Adelaide Institute of Hospitality, Australia Study Team partner in international student push

The Adelaide Institute of Hospitality has teamed up with a new education agency to attract more international students to the short-staffed hospitality sector.

Commercial cookery and hospitality training provider Adelaide Institute of Hospitality (AIOH) has joined forces with new education agency Australia Study Team in a bid to attract more international students to the short-staffed hospitality sector.

Under the new partnership, the agency will work with the institute and its labour hire arm to deliver specialist courses and create a pathway for international students to secure roles in hospitality venues across the state.

The model will also support relevant sponsorship and permanent residency requirements for students.

The AIOH has been attempting to bridge the skills shortage that has emerged since the onset of Covid-19 by building closer connections with school students and promoting the wide variety of career opportunities within the hospitality industry.

AIOH head trainer Bhu Chung with AIOH manager Ben Sharp, centre, and Australia Study Team managing director Chris Johnston, right, at AIOH headquarters on Pirie St, city. Picture: Mark Brake

But AIOH manager Ben Sharp said there was still a critical shortage of skilled staff, and new initiatives were needed to find and train candidates interested in helping to bridge the gap.

“We are excited that AIOH has been CRISCOS (Commonwealth Register of Institutions and Courses for Overseas Students) approved for the first time to offer courses to international students,” he said.

“I believe AIOH’s partnership with AST will establish a highly successful international training model that will service industry and create a sustainable solution to staff shortages.

“Our training model is unique in that it will be offering employment through our labour hire department with strong pathways for sponsorship and permanent residence in South Australia.”

Australia Study Team was recently established by former state president of the Migration Institute of Australia, Chris Johnston, to help international students find and enrol in Australian courses, and assist with their visa requirements.

Mr Johnston said the new training model would commence in August, and expressions of interest were currently being sought from students interested in enrolling.

“The initial response from government, industry and immigration parties to the model has been overwhelmingly positive,” he said.

“With the return of international students there has been no greater time of opportunity for the hospitality sector to lead the way with education and employment pathways.”

Chef and trainer Bhu Chung, who was named VET teacher/trainer of the year at last year’s SA Training Awards, will deliver AIOH’s new international training programs.

Mr Sharp, a trained chef, helped establish the AIOH more than a decade ago.

It is currently training around 200 apprentices, and delivers VET courses in more than 50 secondary schools across the state.

As part of the VET in schools program, students are trained by AIOH chefs in school kitchens or at the AIOH’s Pirie St premises.

In 2021 the AIOH brought in acclaimed chef Emma McCaskill as its inaugural VET in schools business development consultant, to build closer connections between hospitality operators and secondary students.

Former Coriole Vineyards events manager Genevieve Liston took over the role last year.