Hospitality SBATs kick-starting their careers video

Christian:

So my name is Christian. I run the Trident Fish and Grill here in Alstonville. We're not just your average fish and chip shop. We're very community based by supporting sporting events, local charities and stuff like that. I've just brought two new trainees on, we're pretty involved. 80% of our workforce is probably high school students from your local high schools in Alstonville here or down in Ballina and Lismore.

Chelsea:

My name's Chelsea and I am studying hospitality, Cert II at the Trident Fish and Grill. And at Alstonville High, I'm currently in year 11, and I'm going to go into year 12 doing my traineeship with Christian and my school. I try to study hospitality because I like I'm a people person and I just love being around people. And I also have a really big interest in food. I came along my traineeship through my work study teacher and also my boss Christian helped me set it up, because I already worked there previously.

Blake:

My name's Blake. I am a year 11 student currently at Alstonville High, studying a Certificate II in hospitality. I'm excited about hospitality because it's always been my life since I was a young age with my uncle being a chef, but not every subject can set you up for where you want to be in life. And I want to cook and be a chef.

Christian:

I myself started as a school based traineeship. I was in year 10 when I started. I actually approached my careers adviser and said to her that I wanted to start a school based traineeship. She signed me up through one of our local businesses here in Alstonville. I grew up in the hospitality industry. My parents have had businesses all their life ever since we were kids, we grew up in it. My first job was actually at a local pizza shop in Alstonville. I started actually on the dishes and worked my way up to store manager.

Blake:

We were talking about it with my teacher, Ms. Wilson for a while about trying to get me into a traineeship. And then when Toni came in and it was sort of a little easier, because it was right there and we could start as soon as we could. So it was sort of pushed it to be on the easier side. I was in my little corner sort of like I want to, but I can't. And then Chelsea being who she is was like, "Yeah, Blake, go get him and he'll talk about it. He'll love it."

Chelsea:

I thought it'd be good opportunity to study something that I really like doing that can help me for my future as well as earning my HSC all at the same time. To me, it just sounded like something that was perfect for me. So you can do both and it's a really good 50/50 way to achieve lots of things. Your school year adviser, your mentors, sometimes your subject selections or teachers in them, like my work studies teacher, they really all help along the way. Your deputies, your principals, as much as they might seem not approachable at the time, once they figure out your path and what you are willing to do and what you want to do, it's really easy to just be like, "This is what I want from my life. This is why I'm interested in. Could please help me achieve that." And they'll be there and they'll help you. And that's awesome and relieving.

Blake:

With traineeships, the opportunities are always going to be out there. It's just whether you look there or someone can give you a heads up and go talk to this person, they'll help you. And you'll be straight into a traineeship, helping you with whatever you need. It's really good. All you have to do is look under a few rocks and you'll find your opportunity.

Christian:

My advice to anyone is approach your careers adviser or your trainee adviser and they'll get you into it.

End of transcript.