Pathways to success: Hospitality education
The demand has never been greater for skilled workers in the sector
Hospitality management is an important part of the service sector, it has significant presence in the industry and as the sector continues to grow, so too the demand for qualified professionals who can execute many different tasks at a high-quality level and manage supervisory works efficiently.
That demand has never been greater as the industry today faces a situation where job vacancies in a COVID-induced environment look set to top 100,000.
Speak to anyone who has enjoyed success in the sector and they will tell you the best way to go about starting a career in hospitality management is to embark on a qualification course, because there is no better way to prepare a student’s understanding of the operational aspects of the business and provide a solid grounding of the fundamentals they need to acquire in order to succeed in the industry.
Helping on average 23,000 students at its campuses in Sydney and Melbourne annually gain their credentials, specialist training provider, William Angliss Institute has been right there at the coalface for more than 80 years, delivering a range of courses for the food, tourism, hospitality, events, and hotel management industries.
These cover the spectrum, ranging from apprenticeships, accredited traineeships, and diplomas through to graduate certificates, bachelor and master degrees
The Institute’s eight-decade-long reputation and industry connections play a key role in ensuring the students have the opportunity to undergo exciting hands-on work experience and the chance to connect with prospective employers.
These industry connections include the Australian Hotels Association, the Victorian Tourism Industry Council, Melbourne Food and Wine Festival, and the esteemed Great Chefs Program which, running for 25 years, provides cookery and hospitality students with the opportunity to work alongside some of Australia’s most recognised chefs.
Accom News sat down with William Angliss Institute Associate Director, Student Recruitment and Services, Sarah Lawrie to ask her thoughts on the best pathways for those looking to forge a career in hospitality.
What are the best pathways into hospitality?
Summer is the perfect time to experience the hospitality industry to see if it is for you. Why not take a summer job with any one of the myriad of festivals, events, shows, sporting tournaments or in one of the bars, pubs, restaurants, cafes, or cellar doors happening? You may be surprised to find it’s the perfect industry for your personality and passions.
What short courses, entry-level certificates, high-level diplomas are available?
William Angliss Institute offers the full range of hospitality courses, from short courses including F&B service, RSA and food handlers courses, to Vocational Education and Training (VET) programs delivered to Secondary Schools with Certificate II in hospitality and Certificate II in kitchen operations, free TAFE Certificate III in hospitality, diploma and advanced diploma of hospitality management right through to bachelor of tourism and hospitality management programs. Explore the links between food and beverage, hospitality and tourism.
Do hospitality qualifications provide career enhancement?
Yes, certificate-level qualifications provide a strong fundamental skill base for entry level positions, and diploma and advanced diploma qualifications provide a detailed understanding of the industry, learning about business operations, human resources, legal knowledge, and service quality to prepare you to enter a management position.
How much do educational programs cost? Are there any government funded programs available?
The Free TAFE Certificate III in hospitality is a great place to start your training as eligible students don’t have to pay tuition, only the student service fee. You can then pathway to the diploma of hospitality management, a one-year full time (or part time equivalent) course which starts from around $9,800 for a Government Supported Place, with FEE-HELP available.
Does the hospitality and tourism industry participate in student learning? Should it do more?
At William Angliss Institute, we have very strong connections to the industry and regularly have experts from the hospitality and tourism industries speak to students and share their insights and knowledge about the changes and challenges in the industry to prepare students for their first steps in their career.
We also have an extensive calendar of study tours, site visits and work placements so students can connect and learn from industry before they graduate.
And finally, do you have any stories about ex-students who have had successful careers in hospitality?
A perfect example is Cameron Maher. A William Angliss Institute Hospitality Management Diploma has taken Cameron around the world, and from waiter to group assistant and general manager in just seven years.
Cameron completed his Advanced Diploma of Hospitality Management at the institute from 2007 to 2010 and then travelled to London to land a job at Dinner by Heston Blumenthal London. Cameron was working at The Fat Duck in the UK when he was asked to be part of the team to open The Fat Duck in Australia.
Cameron then became head waiter at The Fat Duck in Melbourne before being promoted to assistant restaurant manager at Dinner by Heston Blumenthal Melbourne and then he moved on to the role of restaurant manager at Estelle by Scott Pickett in Northcote.
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.
