Thirty young South Australians will get a head-start to become the next generation of future 'Master Chefs' and hospitality front-of-house, hospitality-sector professionals, in a new pilot project.
Minister for Innovation and Skills David Pisoni said the Meeting the Skills-Needs for SA Cooks and Chefs project combines on-the-job training with a Certificate III in Commercial Cookery or Certificate III in Hospitality, delivered by the Quality Training and Hospitality College at Wayville.
"The project, led by the Restaurant and Catering Industry Association of Australia, will pilot a new model of apprenticeship training delivery, grouping sets of job-related skills to be delivered through increasingly complex menus, instead of the standard unit-by-unit approach," Minister Pisoni said.
"This is one of more than 50 Skilling South Australia projects, worth more than $9 million, funded by the Marshall Liberal Government and co-designed with business and industry, to drive apprenticeship and traineeship growth.
"Participants will gain a full set of skills, preparing them to work on a station in the kitchen or in other restaurant roles earlier, thereby increasing productivity and meeting employer needs in the hospitality sector.
"The South Australian Government has provided more than $80,000 funding for the project including employment brokerage, workplace mentoring and engagement, with highly-skilled and experienced chefs who will support the apprentices in their learning and development."
Minister Pisoni said the project reflects a State Government commitment for South Australia to become a global destination for quality food and hospitality education.
"Together with the Federal Government, we have committed $60 million to deliver the new International Centre for Food, Hospitality and Tourism Studies, and the South Australian Government has commenced a scoping study to establish the centre at Lot Fourteen."
Restaurant and Catering Industry Association Deputy Chief Executive Sally Neville said more than 4,400 new jobs are expected to be created in the South Australian hospitality sector by 2022.
"Hospitality is a valuable and exciting career that can give you a great skill-set to set you up for life," Ms Neville said.
"People that follow a vocational education and training (VET) career path will come out with employability skills that will take them far and give them a job for their future."
The Skilling South Australia initiative is a $203 million partnership with the Federal Government to create more than 20,800 new apprenticeships and traineeships over four years.
For more information about the Skilling South Australia Projects visit www.skilling.sa.gov.au/projects
