Australian Venue Co offers to bring stranded Aussies home

Stranded Aussies are being thrown a lifeline, as one hospitality group desperate to fill jobs is offering to dish out tens of thousands of dollars for workers.

A pub group is going to extreme lengths to fill 500 jobs before Christmas by offering to pay for flights back to Australia as well as hotel quarantine for stranded Aussies.

The Australian Venue Co (AVC), which has 170 venues around Australia, is prepared to spend tens of thousands of dollars to fill the jobs and are targeting Australians abroad who want to return home as well as UK chefs looking to make a summer sea change.

Successful applicants will also have two weeks of rental accommodation paid for by the group and be rewarded with a $1000 drinking and dining voucher too.

The company said paid training would start online during hotel quarantine, so people can hit the ground running.

Australia Venue Co owns 170 pubs, bars and event venues across the country. Picture: Supplied

There are a number of roles available including bartenders, chefs and managers.

Paul Waterson, AVC’s chief operating officer, said there will be a number of Australians who are eager to be home by Christmas.

“It’s been incredibly difficult for many Australians to get home, so we’re excited to support a pathway home for Aussies abroad who have hospitality experience,” he said.

The combination of pent-up consumer demand post-lockdown, border openings, relaxed restrictions and high vaccination rates and the beginning of the festive season is expected to create consumer demand unlike anything the industry has seen, according to Mr Waterson.

He has dubbed the upcoming season ‘The Summer of Fun’.

“Australians – particularly those in Sydney and Melbourne – are absolutely overdue a good time,” he said.

The festive season is expected to create consumer demand unlike anything the industry has seen before due to lockdowns and border closures. Picture: Supplied

“We see huge demand every time we come out of lockdown, and we expect this summer to be even bigger. People are ready for some fun.”

He added that the pandemic has caused a dramatic impact on the industry and has led to staff shortages but there is a positive outlook for the future.

“It’s been an incredibly stressful two years for people working in the industry, but I want people to know that hospitality has a bright future in Australia,” he said.

Successful applicants will also be rewarded with a $1000 drinking and dining voucher. Picture: Supplied

“No matter where you are in Australia, your hospitality career doesn’t have to be on hold right now. You can make your next career move today and start now with AVC. Whether you have 10-plus years of experience or no experience at all, we have a job for you.”

The pub group is also looking for local Aussies, who would be offered perks such as the $1000 drink and dining voucher.

Workers can begin paid training immediately, with online training available for workers in the Sydney and Melbourne lockdowns.

It is also recruiting in location such as Perth, Brisbane and Adelaide and beach towns and tourist destinations like Cairns, Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast and Darwin.

For UK citizens, AVC will also contribute to the costs for the employer-sponsored visa, which could begin the pathway to permanent residency.