Victoria University joins Bocuse d’Or Australia on The Road to Lyon

Bocuse d’Or Australia welcomes leading hospitality vocational education provider Victoria University (VU) Polytechnic as a Silver Sponsor, assisting Team Australia to compete in the world’s most elite culinary contest.

Team Australia – comprising Chef Competitor Alex McIntosh, Commis Chef Tristan Spain, Head Coach Dan Arnold, Jury Member Scott Pickett, President Tom Milligan, Vice President Deepak Mishra and Team Manager Trish Harty – was selected last month to compete in the Bocuse d’Or Grand Final, being held in Lyon 22-23 January as part of SIRHA expo.

“To have any chance of competing in Lyon against the best chefs in the world, Alex and the team rely on our sponsors to provide much-needed funds and other practical support,” says Chef Milligan.

We are delighted to welcome VU to the Bocuse d’Or Australia family, and we are excited about the opportunities this new partnership presents, particularly with its influential School for the Visitor Economy.

VU’s School for the Visitor Economy is a cross-university school, providing the local and international hospitality, tourism and event management industries with qualified professionals. It delivers industry-based programs across all qualification levels, from pre-vocational certificates through to PhDs.

Meanwhile VU Polytechnic combines digital learning and hands-on practical skills to prepare students for the workplace. Its hospitality training centre includes three state-of-the-art commercial kitchens with the latest cooking equipment, two demonstration kitchens, a training bar, and 150-seat training restaurant, VenU.

“We are very proud to partner with Bocuse d’Or Australia, representing culinary excellence in the world’s most prestigious cooking competition,” says Dianne Semmens, Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Vocational Education at Victoria University.

VU students learn from expert teachers and have the opportunity to work with the best in the industry, including Bocuse d’Or Australia. We wish Alex, Tristan and the rest of Team Australia the best of luck in the Bocuse d’Or Grand Final.

Chef Milligan adds that he hopes to see students from VU entering as commis chefs in the next Bocuse d’Or Australia competition, to be held in Melbourne on 30 April 2023.

“We are still exploring the many ways our two organisations can collaborate in the coming 12 months and beyond,” he says. “Team Australia looks forward to working with Dianne Semmens, Shawn Vlaeminck, David Hayes and all the VU team on this exciting new partnership.”