Ready, steady cook

27/07/05
An $8million hospitality and tourism training facility has been officially opened this morning by Education and Training Minister Ljiljanna Ravlich.
Visiting West Coast TAFE's Joondalup campus this morning, Ms Ravlich said the multi-million dollar Academy of Hospitality and Tourism gave students hands-on, shopfront experience in hospitality and tourism.
"The impressive new centre provides students with practical training from lecturers and industry professionals that allows them to walk into their chosen career," the Minister said.
"The academy features a caf? style restaurant which seats up to 60 people and is open to the public.
"It also includes a 200-seat function centre, professional kitchen, a bar designed by one of Australia's leading brewers and a Barista coffee training academy.
"Hungry passers-by can visit the Baytree Deli, where they can buy a variety of fresh and frozen gourmet meals prepared by the students including lunches, soups, cakes and drinks."
Ms Ravlich said the academy offered nationally recognised qualifications in hospitality and management, tourism commercial cooking, kitchen operations, and events management.
"Training at the academy is overseen by group of industry and TAFE representatives who develop courses to meet the demands of the industry," the Minister said.
"The academy also offers training required to support the industry, including courses for house-keeping, front office and postgraduate training for chefs."
Ms Ravlich said the centre had catered for more than 500 students since courses began in March this year.
"The Gallop Government is committed to providing new jobs and opportunities for Western Australians," she said.
Students have started the year on a successful note with Michael Carter, a commercial cookery apprentice, winning Gold as (fourth year) Apprentice of the Year and Silver in the overall competition.
Up-and-coming Barista Mark Salinas won the third annual Don Podmore 'Student Barista Competition' which was held at the WA Food and Wine Festival.
The academy's restaurant, The Pavilion, is a finalist in this year's 'Restaurant of the Year within a Training Institute', organised by the Gold Plate Awards.
The Minister said the academy was part of the Gallop Government's commitment to address WA's skills shortage.
These include:

• a $14million partnership with industry to have 30,000 apprentices and trainees in training by 2009;
• $4.2million for rapid response training to meet skills shortages;
• a State-wide School Apprenticeship Link program to introduce students to trades while they are still at school; and
• $2million in subsidised training for 15 to 24-year-olds who are underemployed.