Australia Pacific Training Coalition (APTC) alumna, Cheryl Mondo-Mulas, has never looked back after successfully gaining her Australian standard skills and qualification.
Once a school dropout, and now the proud owner and manager of D&J’s Catering and Events in Lae and Port Moresby, PNG, Cheryl is a trained chef after graduating from APTC a decade ago.
Cheryl’s journey to success was aided with a Certificate III in Commercial Cookery (SIT30816) in 2009, after completing her training at APTC in Vanuatu.
At that time, APTC was relatively new and so were Cheryl’s dreams and aspirations.
Even though being a grade 10 dropout was a setback for her formal education, Cheryl was determined to achieve her aspirations in cookery.
While studying in Vanuatu, Cheryl won a bronze medal after participating in a live cooking show organised by the Vanuatu Chefs Association.
“The amazing journey with APTC motivated me to further my education and start my dream catering business at the age of 29 in March 2013,” a jubilant Cheryl said.
After attaining her dual diploma in Tourism and Events Management in 2013 from the Chisholm Institute of Technology in Melbourne, Australia, Cheryl returned to her hometown in Lae, Morobe Province where she started her catering and events company that services some of Lae’s reputable companies, government departments and individuals.
Apart from running her business, Cheryl has been involved in community services providing health and education assistance to communities in need.
In recognition of her community service, the PNG Australia Alumni Association (PNG AAA) awarded her with the Innovation and Entrepreneur Award in July 2019.
“Being an entrepreneur is challenging and mind breaking. If you’re passionate about what you do, giving up is not an option, even though sometimes you feel otherwise,” Cheryl added.
Cheryl said the skills and experience gained through her education over the years have turned into lifelong assets, which contributed to expanding her ‘catering empire’.
APTC is managed by TAFE Queensland (RTO 0275).