The restaurant and catering industry will continue to strongly support the training of overseas students studying cookery through work placement this year.

Restaurant & Catering Australia, the peak national association representing the interests of restaurateurs and caterers, is pleased to see that recent announcements by Minister for Immigration and Citizenship, the Hon. Senator Chris Evans, will continue to support students studying cookery in Australia.

The Association has been working with providers of training, both private and public, to support students' transition into work in Australia, following the completion of their qualification.

This pathway is very important said John Hart, CEO of the Association ‘students that study cookery in Australia account for nearly 4,000 placements into the industry every year'. ‘This is a very important source of skilled workers that helps to keep the wheels turning in our industry'.

Changes to the arrangements for skilled migrant to work in Australia, announced by Minister Evans, still allow for a pathway from a Certificate III in Commercial Cookery, through a graduate skills visa to gain work in Australia. It is understood that this pathway will also allow for an application for permanent residency, if an employer nomination is involved, for those graduates who wish to apply.

Australia's restaurant, café and catering industry employs 250,000 people in Australia. The industry demand for skilled staff is high. Restaurant & Catering Australia maintains a keen interest in the development of the hospitality workforce.