Tracey Edmonds, Graduate, National
Certificate in Hospitality and Catering
and the Certificate in Cafe service.

Half a lifetime and seven children after she first began studying, Tracey Edmonds is back at EIT Tairāwhiti.

The 36-year-old has completed the National Certificate in Hospitality and Catering and the Certificate in Cafe  Service, and is now enrolled in the Certificate in Professional Catering and cookery programme for 2014.

“If you have children and want to get back into the workforce, here is the perfect place to start,” says Tracey, who also holds her scuba diving tickets. “It opens so many doors and opportunities – I am loving it!”

Already her studies have led to employment as a waitress at private functions with two top catering companies, and she is hopeful she will be able to land a fulltime job in the new year.

Tracey did a hospitality and catering course at 19, but a move to Wellington and family stopped her from taking it further.

“Once my last two children went to day care and kindergarten I thought this was my chance to go back, study and get some  skills… and hopefully a job.”

Tracey says she is loving everything about what she has learnt, particularly mastering her knife skills.

“I like trying to get the perfect cuts… like dices, slices and just being able to feel adept/skilled with the knife again. The tutors are a huge help too – they’re more like your friends really, and there are lots of resources for us to use here.”

It’s still busy on the home-front with six children at home, but Tracey says the course fits well with family life.

She’s hoping that one day she will be able to move to Australia and own her own small cafe.

“That would be amazing.”