The not-for-profit foundation aims to transition young people from education to employment. Beacon worked with Kyle Cox-McKinnon during high school to help him identify a career path. 

He is now an apprentice chef at the Country Club of Tasmania. 

“I’ve been working at the casino for about 18 months, and now I’m three months in to an apprenticeship,” he said. 

“I was doing stewarding. That is taking care of the kitchen and the utensils, plates, cutlery … I do things for the chef and I run around for them. But this is so much different.”

Mr Cox-Mckinnon said his experience with Beacon made him realise his passion for being a chef.

“I pretty well owe Beacon everything because i wouldn’t be here without the opportunity that they gave me,” he said. 

“They helped me get my foot in the door and without that little push they gave me I wouldn’t be here right now.”

Mr Cox-McKinnon said he was asking for an apprenticeship every day. The casino’s food and beverage attendant manager Ross Hannah said it was that determination which scored him the job.

“Despite the chef skill shortage, it is still a hard industry to get in to,” Mr Hannah said.  

“We’re just not seeing as many people coming through the junior ranks as we used to. It’s really great to see Kyle here and put his hand up.”

He said Mr Cox-McKinnon’s personality was exactly what the casino was looking for. 

“It’s all about enthusiasm. We recognise for apprentices they don’t have skills yet, so we don’t test on skills, we test on attitude,” Mr Hannah said.  

“Kyle displays the qualities that we are looking for – he’s persistent, dedicated and is enjoying it.” 

Beacon Foundation’s Lynda McKay said the organisation started working “strategically” with the casino in 2015.

“It was to provide these authentic experiences,” she said. “So three years down the track, to see it take effect where students are actually getting employment in the industry is quite a humbling experience.” 

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