2025 NATIONAL APPRENTICE COMPETITION
The National Final will be held in the Culinary Challenge Arena at Fine Food Australia, International Convention Centre Sydney September 2025
Regional Finals
Each year, the Australian Culinary Federation (ACF) conducts a cooking competition for all apprentices and culinary students in each Australian state and Territory.
This competition is a fantastic opportunity for chefs in training to enhance their skills and network with industry professionals. It also provides a fun and rewarding learning experience for both staff and students alike.
There are four categories: 1st Year Apprentice, 2nd Year Apprentice, Final Year Apprentice, and Culinary Students. The winner in each category will compete in the National Final.
For Competition Directors: If you have not used these forms for your entry applications, please ensure you print the application form and have it ready for your regional final so that entrants can sign it. You are also required to take a team photo to accompany the application.
Please note: Documentation for the National Final must be submitted to the competition email by 31st July.
Important: The criteria for the National Final will be released in the first week of August, once all the regional heats have been completed. This ensures that all competitors get the same amount of time to practice with the same documentation.
DATES
Northern Territory
Date: Tuesday, 8th April
Location: CDU Palmerston
Liaison: David Brown
Contact: 08 8946 7915
Victoria
Liaison: Targ Howorth
Contact: 0411 472 147
South Australia
Date: Tuesday, 15th July
Location: SA TAFE Regency Campus
Liaison: Chris Codell
Contact: 0408 857 293
South Queensland
Liaison: Martin MacInnes
Contact: 0417 720 363
ACT
Location: Canberra Institute of Technology
Liaison: Ivonne Nathan
Contact: 0409 260 372
Western Australia
Location: North Metro TAFE Joondalup
Liaison: Peter Tischhauser
Contact: 0416 126 829
DOCUMENTATION
Each year, the Australian Culinary Federation (ACF) hosts a celebrated cooking competition across all Australian states designed specifically for apprentices and culinary students. This competition offers a fantastic chance for emerging chefs to hone their skills, expand their professional networks, and enjoy a fun and enriching experience alongside their peers. Participants can enter under four categories:
1st Year Apprentice
2nd Year Apprentice
Final Year Apprentice
Culinary Students
Winners from each category will advance to compete in the National Final
**Please note the following links will download to your computer as word documents
2024 Bega National Apprentices Competition
We are excited to announce and celebrate the talented chefs and culinary students who have excelled in this year's 2024 National Apprentices Competition! Held at Fine Food Australia, this prestigious event showcased the skills and creativity of Australia’s next generation of chefs. A special thanks to all our sponsors, judges, and participants for making this competition such a success.
1st Year Apprentices
- Silver Medal: Caleb Talbot (QLD)
- Silver Medal: Zoe Scott (NSW/ACT)
- Silver Medal: Owen Young (SA)
- Bronze Medal: Alexis Mifsud (WA) ,
Congratulations to Kirra McClenahan from Victoria, who took home the Gold Medal!
2nd Year Apprentices
- Gold Medal: Carmelle Larson (VIC)
- Silver Medal: Tess Gurling (NSW/ACT)
- Bronze Medal: Leon Stone (QLD)
- Bronze Medal: Caitlin Johnson (SA)
A huge congratulations to Mei Chieng from Western Australia, who won the 2nd Year Apprentice Chef category with a Gold Medal!
Culinary Students
- Gold Medal: Catherine Cordova (SA)
- Gold Medal: Marben Rios Cruz (NSW/ACT)
- Silver Medal: Wen Peng Chang (VIC)
- Silver Medal: Yun Ju Chiang (TAS)
Well done to all our Culinary Students, especially Sze Hui Chen, who took home Gold for Western Australia!
Final Year Apprentices
- Gold Medal: Nicholas Rudeforth (TAS)
- Silver Medal: Kristina Bharathy (WA)
- Silver Medal: Vashista Sagar (NSW/ACT)
- Silver Medal: Eric Truong (QLD)
- Bronze Medal: Amity Lobb (SA)
Congratulations to Garam Han from Victoria, who was crowned the Final Year Apprentice Chef winner!
RISING STARS
OUR HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE PAST
2019
IMAGES
We love to capture the moments that matter. Check out our 2019 image gallery where apprentices showcased their skills and made life long freindships
2020
Images Tasmania
Tasmania showcased the produce and the rising stars at the 2020 Apprentice competition.