Chefs encouraged to leave the kitchen for the classroom with new pathway
By Greg Chapman
An expanded Trade to Teach (T2T) Internship Program is encouraging qualified chefs to get out of the kitchen and learn how to teach hospitality and food at high schools, and it's available for the first time with CQUniversity and the Department of Education.
CQU is the only institution chosen to deliver the Trade to Teach Hospitality/Food and Fashion (H/FF) pathway to meet the need for teachers with specialised experience in Queensland state schools.
As well as chefs, hospitality professionals and fashion designers are eligible for the program.
CQU has delivered trade-entry pathway courses for more than 20 years, and Head of College Education Associate Professor Rickie Fisher indicated this latest program addition was due to the University’s strong track record.
“This new H/FF cohort will appeal to trained chefs who want to make the transition to teaching,” he said.
“The difference with this program is that it has a financial incentive. Additional support will be provided by the Department of Education, through a structured mentoring program and paid internship.”
Associate Professor Fisher said participants would enrol in CQU’s Bachelor of Education (Secondary) and study the Industrial Technology and Design (ITD) or H/FF minors to become qualified teachers.
As part of the program, they receive additional support from the Department of Education and CQU academic staff.
“We find those who transition from work environments like hospitality come with a rich set of skills and our Bachelor of Education (Secondary) course turns this expert knowledge base into skills to use in the hospitality classroom, as well as other contexts such as fashion design,” he said.
“Schools offer a broad range of subjects within the Food and Fashion areas using the Australian Curriculum Design and Technologies framework in the two main areas of Food and Fibre production and Food Specialisations.
“Participants would cover essential life skills such as nutrition, cooking, parenting, budgeting, consumer education, and essential skills to prepare students for adulthood.
“There is a strong focus on food science and technology as well as family studies and fashion design to equip students to each the Australian Curriculum.”
He said the CQU T2T course would include residential schools and hands-on training in professional kitchen settings to ensure graduates are classroom-ready.
The T2T ITD and H/FF programs commence in Term 1 2026. Applications are now open and close on 21 September 2025.
For further information and to apply visit the Queensland Government's Trade to Teach Internship Program website.
