Local jobseekers have welcomed the timely news that TAFE NSW Yamba Connected Learning Centre is offering a six-week fee-free café operations short course, as new figures show an increase in job opportunities.   

ABS data has revealed that skilled employees in the hospitality industry are in demand in Northern NSW with 252 total hospitality job openings in August, which is an increase of 3.9% from July. 

TAFE NSW Hospitality Head Teacher Philip Caldicott said learning basic café operation skills is a great way to get a foot into a hospitality career.  

“The short course is designed to equip people with job-ready, practical training and provides a great overview on various aspects of working in a café including safe food hygiene practices, brewing espresso coffees, and customer service skills,” said Mr Caldicott. 

“With current restrictions on international and interstate travel, regional tourism is a growing trend for New South Wales residents and Yamba’s cafés are only going to get busier as we move into summer.  

“Students undertaking the course will be put under the pressure of making a high volume of coffee for visitors to the Connected Learning Centre which is something they would experience in a work environment.” 

Yamba’s Caperberry Café owner and operator James Allan said he is observing first-hand the growing demand for skilled hospitality workers in the region and said that demand will only increase as summer approaches.  
 
“We are always looking for well-trained staff who are passionate about hospitality and we look favourably upon TAFE NSW graduates because they are taught by experts who still work in the industry,” Mr Allan said.

The Statement of Attainment in Café Operations starts on 19th October. 

For more information about the huge range of short courses available at TAFE NSW, visit www.tafensw.edu.au or phone 131 601.

Media contact: Emma Woodward, R/Media and Communications Business Partner, 0409 618 291, emma.woodward15@tafensw.edu.au