Restaurant and Catering NSW makes study easier

A new $5000 scholarship aimed at encouraging university-trained managers into the restaurant and catering industry will be offered to a full-time student enrolled in the Bachelor of Business in Hotel and Resort Management degree at Southern Cross University’s (SCU) Coffs Harbour campus next year.

The Ken Orth Restaurant and Catering NSW Scholarship, provided by Restaurant and Catering NSW, was officially launched at a cocktail party for tourism industry representatives this week.

Restaurant and Catering NSW president, Mr Brien Trippas, said it was vital for the restaurant industry that managers received a high level of training.

“Most of the people who go into the restaurant industry train as either a chef or in low-level hospitality. But more and more we need to have professional managers who are knowledgeable in a wide range of areas such as tax, information technology and industrial relations,” Mr Trippas said.

“It is a matter of looking at the market and creating value in your restaurant. The equity should be based on the overall dining experience, not necessarily just the reputation of the chef.

“We would like to see greater emphasis on restaurants in higher education. Most of the people who complete their study go into tourism and hotels and motels. They are not coming into restaurants or function centres.”

He said there was a wide range of career opportunities in the restaurant industry and this scholarship was just one way of encouraging people into this area of hospitality.

SCU’s Director of Marketing and External Relations, Mr Shaun McDonagh, welcomed the commitment by Restaurant and Catering NSW and said the $5000 scholarship would help to attract the region’s brightest students into the industry.

“There are also many restaurateurs working in a family business who would benefit from formal study, both in terms of professionalism and planning for the next generation of restaurant managers,” Mr McDonagh said.

“Running a restaurant is becoming increasingly demanding from a business perspective. This scholarship will help raise the level of professional expertise in the field.”

The scholarship will be targeted at a non-school leaver who has demonstrated achievements within the restaurant and catering industry. The recipient, who must be enrolled in the Bachelor of Business in Hotel and Resort Management at the Coffs Harbour campus, will receive $5000 for one year.

For information about scholarships available at SCU email: scholarships@scu.edu.au

Photo caption: SCU Head of School of Tourism and Hospitality Management, Mr Perry Hobson (left), welcomes the new scholarship announced by Restaurant and Catering NSW chief executive officer Mr Robert Goldman.

Media contact: Brigid Veale, SCU Media Liaison, 66593006 or m. 0439 680 748.