A Brisbane restaurant owner has created an initiative to equip asylum seekers with skills in hospitality to improve their job prospects and ease social isolation.

Mongrel co-owner Annie Bingly launched the Good Food Project – with global hospitality equipment funding solution SilverChef and asylum seeker support organisation Asylum Circle – in September and gave six asylum seekers paid work experience.

Milton restaurant Mongrel initiated a project that gave six asylum seekers paid work experience in hospitality, learning skills in the kitchen, bar and cafe.

The candidates completed four days of intensive training, during which they mastered front and back of house skills including kitchen etiquette, knife skills, menu planning, cooking, barista training and bar service.

Mongrel raised about $6000 through a charity dinnner held as part of the project to cover the costs of the event and pay for the candidates, who showcased their skills to guests.