With its golden sandy beaches, sunshine, vibrant urban centres and laidback lifestyle - do you really need any more of an incentive to study in Australia? In fact, there are plenty of other reasons that you should consider beginning your hospitality career in the Land Down Under! Our tourism sector is world-class and booming, making us one of the best places to work in hospitality - particularly commercial cookery.
Let's take a look at how Australia's hospitality and commercial cookery industries are performing on a global scale.
Are you considering a career in commercial cookery? Australia is one of the best places to go.
A hospitality industry with an impeccable reputation
Australia's hospitality industry is right up there with the world's best, so you couldn't ask for a better place to begin your career as a chef or restaurant manager. But what gives us such a fabulous reputation?
1. Our excellent vocational education and training system
Australia has one of the best vocational education and training systems in the world. Our systems and framework are emulated by other countries around the globe, who see us as the benchmark of quality. Kenvale's Managing Director Anne Zahra says that the college receives a large number of international students enrolling in commercial cookery courses because they've heard about Australia's great reputation.
One of the things that makes it stand out from other countries is the pathways from VET into university education - where you can learn from the world's leading tourism academics.
Australia has one of the best vocational education and training systems in the world.
When you gain a qualification and work experience in such a reputable hospitality industry, your employment prospects are magnified. Not only can you work anywhere in Oz, you can use an Australian hospitality qualification in other countries around the world.
2. The quality of our restaurants and chefs
Not only does Australia's education and training in commercial cookery have a reputation for being of stellar quality, but the sector itself. Many think of places like Italy and France as being food capitals of the world, but we also boast restaurants that regularly make top 50 lists, including Quay (Sydney), Attica (Melbourne) and Brae (Birregurra). Award-winning chefs such as Kylie Kwong and Dan Hunter are also pioneers in sustainability and ethical food choices, which add to the reputation of the industry as a whole.
3. Our diverse food culture
Australian food doesn't just consist of Vegemite and BBQs! Modern Australian cuisine is all about fusion. Our diverse population comprising many different ethnic groups means we absorb influences from all around the world - Italy, Vietnam, India, France, Japan, China, Korea, Central America and the Middle East - just to name a few. The popularity of shows such as MasterChef have engrained fusion cuisine into the Australian public and encouraged the experimentation that characterises so many of our dining venues.
Australian cuisine draws on a wide variety of influences, making our commercial cookery sector particularly exciting.
A hospitality industry that's booming
Australia was left relatively untouched by the GFC and continues to be one of the best-performing economies in the world across many sectors, the hospitality industry included. Australia's tourism industry is performing 20 per cent above the global average in terms of productivity, according to 2017 data from the Australian government.
Cafes and coffee shops currently employ over 71,000 people and this sector is growing at a rate of 7 per cent per annum, IBISWORLD data has found. Industry revenue is also forecasted to increase by 6.9 per cent in 2016-17, to $8.2 billion. The restaurant sector has predicted growth of 5.2 per cent, with industry revenue predicted to grow by 3.3 per cent in 2017.
Employment prospects are high in Australia's hospitality industry, particularly for skilled graduates, so leap on that bandwagon!
Employment prospects are fantastic
Due to the growth in the tourism industry as a whole, there's a skills shortage that means employment prospects are particularly good right now. While you might face stiff competition for hospitality jobs in other countries, particularly for more senior positions, you'll find that employment is far easier here, with approximately 49,000 new positions opening up in the hospitality and tourism sector this year.
Approximately 49,000 new positions will be opening up in the hospitality and tourism sector this year.
The chances of landing a job in the industry are even higher if you're qualified. Deloitte research has found that more and more business owners in the industry are reporting skills shortages among their staff, which means they're looking for qualified people to hire.
There's particularly high demand for cooks and chefs, with plenty of employment opportunities in restaurants, hotels, cafes, resorts, conference venues and cruise ships.
Hospitality employees get paid more in Australia
One undeniable bonus of getting into the hospitality industry Down Under is that it pays far better than in many other countries. For a start, the minimum wage - currently at $18.29 an hour - is much higher here than in other OECD countries, including New Zealand, the United Kingdom, Germany and the United States, ABC News reports. This means that even when you're just starting out, you'll be paid well.
Once you progress to a more senior position, you can expect your pay to increase accordingly:
- A Chef de Partie can expect to earn around AU$51,010.
- A Head Chef can expect to earn around AU$63,728.
So, if there's any place to get into a career in hospitality or commercial cookery, it's Australia. Kenvale College is Australia's oldest private hospitality college. Our award-winning industry experts teach courses in hospitality management and commercial cookery that will equip you with the knowledge and skills you need to make it in the hospitality sector Down Under - and the rest of the world. Find out more by speaking to a course adviser.
