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    TAFE NSW Coffs Harbour | 4 July 2025

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    TAFE NSW Adult Migrant English Program students serve up a taste of Australia

    “I feel more confident speaking English and I want to keep learning. My family is proud of me.”

    Evelyn Llevado

    Fifteen Adult Migrant English Program (AMEP) students at TAFE NSW Coffs Harbour have celebrated a major milestone this week, graduating from the Stepping Up into Kitchen Operations program by preparing and serving classic Australian dishes for their families.

    This course gives students the opportunity to strengthen their English language skills while gaining practical experience in a commercial kitchen. Students in the program come from a diverse range of countries including Ethiopia, Japan, Myanmar, the Philippines, Burundi, Sri Lanka, and Nepal.

    TAFE NSW Project Lead Lisa Walker, who created the Stepping Up program in 2019, said it was originally designed to help English language learners break out of the traditional classroom environment. Since then, Stepping Up has expanded from kitchen operations into bakery, hair and beauty, coffee skills, and horticulture.

    Group of individuals in white lab coats and hairnets participating in an AMEP Kitchen Operations class at TAFE NSW, working in a commercial kitchen equipped with appliances and utensils for culinary training.

    “I saw how hard our AMEP students were working and thought ‘what if we gave them the chance to build their English skills while doing something hands-on, like cooking?’” Ms Walker said.

    “It’s incredible to see how far they come in just nine weeks. The students transform from being shy and quiet, to chatty, confident and proud of what they’ve achieved.”

    Throughout the course, students learned how to make popular Australian meals such as pasta, steak, and desserts. Completing the Statement of Attainment can be a springboard into part-time employment or further studies in hospitality.

    Evelyn Llevado, originally from the Philippines, said the experience had given them more than just kitchen skills. “I feel more confident speaking English and I want to keep learning. My family is proud of me.”

    The AMEP is a free English language tuition service delivered by TAFE NSW and funded by the Australian Government Department of Home Affairs.

    Media contact: Sarah James, TAFE NSW Communications Specialist, 02 7920 5000.

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