2009 was an extremely challenging, yet productive year for the Institute with a steady stream of students enrolling throughout the year. 2009 also heralded the start of a new dawn for the VET sector, which experienced an unprecedented and challenging time with the advent of more stringent regulations and compliance monitoring for all private RTO’s and TAFE’s.  However, with positive signs of a global economic recovery on the way and amidst new and stringent procedures to enhance the quality of overseas students entering Australia, what does this mean for our education industry and the VET sector in particular? How will we be able to enforce and ensure the sustainability of the education industry and the demand for Hospitality places at Yorke Institute in the coming months by local and international students?

“ Read on….

Over the past recent months several changes have been announced by the Minister Chris Evans that affected the migration laws. The changes clearly reflected the government's preference to grant permanent residence status to applicants with proof of relevant skills and work experience in their nominated occupation. This applied to occupations on the Skills Occupation List(SOL) as well as those occupations not on the SOL.

What's our view on these changes?

We welcome the changes as this means that only students who genuinely intend to study and build a career in the chosen courses will apply to study in Australia. Students who choose to build their career in the nominated occupations are more likely to succeed in their permanent resident application as there are many businesses keen to sponsor employees who are skilled and committed to their professions.

Many students hastily returned to their home countries and some even moved to countries like New Zealand, Canada and the UK after being lured by recruitment agents when these changes were announced.

If a student is committed to receiving good quality training and education and initiates in finding part time employment in the chosen profession, then it is almost certain that the student will have an edge over others in securing employment post completion of studies.

Hence employers would be more inclined to sponsor students who have completed their courses timely and are more skilled and experienced than others.

Of course this alone may not secure employment for some. The right attitude as we know it also plays a key factor in securing employment.

This is why we believe that you, as the prospective student should have a selection criteria for the course and course provider. Some of the questions that you should ask before enrolling in a course includes:

1. Am I interested in this course?
2. Will I pursue a career in this profession?
3. What can the provider do to enhance my skills?
4. Can the provider help me improve my employability?
5. How can the provider offer to help improve my skills and employability?
6. Will it help me find suitable jobs within the profession?
7. If there are many students enrolled with the provider, will I ever be heard?

Why join Yorke Institute?

Find out how we help our students improve their skills and employability

At Yorke Institute our training is designed to help students secure employment within the profession.  We offer short courses to help our students enhance their skills. These courses include resume writing, interview preparation, barrista courses, Masterchef classes.

We are actively involved in the industry and have a strong network.

We take our participation within the industry very seriously which is why we are recognised as a quality provider.

I am proud to announce that Yorke Institute is the only private provider of Les Toques Blaches. It is also a member of Foodservice Association (FIA) and Australian Culinary Federation (ACF).  As members of these organisations, students and staff of Yorke Institute have taken part in various charity functions, excursions and events.  Some of the recent functions include excursions to the 5 star rated RACV Hotel accompanied by the Executive Chef, Mark Normoyle; Pink Ribbon breakfeast event and other social gatherings. Up coming events include cooking competitions, Master chef classes, short courses and various networking sessions. Students who participate in events are usually issued with Certificates of Appreciation.

Yorke Institute prides itself in being a boutique provider. We are selective with the students who enrol with us. We do not exceed a certain capacity within each term. This ensures that good service is delivered to our clients at all times.  This includes providing part time jobs placements to students within the industry.

Yorke Institute will be announcing its new program to help students with part time employment 3 months after enrolling. Find out more about this program.

Safety

Other concerns that have sparked negative images about Australia particularly Melbourne is the safety affecting international students.
However in its continuous efforts to convince the public that Melbourne is indeed a safe place, the Melbourne City Council informed that it endorses the Universities of Australia Action Plan for Student Safety, and is supporting the second Connect-Ed International Students Welcome Booth, operating at Melbourne International Airport between 8 July and 12 July, to welcome the second semester intake of international students.  The initiative is to ensure that as soon as international students step off the plane and onto Melbourne soil, they are made to feel welcome, safe and secure.
These are some of the efforts by the Australian government to welcome international students to Australia and to make them feel safe and secure.
Support services are also offered by Yorke Institute for emergency contact as well as referral service for victims of crime. Staff are also trained on action plans in the unlikely event of a critical incident occurring and shown what to advise students on the necessary steps to be taken. In a further effort to ensure safety to our students and staff, Yorke Institute has also become a member of teh Victoria Police Association.

 

GO BACK TO BASICS!

• Customer Satisfaction

“The customer is always correct” has become a well used and at times derided cliché among retailers and consumers alike, however, therein lies the truth and subtle tiding that is the cornerstone of each and every successful business. Providing our students, who are also our customers, with a friendly, professional and supportive teaching program through competency based assessment methods that still adheres to the required standards, will ensure continuous return business for the Institute through self promotion of satisfied graduates.

• Continuous Improvement

It is imperative that staff understand the importance of this term. As its name suggests, continuous improvement is a cyclical activity which involves each and every staff member of Yorke Institute over time. Every staff member of the Institute must take it upon his/herself to perform their duties to the best of their ability and also to continuously press for new and innovative ideas of performing those duties better next time round. There are always improvements that can be implemented subtly over time in teaching, assessments, marking, food ordering, floor management etc. Regular staff meetings will ensure a supportive forum whereby these ideas can be exchanged and discussed to either warrant an immediate implementation or the need for further improvements.

• Focus

A supportive corporate structure and focused workforce is essential in order to be successful for a sustained period of time, especially in the current fiscal climate. Yorke Institute’s management team has in place adequate policies, procedures and budget allowance to ensure that a good standard of teaching is continually provided to its students. The staff must ensure that their focus and aim is to deliver the learning material in a manner whereby local and overseas students are able to achieve the same level of competency irrespective of their linguistic, socio-economic or educational backgrounds.

• Accountability

The teaching staff must be accountable for each and every one of Yorke Institute’s students. A curriculum that is based on ‘hands-on’ competency training must ensure that the delivery processes in place at Yorke Institute of the course material is easily understood by the students.

As the opportunities of 2010 beckon us, I look with tempered optimism and cautious expectation of continuous growth and success within the VET sector, in particular, for Hospitality.  As one of the highly sought after professions nationally and also globally, we are indeed lucky to be part of an  industry that I believe, has the fortitude and job demand to weather the current fiscal climate and even register positive growth in the years to come.

I wish you all the very best this year and trust that the coming months will not only be  productive but satisfying in all aspects of your teaching endeavours. “

D V Anamalay
Chief Executive Officer
Yorke Institute
February 2010