Brief
Safe Staff, Safe Venues wins Cultural Change Champion at Good Food Guide awards
The Victorian initiative was honoured for its grassroots approach to safer hospitality workplaces.
By Felo News Desk · Published
Safe Staff, Safe Venues was named the Cultural Change Champion at the 46th Age Good Food Guide awards on 14 October 2026, recognizing its efforts to make Victoria’s hospitality industry safer for workers.
What happened
The award ceremony took place on Monday night in Melbourne. The initiative, launched in June 2025 by the Victorian Trades Hall Council (VTHC), was praised for giving hospitality staff the knowledge, confidence and collective support needed to address systemic issues such as sexual harassment, gender‑based violence and exploitation of vulnerable workers.
What the reports add
The SMH article notes that this is the third year the Good Food Guide has recognised a Cultural Change Champion, following investigations that exposed widespread harassment in the sector. It also highlights the programme’s partnerships with the Couch International Student Centre and the Migrant Workers Centre, which help educate workers about wage theft and exploitation.
What was said
Carolyn Dunbar, lead of the Victorian Trades Hall Council Women’s Team, said, “It’s called Safe Staff, Safe Venues because we know when staff are safe at a venue, their guests and the patrons that attend that venue will be safer as well, and that contributes to our industry and … our world‑class culture being stronger,” as reported by SMH.
In a later interview, Dunbar added, “Getting the recognition from The Good Food Guide shows that we are here to make long‑term, systemic change, and we feel that through this program, we have the opportunity to do that.”
Matt Kunkel, chief executive of the Migrant Workers Centre, said, “They get together and share their stories and find common solutions. That can’t be overstated.”
Jamie Bucirde, inaugural Cultural Change Champion winner, observed, “Prevention is an ecosystem. It requires education, strong leadership, accountability, safer reporting systems, good policy, working protections, community and institutions that are willing to change the conditions that allow harmful behaviour to continue.”
How it came about
Safe Staff, Safe Venues was created to address unsafe and unfair workplace cultures across hospitality, arts and events, focusing on groups at higher risk of exploitation, including women, gender‑diverse people, international students and temporary visa holders. The programme’s workshops involve venue visits, direct worker engagement and training on identifying unacceptable behaviour and reporting options. Earlier Felo coverage of the Good Food Guide’s awards, such as the Kumbira Altona review (10 Oct 2026) and the Joseph Abboud Legend Award (12 Oct 2026), provides context for the guide’s growing influence on Melbourne’s dining and hospitality landscape.
Key facts
- Safe Staff, Safe Venues won the Cultural Change Champion award at the 46th Age Good Food Guide awards on 14 Oct 2026. (smh.com.au)
- The initiative was launched in June 2025 by the Victorian Trades Hall Council. (smh.com.au)
- Partners include the Couch International Student Centre and the Migrant Workers Centre. (smh.com.au)
- Carolyn Dunbar said the award recognises the programme’s potential for long‑term systemic change. (smh.com.au)
- Jamie Bucirde highlighted that prevention requires an ecosystem of education, leadership and policy. (smh.com.au)
Sources
- [1] smh.com.au — originally reported as “‘We’re only getting started’: Good Food Guide Cultural Change Champion has big dreams”
