Ruby Hocking
I currently work at the Cow Shed restaurant and the local supermarket, so I joined the Hospitality Trades Academy to build on my skills and gain new experiences that could help me in both jobs.
The course ended up giving me way more than I expected. I thought it would just be about cooking, but we also covered front-of-house service, barista training, and knife skills for working in a commercial kitchen. The class was quite big, so we were split into two groups, which made it easier to learn and feel confident working with others.
One of the best parts of the course was meeting new people while learning new skills. Everyone was friendly and supportive. The tutors were great at explaining things and always happy to help. They also took the time to learn about our goals beyond school and offered advice on what opportunities are out there. There was more theory than I expected, but it was all connected to the practical work we were doing, which helped it make more sense and made it easier to plan for the next session.
Travelling from Murchison every Friday was a bit of a challenge, I had to get up really early! It’s a big commitment, but once you get into the routine, it’s manageable. Our school timetable is also set up to support us being away on Fridays, which made it easier to stay on top of schoolwork.
Overall, the course has been a great experience. It’s a solid way to upskill for future jobs or even part-time work you’re already doing. Next year, I’m heading back to school to complete Year 12, and I’m hoping to get some work experience in the healthcare industry.