Hastings Street restaurant takes unique approach to recruitment amid staffing crisis

A high-end Hastings St restaurant desperate for staff has taken a surprising recruitment approach to try and avoid the fallout from a looming vaccine mandate.

A high-end Noosa Heads restaurant has taken a bold recruitment step to try and counter the impacts of the looming vaccine mandate.

School students with little to no hospitality experience have been called in at Hastings St’s Locale Italian restaurant in a bid to tackle staffing in the midst of a major recruitment shortage in tourism and hospitality.

A combination of a lack of skilled migrants, rising property prices and the December 17 vaccination mandates have created industry-wide staffing challenges.

Locale Italian restaurant owner Rio Capurso said he had been searching for wait staff and chefs for six months.

Some estimates indicate there are 3500 vacancies in Queensland for jobs in the tourism sector with about 1200 of those for chefs.

On the Sunshine Coast there are almost 300 job vacancies for chefs and 530 for hospitality and tourism advertised on Seek.com.

Mr Capurso said he recently visited high schools to recruit students interested in hospitality.

Now the ages of his staff range from 15 to 65.

“The kids at school were quite good, especially those who are doing hospitality,” he said.

“They want to make some money and really progress into this industry so it’s a win-win.

“They’re not experienced but with a little bit of training we can teach them to become professional.

“We’re not going to find employees from interstate and there’s a lack of people on working holiday visas, so we need to get into these schools and give students opportunities.

“I think people will be surprised what great talents they are.”

Restaurateur Rio Capurso at his restaurant Locale in Noosa has seen a great return to trade since restrictions being lifted. Picture: Lachie Millard

Mr Capurso said they didn’t lose many staff due to the incoming vaccination rules but it added another difficulty to attracting new employees.

From December 17 cafes, restaurants and some venues will be off limits to people not fully vaccinated against Covid-19.

“About 90 per cent of our staff were already fully vaccinated,” Mr Capurso said.

“For me it was easier, but I have heard other places have had to stand down a few staff, which is not a nice thing to do especially right now.”

Mr Capurso said the business was prepared for the incoming rules but he had concerns.

“It will slow down the speed of the restaurant having to double check everyone’s green tick on their Covid app,” he said.

Hospitality businesses have been urged to call police if they have issues with unvaccinated patrons.