Not many remote cattle stations in the heart of the Australian outback could boast of having a trained Italian cook working in the kitchen. But at Lake Nash Station, on the border of Queensland and the Northern Territory, lasagne and spaghetti bolognaise are regularly served up for the jackaroos and jillaroos.

Luca Caggaino is working as a cook at Lake Nash Station on the border of Queensland and the Northern Territory. (ABC:Blythe Moore)

Italy has long been known for its fashion, food and fast cars.

But in more recent years, it's also been known for its flailing economy.

Italian cook Luca Caggaino says currently there are very few opportunities for young people looking for work in his home country.

"The situation is very bad about the economic crisis and the government. There's a big crisis for government in all of Europe, especially in Italy and around the Mediterranean Sea," he said.

"I think the people... who want a future for sure, they must go overseas from Italy."

Luca arrived in Australia on a Working Holiday Visa six months ago, partly to escape the economic crisis, and also in search of adventure.

He now works as a cook for the 20 staff at Lake Nash Station, on the Queensland Northern Territory border.

He says the jackaroos and jillaroos have not previously been exposed to much Italian food.

"Here I try to cook very Italian style, lasagne, spaghetti bolognaise... the guys tell me it's good," he said.

However, he says if he makes a very difficult Italian cake with jelly on the side, the staff often just eat the jelly.

"If I make lasagne or steak, the guys think it's the same," he said with a laugh.

"Sometimes it's funny for me because the guys sometimes tell me it's good food, but where is the jelly? Where is the Vegemite? And I know they don't understand the Italian food. But it's not because they're rough, it's just because they live in the outback."

Luca says the biggest challenge he faces in Australia is the language.

"I find a lot of people have compassion for me and speak with me and try to understand me and help me to learn English, but it's still a big problem for me now because I came from Italy six months ago," he said.

"I know my English is not very good or is not fluent, but I think next year it's alright.

"I think if you have good English, and good ideas, and you're a very good worker, I think Australia is one of the best countries in the world to live."