TRAINING ‘RAISING THE BAR’ TO ATTRACT HOSPITALITY STAFF

Tackling aspects of Australia’s hospitality staff shortage, new initiatives from Diageo and Barcats bring some hope for beleaguered employers.

In 2020, Diageo Australia pledged $11.5 million to the Down Under instalment of its ‘Raising the Bar’ initiative to support venues, with its iconic Aussie brand Bundaberg Rum as ambassador.

Furthering the program, Diageo has now enlisted TAFE NSW and the AHA NSW, and is offering three free online hospitality licensing courses, suited to both existing workers and new entrants to the sector.

This follows targeted support provided to thousands of venues across the country, by way of practical equipment to promote safe indoor and outdoor socialising, such as hand sanitiser dispensers, temperature scanners and personal protective equipment.

The three TAFE courses are: Statement of Attainment in Responsible Service of Alcohol (RSA), TAFE Statement in NSW Liquor Licensee, and TAFE Statement in NSW Liquor Licensee (Advanced).

They are specifically targeted to help existing hospitality staff to upskill, as well as drive more workers into hospitality in NSW.

“We are now excited to offer the industry access to free digital training through TAFE NSW to help our hospitality workers understand complicated legislation and compliance and support their business from the bottom up,” says Angus McPherson, managing director of Diageo Australia.

The free courses are delivered online and are available to anyone in NSW wanting to learn how to comply and understand NSW liquor laws.

TAFE NSW Teacher of Tourism and Hospitality, Monique Fors, says the Licensee training could help existing hotel workers to upskill, to become a compliant licensee, approved manager or club secretary.

“As the online courses are self-paced, they can be picked up at any time of the day or week, such as in between work shifts.”

The free courses are available until 30 June 2022. To enrol or learn more visit TAFE – Raising the Bar.

“A large portion of this funding will see training for the next generation of leadership in the hotel sector,” adds AHA NSW CEO John Whelan.

“It will see managers provided with the same training as licensees and will vastly improve pub operations.”

In 2020, when pubs resumed from the shutdown period there was a significant occurrence of baby-boomers entering or returning to the industry to fill gaps left by foreign workers, who had gone home.

Employment service Barcats, which launched mid-2017, says it is now seeing teenagers rushing to work in hospitality.

“With school about to end, and many teens wanting part-time work to help fund university or higher education fees, they are applying in record numbers,” says Jeffrey Williams, Barcats CEO and founder.

Youth unemployment reportedly accounts for more than a third of Australia’s unemployment rate of 4.5 per cent, which has prompted Barcats to launch a new national platform dedicated to helping teens find their first jobs.

The website barcatsu18.com.au – designed for 15- to 18-year-olds – is aiming to provide a starting point for under 18s candidates to begin their hospitality journey.

It lists jobs suitable for teenagers, but also provides introductory training, essential knowledge of the industry, and tells the teenagers what to expect seeking their first job.

A feature is three online courses, covering food hygiene, health and safety. Students completing courses are awarded a certificate, shown on their Barcats Profile for future employers to see.