By now we’re all pretty aware of the huge impact that COVID has had on the hospitality industry, forcing many venues to shut down and many people to lose their jobs.
Now that we’re post-pandemic, the Victorian government is stepping up to support both hospitality businesses and people who are currently unemployed.
“Five hundred jobseekers are being rapidly recruited and trained to support hospitality businesses facing current staff shortages,” reads a statement released today, by Premier Daniel Andrews.
“As part of the Andrews Labor Government’s $200 million Business Stimulus Package, $6.68 million in Jobs Victoria funding will support workers to be trained for hospitality jobs with small to medium-sized businesses.”
This is incredible news, both for hospitality businesses that have been struggling to find staff, as well as for people currently unemployed in Victoria.
“Recruitment starts this week and runs until September, creating jobs for people whose employment has been hardest hit by the pandemic,” continues the statement, “including women over 45, people from multicultural backgrounds, Aboriginal people, people with disability and young people.”
Recruited workers will get paid for five days of hospitality training, in things such as good handling, barista skills and RSA (responsible service of alcohol) and tools of the trade. They will also be supported throughout the program, with mentoring that will help them succeed on the job and properly set them up for a career in the hospitality industry.
This is what the hospitality industry needs; fresh faces, renewed vitality, workers with a passion for all things food, bev and service.
To bring all this to life, Jobs Victoria is partnering with the Apprenticeship Employment Network (AEN) and their Group Training Organisations (GTO) members, who will coordinate the training and placements of workers into jobs right across Victoria.
So, if you’re a hospitality business looking for staff, or unemployed and looking for a career in hospitality, you can register your interest here.
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