St. Peter’s Catholic College hosted the eighth annual Catholic Schools Broken Bay Battle of the Chefs event at the end of Term 2. This competition was exclusively open to students in Years 11 and 12 who were enrolled in the Stage 6 NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA) Vocational Education and Training (VET) course in Hospitality – Kitchen Operations and Cookery. The competitions were meticulously crafted by industry professionals and skilled experts, with the aim of assessing each participant’s knowledge, practical abilities and employability skills against a strict set of criteria. In this competitive setting, students put to use and showcased the hospitality knowledge and enterprise skills they had acquired during their training. Their task was to prepare and present a main course and dessert to industry standards within specific timeframes. Participants were provided with necessary ingredients, equipment, and instructions, all of which they had to utilise during the competition. External judges evaluated their work, and upon completion of the competition, participants received certificates and valuable feedback. For the second consecutive year, students faced the Mystery Box Challenge for the main course, where they had to create a dish based on a set of surprise ingredients. Despite the challenge, students impressed, delivering excellent results for both courses. Competing in teams of three representing their respective schools, seven schools took part in this year’s event:
- Brigidine College, St. Ives
- MacKillop Catholic College, Warnervale
- Mater Maria Catholic College, Warriewood
- Mt St. Benedict College, Pennant Hills
- St. Brigid’s Catholic College, Lake Munmorah
- St. Joseph’s Catholic College, East Gosford
- St. Peter’s Catholic College, Tuggerah
These competitions serve as a platform for students to showcase their skills and elevate the visibility of Vocational Education and Training courses within our schools. Later in the year, students enrolled in VET courses in Construction and Business Services will have the opportunity to participate in similar competitions, namely the Battle of the Builders and Battle of the Business Assistants. This year, the team from St. Peter’s Catholic College emerged as the first-place winners in the Battle of the Chefs, with Brigidine College securing second place, and Mater Maria Catholic College taking third place. We extend our congratulations to all participating students for their outstanding achievements and their significant contributions to the pursuit of excellence in VET Hospitality.
First Place
St Peter’s Catholic College
Anthony, Emily and Elizabeth
Second Place
Brigidine College
Amelia, Ellen and Ashley
Third Place
Mater Maria Catholic College
Jordan, Amelia and Jahla
