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
Tasmania
Date:Monday 17th March
Venue:TasTAFE Drysdale Campus
55 Collins St Hobart
Date: Tuesday 18th March
Venue: TasTAFE Drysdale Campus
Unit 1/93 Paterson St, Launceston
Convenor:Michael Norton
Contact: 0448 807 302
Northern Territory
Date: Tuesday, 8th April
Venue: CDU Palmerston
80 University Ave. Durack
Convenor: David Brown
Contact: 0484 313 674
New South Wales
Date: Wednesday 16th April
Venue: William Angliss Institute
11 Bowden St, Alexandria
Convenor: Julio Azzarello
Contact: 0413 588 366
South Queensland
Date: Saturday 24th May
Venue: TAFE Queensland
66 Ernest St. Southbank
Convenor:Danny Ward
Contact:0412 388 116
Victoria AusTAFE
Date: Thursday 10th July
Venue: William Angliss Institute
555 La Trobe St. Melbourne
Convenor: Targ Howorth
Contact: 0411 472 147
Criteria: Contact Targ
South Australia
Date: Tuesday, 15th July
Venue: SA TAFE Regency Campus
137 Days Rd. Regency Park
Convenor: Chris Codell
Contact: 0408 857 293
Australia Capital Territory
Date: Monday 28th July
Venue: CIT Woden Campus
Callum St. Phillip
Convenor: Ivonne Nathan
Contact: 0409 260 372
Western Australia
Date: TBC
Location: North Metro TAFE Joondalup
35 Kendrew Crs. Joondalup
Convenor: Peter Tischhauser
Contact: 0416 126 829
Criteria: Contact Peter
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
Please send your completed application form to your competition convenor listed above, their name links to their email
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 Apprentice 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! 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.
Congratulations to Mei Chieng from Western Australia who took out the Champion Apprentice 2024 Trophy. she received from Robot Coupe a Food processer Valued at over 2k

1st Year Apprentices
Silver Medal: Caleb Talbot QLD
Silver Medal: Zoe Scott NSW ACT & Regions
Silver Medal: Owen Young SA
Bronze Medal: Alexis Mifsud WA
Congratulations to Kirra McClenahan from Victoria, who won the 1st Year Apprentice Chef category with a Gold Medal!
2nd Year Apprentices
Gold Medal: Carmelle Larson VIC
Silver Medal: Tess Gurling NSW ACT & Regions
Bronze Medal: Leon Stone QLD
Bronze Medal: Caitlin Johnson SA
Congratulations to Mei Chieng from Western Australia, who won the 2nd Year Apprentice Chef category with a Gold Medal!
Culinary Students
Gold Medal: Sze Hui Chen WA
Gold Medal: Catherine Cordova SA
Silver Medal: Wen Peng Chang VIC
Silver Medal: Yun Ju Chiang TAS
Congratulations Marben Rios Cruz from NSW ACT & Regions who won the Culinary Student category with a Gold Medal
Final Year Apprentices
Gold Medal: Nicholas Rudeforth TAS
Silver Medal: Kristina Bharathy WA
Silver Medal: Vashista Sagar NSW ACT & Regions
Silver Medal: Eric Truong QLD
Bronze Medal: Amity Lobb SA
Congratulations to Garam Han from Victoria, who won the Final Year Apprentice Category with a Gold Mdal
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.