Addressing the Skills Shortage in the Club Industry

Skilled workers are a critical component of the club industry workforce, and include chefs and cooks, greenkeepers, and childcare workers. Clubs have reported difficulties identifying and recruiting skilled workers for these roles since the COVID pandemic, and ClubsNSW and Clubs Australia have been speaking on behalf of clubs with all levels of government to draw attention to these challenges. 

Some highlights from 2023 include:

• Meetings with state and federal MPs to highlight the shortage of skilled workers in the club sector. 
• ClubsNSW, through Clubs Australia, became a member of SkillsEQuipped — one of the Federal Government’s Jobs and Skills Councils, that identify, forecast and respond to current and emerging workforce challenges. 
• Forums with SkillsEQuipped about enhancing skills development and responding to current difficulties. 
• Contributing to the NSW Government’s VET Review.
• Providing a submission on the Proposed Australian Apprenticeship Support Services Model. 
• Engaging with Jobs and Skills Australia on their Annual Work Plan Development Process. 

More recently, ClubsNSW — through Clubs Australia — prepared a submission on supporting women to pursue an apprenticeship or trainee course in the club sector. That submission can be found here. This followed the release of the Supporting Women to Achieve VET-Based Careers discussion paper.

ClubsNSW has engaged with several clubs about their experiences in engaging trainees and apprentices over the past 12 months. We appreciate the time taken to offer any insights and provide feedback which has shaped our responses.   

The NSW Government and Federal Government have made significant efforts in strengthening priority workforces, including the club industry, throughout the past year. As of 30 September 2023, the number of fee-free TAFE enrolments reached 11,300 for the hospitality and tourism sector, with more positions becoming available as of 1 January 2024. 

ClubsNSW has championed additional assistance for both students and employers, and believe this initiative is a positive step towards addressing the skills shortage.

This year, ClubsNSW will further collaborate with the NSW Government and Federal Government to enhance training and development and address the persistent skills shortage in the club industry. 

We anticipate the coming year will bring significant progress in this domain, so stay tuned!