Wellington local and TAFE NSW student, Renae May is encouraging other career starters to consider a promising future in hospitality as newly released figures reveal a high demand for hospitality workers in Western NSW.

According TAFE NSW research, employers in Western NSW have identified hospitality as the most difficult industry to recruit for, because there is a shortage of skilled workers. NSW Government Jobs Outlook report also reveals that the accommodation and food services industry is classed as one of the top five growth industries across the country, with 300,000 regional workers employed in the industry annually.

This is promising news for Ms May, who has always been passionate about working in the hospitality industry and was looking for some career direction. By enrolling in a Certificate III in Hospitality at TAFE NSW Wellington and Dubbo, she was able to broaden her skills, which has subsequently led to an exciting opportunity to train for a role in management at McDonalds Dubbo.

“I really enjoyed studying at TAFE NSW and have noticed that I can now comfortably talk to customers, handle food correctly and have more knowledge of workplace safety procedures,” Ms May said.

“I have mastered the art of the perfect coffee through practice in the TAFE NSW mobile training unit, which visited TAFE NSW Wellington on a number of occasions.”

McDonalds Dubbo restaurant manager, Sunil Bhandari, said Ms May was progressing well in her role at McDonalds Dubbo.

“Ms May has worked at McDonalds Dubbo for over 12 months now, she originally started as a crew member and is now receiving training in her role as a crew trainer, which could then lead to a role in management,” Mr Bhandari said.

“She has a strong work ethic and has developed a good rapport with her colleagues and customers. Renae consistently applies the skills she has learnt at TAFE NSW, to the workplace.”

Ms May added, “I’ve found a career that I am passionate about and thanks to the hands-on skills I have learnt at TAFE NSW, I have been able to get a job that I love and progress my career.”

To find out more about studying hospitality at TAFE NSW in semester two, phone 13 16 01 or visit www.tafensw.edu.au.

Media contact: Emma Curtis, TAFE NSW Media Officer, (02) 6338 2509, mobile 0427 901 515