Perfect match sets job seekers up for success
Good timing for the unemployed to consider a career in hospitality
With hospitality sector job vacancies set to top 100,000, Accommodation Association (AA) in partnership with the Federal Government has developed a new platform aimed at job seekers and remedying the ever-growing skills shortage.
The multi-tiered platform provides a range of services and programs to set those looking to work in the sector up for success while opening up employment pathways that meet the needs of Australia’s accommodation providers.
The four components of the platform include:
The Hub – this is a one-stop transformational Hospitality portal for employers, job seekers, consultants with streamlined processes, forms and tools for anyone to use so that the matching of individuals to job and career opportunities is even faster and easier. It will also provide a unified job Board for the sector.
The Gappa – this is a gap year experience for anyone but is targeted at young adults who are encouraged to take their gap year in their own backyard and make money doing it while working anywhere in the country for a year.
Train2Earn – a hugely successful direct training program which provides a short, intensive three-day immersion training with a job interview at the end. This is already tracking at a 94% employment outcome.
Our PaTH Business Placement– Partnerships programs which provide all jobseekers who complete training with a guaranteed four week live and practical internship in metro and regional venues nationally. These programs have an 80 percent employment success rate and provide the core basic skills to start a career in the sector. As part of this and in line with the sector’s commitment to creating an inclusive workforce, there are also dedicated DES programs to run in a hotel environment with a supported PaTH internship and employment support package.
Federal Assistant Minister for Youth and Employment Services, Luke Howarth said the AA is working with his department to bring these vacancies to job seekers as the number of available jobs in the hospitality industry is continuing to jump.
“This is about ensuring we’ve got real jobs that job seekers can go into and be confident of the outcome. If anyone unemployed hasn’t considered a career in hospitality, now is the time to do so,” he said.
AA president, Leanne Harwood said the industry has given her a lifelong career and the opportunity to live in 13 different cities around the world while slowly but surely making her way up to be IHG Hotels & Resorts managing director, all without any tertiary qualifications.
“That’s what this industry can do for people,” she said.
“I’m passionate about bringing people who haven’t had opportunities into our industry and showing them that there is a way to create a future and a great career within our amazing hospitality industry.”
“The tools are all there and the team at the AA have been working incredibly hard to make it as easy as possible to bring people into the industry.
“We are extremely grateful for the support from Minister Howarth, the tourism bodies, and the department and we look forward to continuing to work together.”
AA COO, Cassandra Champion said the initiatives are key to opening up accessible jobs to younger job seekers and to helping break the cycle of long term dependency by matching job seekers with the training, skills development and opportunities that they need to succeed and aligning them with job opportunities that will deliver for them and the venue.”
“We really want to take people on a journey. We want to help them build their confidence. We want to help them understand they are amazing individuals and match them to the amazing opportunities we have across the country in our sector,” she said.
Mike Parker-Brown is a UK-trained and qualified journalist and an award-winning travel communicator with more than 30 years experience.
Since 2002, Mike has worked as a freelance writer and PR consultant providing his services to major organisations in Australia and internationally in the tourism, aviation, hospitality, recruitment and export marketing sectors.
