A new partnership between the RSPCA and BUSY At Work is set to provide some exciting work opportunities for job seekers wanting to gain a start in the hospitality industry.
BUSY At Work Project Development Manager, Katrina Mackenzie said BUSY had been working on a project with staff from the RSPCA Brisbane Animal Care Campus at Wacol to provide hospitality traineeships at their Black Cat Café.
“In mid last year I met up with RSPCA Black Cat Café Supervisor, Maddison Handley and RSPCA Operations and Facility Manager, Taylor Whitehead to discuss a project where BUSY could apply for funding for hospitality traineeships, with the trainees to be placed in the Black Cat Café.”
“Both Maddison and Taylor were very enthusiastic about the project and they indicated they could host three trainees for each six months over a one year period.”
Following an application through BUSY At Work, the training for the program was approved with funding provided through the Queensland Government’s Skilling Queenslanders for Work initiative.
With BUSY At Work providing mentoring support, Katrina said the trainees would transition into work at the Café while completing their Certificate I in Hospitality.
“The training will cover areas such as job search skills, workplace expectations, resume writing, budgeting, goal setting and time management.”
“It’s a very practical program with job seekers able to get those employability skills to help them build their confidence and provide a pathway into a career in hospitality.”
“We will be targeting young people aged 15 to 24 as well as women returning to the workforce. Successful applicants will be able to secure up to 26 hours paid work during each week of the six month program,” Ms Mackenzie said.
Black Cat Café Supervisor, Maddison Handley said the extra staff would allow the Café to increase capacity at the Wacol site as well as ensuring there was adequate staff for pop-up coffee stalls at various RSPCA events such as the Million Paws Walk and adoption days.
“Up until now we have been really limited with being able to service these events due to lack of staffing.”
“We will be training the new job seekers in all areas of cafe life including barista skills, cooking, food preparation, customer service, waitressing and catering.”
“We are excited to be part of the program which will help us increase our engagement with the community as well as potentially raise more funds for our animal welfare services,” Ms Handley said.
With advertising for the new positions to begin this month, Katrina said it was expected the new trainees would commence at the Black Cat Café in early March.
“At the end of the project they will be supported into ongoing employment and will have six months experience, referees and support from the BUSY mentor, and will be really well placed to apply for suitable vacancies once their paid traineeships are completed,” Ms Mackenzie said.
BUSY At Work, Managing Director Paul Miles said BUSY was pleased to partner with the RSPCA and give young people the opportunity to work in a supportive caring environment.
“This is a great partnership between BUSY and the RSPCA, and with funding provided through the Queensland Government’s Skilling Queenslanders for Work initiative, it will give six job seekers a great opportunity to enter the workforce.”
“We congratulate the RSPCA in helping job seekers gain employment in the hospitality industry and we look forward to supporting them in all their future recruitment needs,” Mr Miles said.
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MEDIA CONTACT
Leanne Macnamara, Public Relations Coordinator
0438 173 960 leanne.macnamara@busyatwork.com.au
