For a cause: Narrogin Senior High School puts student-run café to use to raise funds for Cancer Council WA

Narrogin Senior High School students have put their hospitality and cooking skills to the test by hosting an Australia’s Biggest Morning Tea fundraiser at the school café. Almost a decade ago, the local high school built a trade training centre called Hilltop Café to help students obtain certificates in hospitality and commercial cookery. The fully-functioning café is open to the public on Fridays to give the senior students a chance to get practical experience. NSHS principal Sandii Stankovic said the students and teachers hosted a Cancer Council WA fundraiser at the café last month. “Not only do senior school students get to use the restaurant but we had lower school students utilise that space to serve the community for a good cause,” she said. “The students prepared everything for the morning tea and they did the serving for their parents, guardians and guests.” The students who usually undertake work experience at the café are studying their Certificate I in Commercial Cookery and Hospitality. “For the students to get their certificates they have to do workplace learning, so on Fridays we open up the café so that it becomes a workplace for them,” Ms Stankovic said. “The students prepare the menu, the food, they do all the front of house operations and the serving as well. ‘They learn all the aspects of a restaurant and they are able to practice it in real time while serving the public.” Ms Stankovic said the café gave students a leg-up after graduation. “When they finish school they have their certificates while they are getting their graduation their way,” she said. “They are getting experience and they also get tickets along the way like learning barista. “It also increases their confidence because they are dealing with the public.” Before COVID-19, the café was so popular guests struggled to get a booking, Ms Stankovic said. But since the virus reached the region, bookings had been a little slower. “Before COVID-19 it was packed full and you couldn’t get a booking, it was quite full and robust,” she said. “Every time there is a big meeting in town everyone goes there for lunch so it’s quite well utilised. “During COVID-19 we did takeaways but now we’re back to serving guests inside the great venue.”