CLUBSACT REPORT

ClubsACT Calls for a True National Standard for RSA Qualifications

Arising out of the ashes of the COVID lockdown periods, ClubsACT members were faced with a diminished employment environment creating significant capacity issue for employers seeking skilled, job-ready workers. These issues prompted ClubsACT to embark on a very direct role in working to enhance the employment pool in the ACT through Jobtrainer training programs we embarked on with the Canberra Institute of Technology and SPARK Gininderry.

Unfortunately, through this period, we also identified a significant impediment to the free movement or hospitality workers across Australian jurisdictions and most specifically across the Eastern Seaboard. The failure of the national recognition of competencies to effectively allow the free movement of trained workers across jurisdictions has highlighted a major failing with the national Responsible Service of Alcohol qualifications.

As it stands today, there is no national consistency in the RSA qualification and in the case of NSW there is an additional bridging unit they require to be done if your RSA is derived from a jurisdiction other than NSW.

ClubsACT is seeking to work with the ACT, NSW and Federal Government to seek a resolution to this issue and we hope that this very simple issue can be resolved reasonably quickly. We are seeking ClubsAustralia’s support for a standardized 5yr RSA qualification that is recognized nationally with no additional units added to it. It is ridiculous that we can create a national Award system and yet allow vocational training qualifications to be an impediment to the free movement of employees across State and Territory border.

ClubsACT and SPARK Ginninderry Jobtrainer Graduation

Sadly after two successful years working jointly with SPARK Ginninderry our ongoing collaboration with them is winding up for the time being. We have recently graduated the last course of successful participants on our joint Jobtrainer training Program and we congratulate all the successful participants for their achievements.

ClubsACT would especially like to thank the Trainers and staff of the CIT and Ginninderry for all their work over the last two years with us. An especially big thanks goes to the Ginninderry organization for working collaboratively with us on this program over the last two years and for the invaluable and dedicated efforts of Emma Sckrabei, Mel Lyons and the team over this period.

ClubsACT will roll out a new program of training in the coming year aimed not only at recruitment level training but also with a strong staff development component. Further details on this will be made available in the coming months.

The industry focus has been on recruitment in the past couple of years as we rebuilt after the COVID lockdowns and going forward we are keen to put an emphasis on staff development and enhancing the skills base across the industry. Recruitment will remain an ongoing priority but as the premium end of the hospitality industry, we are committed to developing and enhancing skills pathways that reward employees and value add the career opportunities within the industry.

Craig Shannon CEO