver this in three ways:
Catering — vibrant, multicultural catering inspired by cuisines and cultures from around the world
Meal support — nutritious, culturally appropriate food to people experiencing food insecurity
Community Connections — shared cooking, cultural food experiences and volunteering
Our Impact
85%
of participants have found employment after training
21
Client cooks have participated in our Chef Training program
$122K
invested directly back into trainee wages in 2025
1,244
catering orders were delivered in FY25
Numbers like these aren’t the only thing that matter to us. What we care about most is that our trainees leave 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 agree that on-the-job training was delivered to assist with their role as trainee chef
report that their traineeship increased their confidence to seek employment opportunities
report that the program increased their skills and training as a chef and in hospitality.
Download our capability statement