Charles Darwin University (CDU) tourism and hospitality students are in hot demand from local Territory businesses.
All students currently enrolled in hospitality and beauty therapy courses on the Palmerston Campus are getting job offers even before they finish their studies.
There are growing job opportunities across the Territory for skilled professionals in all aspects of the tourism and hospitality industry from chefs to tour guides and in allied businesses such as hairdressing and beauty therapy.
CDU Palmerston Campus offers over 45 VET courses that cover everything from Asian cooking, IT, business studies and conservation and land management to hairdressing, library services and tour guiding.
Tenielle Heffernan completed the Certificate III in Hospitality (Operations) and is now employment as a food and beverage attendant at the Holiday Inn in Darwin.
Four students are employed by Skycity Casino in various positions from functions work to bar work. Others have received employment at the Hanuman Restaurant, Cornicopia Restaurant, Ristorante Rosinaz, Palmerston Tavern, Noonamah Hotel and at various functions such as the Palmerston Festival, AHA Awards dinner at Skycity Casino and the Italian Club.
CDU beauty therapy department lecturer Jessica Robertson says "We are very impressed with the success of our past and present students. We have a high employment rate for all of our students, which is often associated with work experience undertaken during the course.
"One example is Rachel Jenkins, who studied hairdressing at the University, followed by beauty therapy last year. She now works at Elements, a brand new day spa in Darwin. The course gives students a great opportunity to work in a variety of areas within the industry," Jessica said.
There are also vocational education courses that provide a valuable focus and opportunity for those who have been away from study for a while and want to pursue new career options.
For more information on the full range of VET courses go to www.cdu.edu.au.