Victorian tafe behind australia’s best pie success

A Kyneton pie master behind Australia’s Best Pie for the past three years has credited his culinary success to the skills he learned at TAFE.

Minister for Training and Skills and Higher Education Gayle Tierney and Member for Macedon, Mary-Anne Thomas MP today visited Country Cob Bakery owner Chan Khun in Kyneton to congratulate him on his success and share how a Victorian TAFE course provided the springboard to his award-winning career.

Khun, who came to Australia from Cambodia in 2004, found his passion for baking when he enrolled and completed a Certificate III in Patisserie course at Holmesglen at its Moorabbin campus. He then studied hospitality management.

Khun started Country Cob Bakery with his brother, Ryan, in 2016 and now has stores in Kyneton and Boronia.

His culinary talent has seen the bakery claim more than 200 medals for its pies and pastries, including the title of Australia’s Best Pie for three years’ running at the Baking Association of Australia – Australia’s Best Pie Awards.

Khun credits his success to the skills he had learnt from Holmesglen for helping build his professional communica-tion and leaderships skills. The popularity of his pies has also seen him grow the business, creating new jobs for locals.

The success of the Country Cob Bakery is just one of the many ways that the Victorian Government’s TAFE and training sector is creating real jobs and careers for Victorians.

This Holmesglen Certificate III in Patisserie course is designed to give people the skills and knowledge to become a qualified cook, specialising in patisserie.

It is just one of the many TAFE courses available in cooking and hospitality across Victoria.

There are also more than 40 different free TAFE courses on offer as part of the Victorian Government’s 2020 Free TAFE list, including Certificate III in Commercial Cookery and Certificate III in Hospitality.

Since 2015, the Victorian Government has committed more than $1.5 billion to rebuild our TAFE system and ensure students can get the skills they need for the jobs they want.

Quote attributable to Minister for Training and Skills and Higher Education Gayle Tierney
"The Country Cob Bakery is a shining example of how TAFES are equipping Victorians with the skills they need to follow their career dreams."

Quote attributable to Member for Macedon Mary-Anne Thomas
"Country Cob Bakery’s pies and pastries are not only delicious; their success is helping create and grow job oppor-tunities for more Victorians."