State Competition Mentors & Judges
The WA Secondary Schools Bush Food Competition State Finals are taking place from 1st - 3rd July 2026 at Bentley TAFE. Over the three-day event, industry mentors will be available to offer feedback, while judges will decide on the winning teams to be selected for the National Competition.
Mentors & Judges
Courtney Short
My name is Courtney Short, I am a young chef from Perth, Western Australia. In 2023, I completed my apprenticeship where I obtained a certificate III in Commercial Cookery, I then went back to Tafe to complete a certificate III in Patisserie which I completed in June of 2025. From a young age I was always in the kitchen—if I wasn’t cooking, I was watching and learning. My passion for becoming a chef comes from the way food brings people together. Sharing a meal creates connection, and memorable experiences, and being able to contribute to that is something that inspires me every day.
My culinary journey so far has been filled with many achievements, including being awarded the 2021 WA Apprentice of the Year at the WA Training Awards, which recognised my dedication, skills and passion for the industry. However, one of my proudest achievements has been being selected for the National Australian Culinary Junior Team. Through the National Team, I had the privilege of representing Australia while competing in the 2022 Culinary World Cup and the 2024 IKA Culinary Olympics, as well as other culinary competitions. These experiences have been an important part of my growth and development as a Chef.
In 2021, I completed my first competition which was the Apprentice of the Year. I remember thinking to myself just give it a go. On the day of the competition, I walked into the kitchen thinking to myself my aim is to just get six plates of food up within the allocated time as the competition went on all my dishes were served on time and I received a bronze medal. After another 10+ competitions I can say I’m hooked and I love the challenge a competition brings.
Peter Tischhauser
I have vast experience in the food industry and culinary competition events. I currently hold the roles of Director, Australian Culinary Federation Western Australia, Culinary Committee and Competition Coordinator, Chairman Culture Cuisine and Heritage Food Committee for the World Association of Chefs societies and Certified International Judge, Hot kitchen and Vegan (Worldchefs).
The latest competitions I ave judged are Luxembourg World Cup 2022, IKA Culinary Olympics 2024, various competitions in Asia and many local competitions 2024, 2025 and 2026
I am Committed to the development and training of young Chefs. I have been Involved with National teams since 2005, have four Olympics and one World championship with the same results. I am Co-Managing and supporting The Western Australian O’Brien Culinary Academy Team for Luxembourg RAK World championship 2026
“Whilst it takes a lot of planning, it’s great to see these young people in action at the highest international level and see them grow over time. We all take great satisfaction in the knowledge that we have assisted them to achieve this. The Contribution of Culture Cuisine and Heritage Food Committee will allow to bring Cuisine and Cultures together leaving a lasting Legacy”
Manfred Supper
Chef Lecturer - Hospitality and Food Trades - South Metropolitan TAFE - Mandurah & Bentley Campus
I was born in Austria, where I completed my apprenticeship as a chef and began my career in the hospitality industry. My passion for food and culinary excellence led me to work and travel throughout Europe, gaining valuable experience as a chef in Spain, Switzerland, and Germany.
For the past 30 years, I have lived and worked in Australia, building a diverse and rewarding career in hospitality management and vocational education. During this time, I have managed several restaurants in Perth and held leadership positions overseeing catering and accommodation operations at remote mining site camps.
Since 2016, I have been employed with South Metropolitan TAFE, where I am committed to developing the next generation of hospitality professionals. I am passionate about skills development and industry excellence, which has led to my involvement with WorldSkills. I have served as a judge on WorldSkills competition panels and am currently organising the 2026 WorldSkills VETiS and Open Competitions at South Metropolitan TAFE.
My career has provided me with extensive experience across international culinary operations, hospitality management, and vocational education. I take pride in contributing to the growth of the hospitality industry and supporting students and apprentices as they develop the skills needed for successful careers.
Jordan Murphy
I'm from a small town in WA South by the name of Bunbury. My culinary career started when I was 14, working casually in a little cafe in a town called Balingup. Eventually I wanted more I wanted to learn and grow so I moved Bunbury and started my apprenticeship as a chef at a place called the Crooked Carrot Cafe in Myalup. Here I spent the next two years completing my chef’s apprenticeship with my head chef Luke Normington, I was only 19 at this point. Now the Crooked Carrot is an extremely busy cafe on the highway between Perth and Margaret River, so a real snapshot into what chef life was about started here and I'm very grateful for doing my apprenticeship here because it has taught me so much about resilience.
After completing my apprenticeship with the Crooked Carrot, I went on to be a CDP in The Dardanup Tavern. Not long into my time at The Dardanup Tavern I became head chef at a very young age of 21. Becoming the head chef was very challenging as a young chef and a young female chef stepping into such a high leadership role, it took some time to learn to figure out how everything works and how to be a head chef and to be a good head chef. Eventually I worked it out and all was smooth sailing from there on. I spent the next two years at the tavern as their head chef and had a wonderful time.
I then decided to see what the big smoke was like (Perth city), so I packed up everything and I moved to Perth exactly 2 years ago today. I landed the most amazing job as a venue manager at a place called the Beach St Co in East Fremantle along the swan river now being a venue manager is not something that I have ever done but I wanted to give it a go, I wanted to see what the other side is like, again it took a lot of hard work to be able to figure out how to be a venue manager because I had never been one but eventually again I got there and I have now been there for coming up on two years again at a very young age of 24.
During these career movements I have competed in over 15 competitions, state, national and international. I have placed in every single competition ranging from bronze, silver and gold.
I have received scholarships and apprentice is of the year through TAFE. I have also recently committed to doing judging and mentoring for the WorldSkills competition and ACF. I have squashed a lot of experience and a lot of things into a very small number of years, but I wouldn't have it any other way.
