Anna McDonald becomes “legit” cook after years balancing work and study

Today she is in charge of a kitchen that serves 50 people three times per day, training and coordinating staff members, ensuring safety procedures and managing the juggling act of stocktake and ordering. 

She is also “legit”, after last month achieving her Certificate III in Commercial Cookery. 

The career path emerged organically, with Anna embracing new roles and promotions within Grampians Health Edenhope. 

“It started with a few shifts helping in the kitchen, then the opportunity came up to do my apprenticeship and apply for ‘Second Cook’ position,” she said. 

“I was still studying when our chef left, so all of a sudden I was running the kitchen too.” 

The path to receiving her prized qualification certificate has been long and difficult, through COVID-19 restrictions and periods of short-staffing. 

Instead of hands-on classes with peers in Warrnambool, Anna was forced to squeeze online learning sessions between kitchen shifts. 

“I’ve gained so many skills, like making proper stocks and cooking everything from scratch. 

“It’s a lot more than preparing food though, it’s about understanding nutritional needs. 

“I work with a dietician, who monitors patients and residents, and we’re intentional about things like protein intake and health outcomes.” 

Grampians Health Chief Redevelopment and Infrastructure Officer, Veronica Furnier, commended Anna on the "noteworthy" achievement. 

“We are collectively proud of Anna’s dedication to her community, and her determination to build new skills in trying circumstances,” she said. 

“At Grampians Health we pride ourselves on nurturing all team members who have that desire to up-skill; we will always try and find a way to make it happen." 

At the close of a shift, Anna goes home to cook for her partner and three adult children. 

“The last thing I want to do is cook, but I just love having my kids at home with me,” she said. 

“I love making people happy through food, whether that’s at work or at home. When I get feedback, that people have enjoyed their meal, it lifts me up and drives me forward.” 

Congratulations on your momentous achievement Anna!