Perth Kitchen Program Turns 160 Migrant Women Into Entrepreneurs

In a takeaway shop in Morley, Perth, 20 women are learning skills that could change their lives forever, one cake and croissant at a time.

Beyond the Kitchen is a nine-week program run by the Multicultural Services Centre of Western Australia that teaches migrant, refugee, and asylum seeker women far more than just recipes. The course covers menu design, budget management, food safety, and barista skills while giving participants a safe space to build confidence and friendships.

The transformation can be dramatic. Teacher and coordinator Vidhu Karolia remembers one woman who had never left her house despite having a 24-year-old son. "She thrived," Karolia said. "She did not even speak English very well, but she managed, she did the entire course, and when she left, she wanted to look for a job."

The program operates as a social enterprise, meaning students get real-world experience catering events, providing meals to aged care facilities and NDIS clients, and practicing barista skills at Our Place Cafe. The attached coffee shop serves nearby businesses while giving trainees hands-on practice.

Sabah Suleiman, an Eritrean-Ethiopian woman who came to Australia in 1996 as a refugee, was among the first graduates. The course pushed her beyond her comfort zone in the best way possible. "I didn't have the courage before to taste anything, but now I can taste every kind of food," she said.

That newfound confidence led to something bigger. Suleiman has since launched her own spice business, inspired by the program's encouragement to share her cultural flavors with classmates.

Fatima Khan is only two weeks into the current course but already has her dream mapped out. She used to hide when potential catering clients asked about her social media presence. "Hopefully I build that confidence to open my catering business or a food truck, because it's my dream to do it one day," she said.

The Ripple Effect

The program's impact extends far beyond individual success stories. Project manager Shobhana Chakrabarti explains that while many participants already know how to cook, they often struggle in mainstream training courses due to language barriers, cultural differences, and the stigma around women working in hospitality.

By creating an all-women environment, Beyond the Kitchen removes these obstacles. Students learn from each other, sharing recipes and traditions while building what Suleiman calls a "beautiful sisterhood." Many cohorts stay in touch long after graduation, creating lasting support networks.

The program targets vulnerable women who need that extra support before they're ready for traditional employment or training. Participants gain the practical skills to become suppliers for councils or start their own catering businesses, opening doors that seemed closed before.

Funded by Lotterywest until December 2028, Beyond the Kitchen will support 160 women total, each one gaining not just cooking skills but the confidence to dream bigger.