Food truck opens up possibilities for students

A NEW, mobile food truck teaching secondary school students valuable lessons in work ethic is hitting the road.

The Bittersweet food truck, a MacKillop Education initiative run by senior students, will start setting up shop across Greater Geelong, expanding student practical employment skills and providing the community with quality food and drinks.

MacKillop Education Geelong co-principal Skye Staude said the café and food truck provide a unique way to for students to learn subjects like maths and English.

“Measuring, weighing and ordering ingredients help kids build numeracy skills, while planning menus develops market research experience and improves literacy skills,” Ms Staude said.

“Working as a team also helps develop social and problem-solving abilities.”

The Bittersweet food truck is the extension of a clever initiative that launched at the MacKillop Education school in 2018.

The original idea of a Bittersweet café inspired senior students to engage in learning by launching a small school café to cater to fellow students and teachers.

Following the café’s success last year, the Bittersweet team set its sights on a bigger dream – to take its café on the road with a menu of tasty treats and drinks prepared for the local Geelong community.

The food truck will become a regular feature at a variety of local sites, including and not limited to the Bellarine Living and Learning Centre at Whittington with further plans to expand.

Given the project is aligned to the Victorian Education and Training (VET) Cookery and Workplace Skills certificates, senior students can complete a range of certified industry courses, such as barista training, food handling and safety, and first aid to help with future training or employment opportunities.

“The best thing about Bittersweet is that it gives the students self-worth,” Ms Staude said.

“The look on their faces when they are proud of a product they have made or delivered is priceless, and that is what we are trying to teach these students; to have self-confidence, to know they can make a difference to other people’s day.”