Kangaroo Cooking Club

Plan, shop, cook and eat delicious meals

What is Kangaroo Cooking Club?

Kangaroo Cooking Club is a small-group cooking program where participants can explore new recipes, learn practical kitchen skills and enjoy preparing food together in a welcoming and supportive environment.

Designed for people aged 18 and over, the program is suitable for all skill levels. No previous cooking experience is needed.

Kangaroo Cooking Club gives participants opportunities to:

make choices and explore different foods and flavours
develop confidence using kitchen tools and equipment safely
practise planning, following recipes and problem-solving
learn about food hygiene and preparing everyday meals
meet new people and enjoy working together in a small group
experience the satisfaction of preparing something themselves

When
Every Tuesday or Thursday.
Where
St. Martin’s Anglican Church, Campbelltown
Group size
A maximum of eight participants.
Transport
Participant pick-ups and drop-offs are available.
Cooking activities
Explore recipes, prepare meals and build practical kitchen skills together.
Support & delivery
Staff support participants to take part safely, build confidence and enjoy cooking together.

How Cooking Club works

Held on Tuesdays and Thursdays, each session begins with pick-up at 9am and finishes with drop-off at 3pm. Participants cook together in a fully accessible commercial kitchen, with guidance from Chef Michelle O’Hara, who brings three decades of experience.

Participants take part in shopping for ingredients and practising basic budgeting, before preparing two dishes—one savoury and one sweet. All ingredients are provided. Along the way, participants build practical skills in food preparation, teamwork, time management and kitchen safety.

The program also includes a special event where participants prepare and serve a three-course meal for family, friends and special guests. Each participant receives a Certificate of Attendance and their own Kangaroo Disability Services chef hat.

Come along and connect

Join a group of up to eight participants on Tuesdays and Thursdays, with pick-up at 9am and drop-off at 3pm.

Shop and practise budgeting

Take part in shopping for ingredients and practise basic budgeting skills. All ingredients needed for the session are provided.

Cook and learn together

Prepare one savoury and one sweet dish with Chef Michelle O’Hara, building teamwork, time management and kitchen safety skills.

Celebrate your skills

Prepare and serve a three-course meal at a special event for family, friends and guests. Receive a Certificate of Attendance and your own KDS chef hat.

What Particopants Learn

With guidance from Chef Michelle O’Hara and the KDS support team, participants will have the opportunity to explore:

Meal Planning and Shopping

Explore meal planning, shop for ingredients and practise basic budgeting skills.

Following Recipes

Follow recipe steps, measure ingredients and practise concentration and problem-solving.

Preparing and Cooking Food

Build practical cooking skills by preparing one savoury and one sweet dish each session.

Kitchen Safety

Learn safe kitchen practices while preparing and cooking food with guidance and support.

Healthy Food Choices

Explore nutrition, portion sizes and balanced meals to support everyday food choices.

Teamwork and Time Management

Share tasks, communicate with others and coordinate cooking times while preparing dishes together.

Meet Chef Michelle O’Hara

Michelle leads Kangaroo Cooking Club, supporting participants to build confidence and independence through practical, hands-on learning.

With more than 25 years of experience as a chef, she brings a wealth of knowledge and a passion for food to every session. Her patient and encouraging approach helps participants feel comfortable learning new skills and trying new things.

From planning meals to preparing and sharing food, Michelle supports participants to develop everyday skills and feel proud of what they create. She especially enjoys seeing their confidence grow, whether they are mastering a skill or sharing a meal with family and friends.

Thoughtful, kind and funny, Michelle brings warmth and energy to the kitchen. Outside of work, she enjoys cooking hearty soups and pasta, camping, walking and spending time with family and friends.

Join our Kangaroo Cooking Club

Only a maximum of eight places are available for Kangaroo Cooking Club. Complete our Day Options registration form to express your interest, or call KDS on 08 8165 0300 to find out more.