Assessment
I’m Dan, an assessor in Hospitality at Trade Skills Australia. With over 15 years’ experience in the catering industry, I bring a unique combination of practical skills, adaptability, and professionalism. My career began in professional kitchens in my homeland, Scotland, and has taken me to Germany, New Zealand and Australia, working in cafés, hotels, armed forces barracks, mining sites and high-volume event venues. Over time, I honed my craft in these diverse environments — from preparing fresh, locally sourced seafood to producing 700 meals per service in remote resource industry settings.
Transitioning into corrections and detention services, I gained valuable skills in conflict resolution, risk management, and operational leadership which has given me a well-rounded, disciplined approach to workplace performance, safety and teamwork.
As a qualified Certificate IV Commercial Cookery holder and with my industry experience, I understand the importance of both technical expertise and professional conduct. I now enjoy assisting others gain the formal recognition of their own skills through the RPL process across the varied units of SIT30821 (Commercial cookery) and SIT40521 (Kitchen Management).
I believe RPL is about honouring the skills and dedication people have built over years of real-world experience, not just ticking boxes. My role is to ensure that the assessment is fair and clear whilst supporting candidates in achieving the qualification with respect and integrity.
Sounds like a recipe for success to me!