The 2018-19 Victorian State Budget has been released, with millions allocated to training and education in the industry.
The $50 million Head Start program will give 1,700 students the opportunity to complete their VCE while completing their apprenticeships.
Career education will receive a $109 million injection, which will assist student in planning their future careers.
The government has also pledged $172 million to free TAFE courses to trains tens of thousands of students in 30 high-priority fields, including Hospitality Certificate III.
For small businesses, the payroll tax-free threshold has increased to $650,000 and the payroll tax rate for regional businesses has been cut to 2.4 per cent.
The R&CA has welcomed the budget, and says the funding programs will help address the skills shortages facing the industry.
“It is absolutely vital for younger Victorians to have proper information and advice at their fingertips when making a life-changing decision such as what career path they should choose,” says Juliana Payne, R&CA CEO.
“There is an imperative to communicate the benefits of a long-term career in the hospitality sector at an earlier stage in a student’s life and we are pleased that the Victorian Government’s Budget will enable this outcome to be achieved.”
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