School holiday skills to boost hospitality

Young people across NSW are set to benefit from fee-free hospitality training during the winter school holidays to help them get the skills they need for the jobs they want.
 
Minister for Skills and Training Alister Henskens said 1,000 free training places are up for grabs for students aged 16 and above as part of a new NSW Government initiative. 
 
“We want to provide more opportunities for young people to get the skills they need for a first job, a new job or a better job, and this program is another great example of that,” Mr Henskens said.
 
“By giving students a foot-in-the-door, they’ll gain practical experience and build industry connections, which in turn supports their ongoing education and employment pathways.”
 
Courses available include Statement of Attainment in Hospitality Skills, Statement of Attainment in Espresso Coffee and Food Safety Supervisor.
 
Since February, the NSW Government has delivered 10,000 fee-free Responsible Service of Alcohol (RSA) courses.
 
Minister for Hospitality and Racing Kevin Anderson said the hospitality sector supports more than 300,000 jobs across the State and now is the perfect time for students to gain their free qualification and enter the industry.
 
“These free courses will help young people get jobs at local cafes and restaurants, which will support hospitality businesses who are in need of staff,” Mr Anderson said.
 
ClubsNSW CEO Josh Landis said the hospitality industry offers incredible opportunities for professional growth and development and this initiative will give students a great head start in the industry.
 
“Local clubs are fantastic places for young people to begin their careers and develop their professional skills,” Mr Landis said. 
 
“The club industry employs more than 53,000 people across the state and there are plenty of jobs available at the moment. This is a great initiative from the NSW Government that will help ease the strain of the current hospitality worker shortage.”
 
Training will be delivered during the July and September school holiday periods (4-15 July 2022 and 26 September–7 October 2022) and are available through TAFE NSW and other registered training organisations.
 
For more information, visit skills.education.nsw.gov.au/initiatives/school-holidays-hospitality-skills.