done it a million times.”
Hamlet’s newly launched Next Shift program is designed to create more stories like Michael’s. The employment pathways initiative connects graduates from Hamlet’s training programs with tourism and hospitality employers actively seeking staff. But importantly, it is not simply about placing people into jobs. The model also supports businesses themselves, helping workplaces build confidence, improve inclusivity practices, and create environments where employees can genuinely succeed long term. Hamlet Impact and Inclusion Officer Amy Lawler says the industry is perfectly positioned to lead the way. “The Next Shift Project is an employment pathways project program, where we match employers who are looking for skilled staff, and graduates of our training program who have the skills, the motivation, proven attendance and they want to work,” she says. “Over the next two years, we want to see 40 people into jobs in the tourism and hospitality industry.” Importantly, the program has already demonstrated success through partnerships with businesses including Mona and MACq 01. “We’ve partnered with Mona and MACq 01 over the last four years, and we’ve had some really successful outcomes there,” Amy says. “We’ve created, I think it’s about 12 jobs between the two businesses over the last four years, and all of those people who have gained employment are still employed.” That retention figure is significant in an industry where staff turnover remains one of hospitality’s greatest challenges.
HAMLET KITCHEN STAFF
Shift focuses on practical solutions and untapped potential. The hospitality industry already offers many ideal entry-level roles – kitchen hands, food runners, customer service positions, housekeeping and linen attendants – where people can build careers from the ground up. Amy believes one of the biggest opportunities lies in rethinking traditional recruitment approaches. “Accessibility is a human right, and employment is a human right, and some of those systems are not inclusive, inherently,” she says. “If you think about a job interview, for example, they are geared towards a certain kind of person who might confidently speak in that scenario, but it doesn’t really test how they will perform their job. “So, we’re really there to support the employer, to really ask them to have a shift in their thinking about their entire recruitment practices and see how they can refine them.” That message strongly resonates with Hospitality Tasmania, which has partnered with Hamlet to help spread awareness throughout the sector. Industry Engagement Manager Angie McMahon says many operators simply need reassurance and support to take the first step.
Rather than focusing on perceived barriers, Next
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Tasmanian Hospitality Review June/July Edition Contact Glenn Hill on 0415 157 104 or glenn@zeropayments.com.au zeropayments.com.au 20
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