Around 30 jobseekers interested in working in hospitality spoke to prospective employers and organisations that could help them find work at Illawarra's first hospitality jobs drive expo on Tuesday.
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The Osborne Park event was a chance for many to explore employment opportunities with 25 employers who had pledged jobs. They included the Novotel, The Coffee Club, The Shellharbour Club and The Imperial Clifton.
Andrew Wales, the Illawarra and South Coast employment facilitator for the Australian Government's Local Jobs Program initiative, said the event showed what could be done and kickstarted a campaign that will run over summer.
Mr Wales said the best thing about the foreshore location was it provided a relaxed setting where no one felt intimidated.
"We needed to do something. We invited employers to pledge jobs first and today we had them and services providers here so jobseekers could find out more about the positions vacant," he said.
Chef Jeremy Lackenby, who recently completed his apprenticeship, provided his time so anyone interested in working in restaurants and function venues could ask him questions.
"We had more than two dozen people come through. All of who will find training or a job somewhere," Mr Wales said.
"What we are now going to do is extend the initiative to become a summer hospitality jobs campaign. We are going to keep all the jobs pledged online and keep adding to them. We have already had 130 jobs pledged."
Mr Wales said the jobs will be promoted over Christmas and New Year before a four day jobs drive that will include more industry sectors in early February.
"Day one might be hospitality and day two might be community services and aged care," he said.
Mr Wales said employers in the various sectors will be invited to pledge jobs in advance.
Federal MPs Stephen Jones and Sharon Bird attended the jobs expo after supporting RDA Illawarra's Skills Roundtable online series. They described it as a fantastic opportunity for jobseekers to talk to employers who have pledged a job.
" We're really pleased the target of 100 vacancies pledged has been well and truly exceeded with 136 jobs on offer on the Jobs Drive website," Mr Jones said.
"It's clear our hospitality operators are gearing up for a busy holiday season after a difficult year due to the pandemic. That means big opportunities for our hospitality workers, school leavers and those looking to pick up more hours."
Greg Ellis
Almost four decades in electronic, print and digital media. A writer, presenter, emcee, photographer and videographer with degrees in business management, marketing and human resources and tertiary qualifications in photography.
Almost four decades in electronic, print and digital media. A writer, presenter, emcee, photographer and videographer with degrees in business management, marketing and human resources and tertiary qualifications in photography.
