City of Mandurah to consider a hospitality training institute

MANDURAH could boast an ongoing supply of skilled workers for restaurants, bars, cafes and tourism outlets if a proposal from Peel Development Commission to establish a Peel Hospitality Institute goes ahead.

The council will consider the Commission’s request for support and a contribution of up to $40,000 for a business case at its meeting on Tuesday.

Peel Development Commission presented the proposal to the City earlier this month and asked the council to take the lead on the project.

It has been working through concepts to develop the proposal for some time and is now seeking a commitment from the City to be proponent and champion for the project.

Potential outcomes would include increased delivery and quality of hospitality and tourism training, increased training, increased training for youth and the unemployed, a boost to the quality of tourism, development of a skilled, qualified and demand-ready workforce and the potential to attract international students.

There are 7200 jobs in hospitality and tourism in the Peel region representing 21 per cent of the total workforce.

There has been a 153 per cent increase in the number of trainees and apprentices who live in Peel undertaking training in hospitality and of those, 68 per cent are trained outside the Peel region.

More than 9400 people are expected to be in the industry in 2050.

Current unemployment sits at 8.8 per cent with youth unemployment at 18.8 per cent with 3500 seeking work.