Shirley’s Recipe for Success in the Life Skills Kitchen

From the moment Shirley joined Workpower’s Life Skills program, her passion for cooking was clear. Early on, her support coach and the team recognised her potential—not just as a participant, but as a future chef and team leader. When a free FoodSafe® Food Handler training course became available through the Shire of Belmont, Shirley chose to use her session time to complete it and deepen her skills.

Most of the content was already familiar—Shirley knew more than 90% of the material—and she finished the course with very little assistance. Today, she has the confidence and knowledge to support others to complete the training as well.

“Shirley’s willingness to help others, eagerness to learn, and positive can-do attitude make every day in Life Skills a joy to be part of. One of her favourite shows is MasterChef, and with the right training and guidance, there’s no doubt she could become her own version of a master chef,”

— Nicholas Deans, Shirley’s support coach

Since completing the training, Shirley’s sense of achievement has soared. Her success has inspired us to encourage other Life Skills participants to enrol in these high-quality, no-cost Shire of Belmont FoodSafe® courses. When we recognise potential and connect people with the right opportunities, they build skills, confidence, and independence—just like Shirley.