9 January 2020

TAFE NSW graduate Thi Tuyet Le is combatting the hospitality skills deficiency in the Australian Capital Territory by upskilling to pursue her dream job at the prestigious Hyatt Hotel in Canberra.

According to the Deloitte Access Economics Report commissioned by Austrade, Australia’s tourism sector is set to benefit from continued economic growth in key international source markets.  Without access to a skilled labour force, hospitality businesses will not be able to reap the full benefits of the growth and the Australian Capital Territory has reported one of the highest levels of state recruitment difficulties, with a 60% skills deficiency.

The Lyons-resident, also known as Elle, said, “Having recently moved to Australia from Vietnam with my husband, who is a diplomat in Canberra, I knew I had to upgrade my skills while putting theory into practice.

“I was particularly interested in learning about the Australian legal system and how it applies to the hospitality sector, so it was tremendous that I could set my own schedule to study a Diploma of Hospitality Management with TAFE Digital in an online environment, from the comfort of my home at my own pace.”

Hyatt Hotel Canberra Human Resources Director, Carmen Hockey, said “Hyatt Hotel Canberra works closely with TAFE NSW and other hospitality schools to collaboratively address the skills shortage within our sector. 

“Through this approach, we are able to employ quality candidates like Elle, who have the foundation of a qualification and continue to groom them to our exceptional five star standards.”

Elle said “I was very lucky to get casual work as a food and beverage attendant in less than a month, and to secure a full-time position within another three months at the well-known Hyatt Hotel.”

Complying with regulatory requirements studies, were not only of interest to Elle in her personal capacity, but has helped her enormously with her international clientele.

“I am now far more confident when facing difficult situations, which I’m able to handle professionally, and am now able to demonstrate social and cultural sensitivity,” she said.

“Interacting with people of various ethnicities, religious and social backgrounds, has meant that I’m continuously able to learn more about the cultures of different countries, which is of paramount importance when working in an international environment.”

Elle is quick to acknowledge that she would not have received the tremendous, positive feedback she has received from customers over the last 10 months, had it not been for TAFE Digital.

“Before enrolling in the TAFE Digital course, I was a nervous, newly recruited staff member in a new country, who lacked skills and experience,” she said. 

“I now have the confidence to realistically advance my career in this exciting sector, as a supervisor or manager at the Hyatt Hotel.”

To see TAFE Digital’s hundreds of exciting courses across a range of modern industries, please visit https://www.tafensw.edu.au/digital

Media contact: Bonny Gunn, TAFE Digital Media and Communications Business Partner.  M: 0417 134 048