20/05/2026
A little glimpse behind the scenes of our new Community Kitchen pilot program with Duke Street Community House.
Campground Kitchen was always meant to be more than somewhere to eat.
This term, we quietly launched a pilot program giving people in our local community a chance to see what actually happens behind the scenes of a real restaurant.
Our first groups include participants from migrant and ESL backgrounds, bridging visas, and disability support groups from Melbourneās west.
Itās still small and very much a pilot, but over the past few weeks participants have been learning kitchen prep, ordering and costings, setting up front of house, making some starters, pizzas and desserts, and getting an understanding of how a venue like ours runs day to day.
Later this year, participants will team up with mentors to help cater the AGM for Duke Street and get experience working on a real event.
We hope the program will create confidence, connection and pathways into hospitality.
Next term, weāll run our second 8-week pilot program from 13th July on Mondays from 10amā1pm.
ļæ½Long term, we hope to train participants to work alongside chefs and mentors to cater community dinners here at Campground, prepare meals for locals doing it tough and expand catering with Happy Camper Pizza
Big thanks to Duke Street Community House and City of Maribyrnong for supporting the pilot project.
