We have hired our first Hospitality Coordinator and are soon launching a brand-new ready meals service!

We’re excited to introduce Gary Bijjan, the new Hospitality Coordinator at our WestCare Centre. With over ten years of culinary experience, Gary was previously the head chef at Spotless Group, one of the largest hospitality companies in Australia.

Gary is used to working under intense pressure, sometimes cooking several thousand meals per day and has also had the opportunity to cook for the Indian and Australian cricket teams during his time at the Adelaide Oval.

“This is a totally different role for me, but I really wanted to take the opportunity. My thinking is always to give back to the community when you can.”

As well as revamping the WestCare Centre menu and cooking 120 meals per day for diners, Gary will be working to strengthen partnerships with donors, communities and businesses, and increase our donor base. That’s in addition to helping to grow our new ready-to-go meals service!

Launching next week, Gary and a team of volunteers will prepare a variety of healthy and nutritious meals each week. The meals are made available for a nominal price through our Community Food Hub.

“(The new service) is not just about providing meals, it’s about creating a self-sustaining social enterprise into the future,” explains Inner City Manager, Stefano Tocci.

The ready-to-go service provides volunteer opportunities for those who wish to help people and families on low incomes access healthy, nutritious food, as well as for trainee chefs to complete their practical hours in the WestCare kitchen.

If you would like to volunteer, please visit https://baptistcaresa.org.au/get-involved/volunteer.