Addressing hospitality skills shortages in NSW & North Queensland

(i)IN SYDNEY a pilot program, designed to tackle the labour shortage and help hospitality students work while they study, has been developed by the William Blue International Hotel Management School (WBIHMS) and Restaurant and Catering Australia (RCA).

William Blue’s career management consultant Lynda Ugarte said the program not only offered restaurant owners the chance to employ students while they studied, but also become involved in the development process. The program begins with a William Blue representative meeting a restaurateur to discuss the academic program undertaken by students; a program is then devised by the restaurant, which it can use to attract to staff interested in a career in the industry.

William Blue also delivers the third year of the Bachelor of Business (Tourism & Hospitality) offered by La Trobe Uni, Melbourne. Advanced Diploma Students who qualify with a credit average can continue their studies and graduate with a La Trobe University degree.

CONTACTS:

Billy Blue School’s North Sydney Head Office Tel: 02 9955 1122
Email info@billyblue.com.au

La Trobe University School of Sport, Tourism & Hospitality Management, Melbourne
Tel: 03 9479 1080 Email: tourism@latrobe.edu.au

(ii)IN NORTH QUEENSLAND at the 8th annual Hospitality Industry Careers Expo around 500 high school students investigated the possibility of a career in hospitality. The Townsville-based Barrier Reef TAFE, the largest supplier of vocational education and training in North Queensland, has an award-winning Hospitality and Tourism unit. It combines with industry to present the expo to address skill shortages and increase young people’s awareness of the many options open to them.

The hospitality training choices, including apprenticeships, traineeships, certificate or diploma courses, are clearly explained, with one Year 11 student saying the interactive expo gave him a really good understanding of the broad range of career prospects available and that the workshops were practical and realistic. He is unsure of a career path but will now considering looking into the hospitality industry.

CONTACTS:

Barrier Reef Institute of TAFE Tel: 07 4750 5211 Email barrier.reef@det.qld.gov.au