Swapping the beach for the outback has been a family affair for two Charles Darwin University hospitality students studying at Yulara.
Dina and Vilma Espinocilla moved with their family from Queensland’s Sunshine Coast last year so all of them could take up work at Voyages Ayers Rock Resort in the shadow of the world’s largest monolith, Uluru.
“Our parents applied for us to work here,” said Vilma, who is employed in housekeeping alongside her sister Dina.
Their mother works at the resort supermarket and their stepfather works in the resort laundry.
Both Vilma and Dina decided to make the most of their isolation by taking advantage of study opportunities available through Charles Darwin University.
“I want to like my job so I thought doing some training might improve my enjoyment of the job,” Dina said.
The sisters are enrolled in Certificate II in Hospitality Operations, completing their study through workbooks and on-the-job training.
Like the other CDU Hospitality students at Yulara, they receive regular assessments from visiting CDU lecturers.
Relocating to one of the most isolated and hottest places in Australia has been a big adjustment for the Espinocilla sisters, but one made easier by having their family around.
“It’s good to be in a place where it’s easy to get to work,” Vilma said.
A certificate in hospitality can provides endless employment opportunities anyway in the world, with service industries experiencing continuous growth in Australia and overseas and qualified staff always in demand.
For more information about studying through CDU’s Yulara Centre, contact Trish Harkins on 89577902 or visit http://www.cdu.edu.au/tourismhospitality/ for information on hospitality courses.
Find out more and the TEP and VET courses at the following enrolment days:
VET enrolment days:
- Thursday 13 July 2 - 6pm
- Friday 14 July 10am - 2pm
TEP enrolment days:
- Casuarina Campus 18 July 3 - 6pm (Building 18.2.17)
- Alice Springs 14 July 12 - 6pm