Fund our food business support program

Give local talent a place to start

A good cook may have years of experience feeding a family, a recipe people ask for, or professional skills they want to use again. Micro Kitchen’s purpose is to help them work out what comes next.

We’re a Victorian not-for-profit incorporated association developing a supported food enterprise pilot, starting in Darebin. Your support could help turn that preparation into practical learning and individual next steps.

Cooking talent deserves a fair opportunity

Knowing how to make good food is only part of starting a food business. There are council requirements to understand, training to complete where needed, costs to calculate and decisions about whether an idea can earn enough to be worthwhile.

We’re designing Micro Kitchen for people who may find those first steps difficult to take alone: experienced home cooks with limited funds, former chefs returning to work, culturally diverse entrepreneurs navigating unfamiliar systems, and people balancing paid work with caring responsibilities.

Our aim is to make the pathway easier to understand and more realistic to pursue. A participant should be able to explore an idea, recognise the costs and responsibilities, and make an informed decision before committing scarce household money.

The work behind the pilot

Our current effort is focused on building the foundations: bringing together official Victorian food-safety guidance, developing a step-by-step enterprise pathway, exploring discounted training and inviting organisations to help shape delivery.

The next stage is to turn that groundwork into a costed pilot with clear learning activities, appropriate support and a way to understand what participants gain. Funding and practical collaboration would help us move from planning to delivery.

Fund support that continues beyond setup

Funding would help deliver the full participant journey: business planning and financial forecasts, council and training preparation, practical launch guidance and ongoing business mentoring. Support for mentoring time would give participants someone to discuss decisions with as their business develops.

See what the proposed program looks like for participants →

The community benefit we’re working towards

More ways into meaningful work

Food safety, costing, organisation and customer communication have uses beyond a single business idea. We want participants to leave with practical skills they can demonstrate, whether their next step is self-employment, further training or a role with an existing food business.

Food traditions with room to grow

We want people to bring their own food knowledge and cultural traditions into the learning. A supported pathway could help more local cooks share that knowledge through responsible enterprise, while building relationships with other participants and the community around them.

Safer food and considerate businesses

Our proposed pathway puts safe handling, allergen awareness and council requirements into the early planning. It also asks participants to consider deliveries, waste and neighbours, so a business idea is developed with customers and the surrounding community in mind.

Greater confidence and choice

Progress might be completing a relevant course, understanding a council conversation or knowing what a product really costs to make. We want those practical achievements to help people recognise their abilities and choose work that fits their circumstances.

Help fund the full program

We’re seeking support for the practical work of running a small, carefully supported pilot. Proposed priorities include:

Access to required training: help with relevant course costs, alongside the discounted rates we are exploring.
Business mentoring and guided learning: time with mentors and facilitators to prepare a business, review progress and work through decisions beyond the initial setup.
Accessible participation: clear learning materials and appropriate language or access support, shaped around participants’ needs.
A well-run pilot: suitable learning spaces, coordination, appropriate insurance and the records needed to evaluate and report on the work.

Philanthropists, grant makers, chefs and hospitality businesses could help fund an agreed part of the pilot. Businesses and community organisations could contribute suitable space, relevant expertise or equipment. We would agree a budget, intended use and reporting expectations before accepting a funding commitment.

How we intend to show progress

Participation and completion of planned learning.
Relevant training completed and documented next steps with council.
Business cost plans and improvements in work-related skills.
Participant-reported confidence and connection.
Where participants choose to share them, later employment or compliant business outcomes.

These are intended measures, not results achieved or promises of jobs, income or business approval. Reporting would use consented information and protect participants’ privacy.

Discuss supporting the program

We welcome conversations about donations, sponsorship and practical support. We will agree how a contribution will be used, received and acknowledged before accepting it.

Micro Kitchen does not currently have deductible gift recipient (DGR) endorsement. Gifts made directly to Micro Kitchen are not currently tax-deductible. Read the ACNC guidance on DGR status.

Supporting someone who may want to participate? Visit Refer someone for information for councils, employment providers and community organisations.

Help us put the pilot into practice

If you want to help local people build skills and find a workable path into food enterprise, we’d like to hear from you. Tell us whether you would like to discuss a donation, sponsorship, space, expertise or another form of practical support, and we can discuss where it could make the most difference.

Discuss supporting Micro Kitchen

Or explore partnership opportunities.