Local TAFE students who are completing their hospitality and tourism certificates will get to rub shoulders with celebrity chefs while gaining hands-on learning from local producers and businesses as part of this year's Taste Bundaberg Festival.
More than 40 students will be serving up platters of local produce, pouring delicious drinks and working hard to ensure festival-goers have a fantastic experience for the 10-day food extravaganza in August.
TAFE Queensland Faculty Director of Business, Hospitality and Language (East Coast region) Joanne Charters said the event presented many benefits to those participating.
“This event is a fantastic opportunity for TAFE Queensland’s students to put the skills they’ve developed throughout their studies into practice and gain valuable experience from the local industry involved,” she said.
“Not only will they have the chance to develop their customer service skills and rub shoulders with the celebrity chefs, most importantly they’ll be able to work alongside local industry and showcase their skills to potential employers.
“Participation in these kinds of events has proven highly beneficial for our students in the past, with many students gaining employment as a direct result of local businesses being able to see them in action on-the-job — a fantastic outcome we’re looking forward to seeing happen again this year.”
Joanne said TAFE Queensland was highly flexible in the delivery of its courses, and regularly engaged with industry to ensure the skills taught to students fulfilled what they needed from their future employees.
“For example, we’ll regularly have industry come into classes to discuss their expectation and what they look for in an employee,” she said.
“From our industry consultation, we know that industry has a heavy focus on customer service, so we spend a lot of time practicing, discussing and building on these skills and knowledge to ensure our students are able to easily transition into the workplace.”
Joanne said the Taste Bundaberg Festival was the perfect place for students to further refine their skills.
“Our students are excited to gain such valuable skills and experience at such a prestigious live event, and put everything they’ve been working towards into action for everyone to see,” she said.
“TAFE Queensland is grateful to Bundaberg Regional Council and local industry for providing the opportunity for our students to showcase their skills to the public and potential employers.”
More than 40 students from a range of courses, including the Certificate II in Hospitality, Certificate III in Hospitality, Diploma of Hospitality Management, and the Certificate II in Tourism/Certificate III in Events, will be volunteering at the Taste Bundaberg Festival when it runs from 5 to 14 August.
Commercial cookery apprentices and tourism, events and business trainees from several local businesses will also participate in the event and offer their assistance.
You can view the Taste Bundaberg Festival program here.
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