Industry partners take six star approach to job training

The state’s first ever sixstar training course for hospitality students has started, with 14 Queenslanders learning the ropes so they will be job ready for opportunities such as the proposed Queen’s Wharf development.

The multibillion dollar development will trigger unparalleled demand for Queenslanders with hospitality skills, and TAFE Queensland and Echo Entertainment Group have partnered to develop programs that will turn out the highly skilled workers needed.

Training and Skills Minister Yvette D’Ath said the Brisbane CBD development was an unequalled chance to provide job ready Queenslanders for more than 8000 ongoing roles, on top of the more than 2000 jobs needed during the construction phase.

“It is essential that we make the most of this longterm opportunity for thousands of Queensland workers,” Mrs D’Ath said.

“This partnership between TAFE Queensland and Echo Entertainment is laying the groundwork to cater for the next generation of skills demanded by the worldclass project and similar highend tourism opportunities across the state.”

In June, TAFE Queensland and Echo Entertainment Group entered a partnership to create the new Queensland Hotel and Hospitality School. It will deliver tailored programs and qualifications to meet the latest industry requirements and highest international standards.

Mrs D’Ath met the first 14 students to start the new International Hospitality Service Program, and joined them for a skills training session in fine dining placesetting and a food and winematching class.

“This first cohort of students are the future of Queensland’s and Australia’s sixstar tourism industry,” Mrs D’Ath said.

“The Queensland Hotel and Hospitality School graduates will be jobready

for five and sixstar hotels and the region’s finest restaurants, lifting the quality of the entire industry in southeast Queensland.

“The Palaszczuk Government is committed to growing jobs – and what better way to do so than through the creation of exciting new training opportunities that cater to industry demands.”

Echo Entertainment CEO Matt Bekier said he was excited by the jobs and career pipeline that the Queen’s Wharf development would create for Queenslanders wanting to work in retail, hospitality, tourism and entertainment.

“Our Queen’s Wharf development will make Brisbane a ‘must go’ destination for international travellers. When you team that up with the global drawcards that south east Queensland continues to attract, such as the G20 Leaders Summit, the Asia Pacific Cities Summit and the Commonwealth Games, TAFE Queensland will have a vital role in helping deliver world class chefs, world class hotel staff and world class hospitality staff,” Mr Bekier said.

Chief Executive Officer TAFE Queensland Jodi Schmidt said the partnership was a new era for education and training in Queensland.

“This partnership will see two leading organisations working hand-in-hand to deliver the best outcomes for industry and  students. Training delivered through the school will prepare students to take a job anywhere in the world,” she said.

“With Echo as our industry partner to support this training, we’ll be turning out the state’s next generation of highly skilled tourism and hospitality employees – that’s what Queensland needs to prosper in the ultra-competitive tourism industry.”

The school is initially providing three new six-star training programs:

• 6Star International Hospitality Service Programs: Now under way in October, this intensive threemonth program is run on campus and onsite with leading hospitality partners, and incorporates an accredited Certificate III in Hospitality.
• Culinary Arts Apprenticeships: This apprenticeship model will deliver a high-level commercial cookery apprenticeship, to help deliver future culinary stars and provide the finest contemporary cuisine to the highest of international standards.
• Front of House Apprenticeships:An industry led initiative designed to create exemplary food and beverage specialists with a recognised trade qualification for this profession within the hospitality industry. This program has been developed in conjunction with the Restaurant and Catering Association of Australia.

The school builds on the existing relationship between Echo Entertainment and TAFE Queensland, which already supports the next generation of chefs through the Echo Culinary Institute.

The school has been welcomed by industry partners, and is overseen by a panel which includes Hilton Brisbane, Palazzo Versace, Hotel Jen Brisbane, Next Hotels Brisbane, the Royal International Convention Centre, Sofitel Brisbane Central, The Intercontinental Sanctuary Cove Resort and Sea World Resort & Waterpark.

2016 intake dates are to be released shortly here

To register your interest for new course start dates, please call:
TAFE Queensland Brisbane on 13 72 48
TAFE Queensland Gold Coast on 07 5581 8300

Media contacts:

Brooke Baskin (Training and Skills Minister) 0400 774 303
Alison Smith (Echo) 0438 787 038
TAFE QLD Brisbane 0402 310 135