5 September 2022
The Territory Labor Government is making it easier for local businesses to access workers during a national workforce shortage.
Thanks to a collaboration between the Territory Labor Government and Hospitality NT, a Territory-specific free course was recently made available for international students, enabling them to satisfy Responsible Service of Alcohol (RSA) requirements to work in the hospitality industry.
More than 130 international students have already achieved their RSA certification to bolster our hospitality workforce.
The international education sector is worth $167 million to the economy and delivers valuable flow-on workforce capacity benefits.
The Territory Labor Government has already invested over $12.8 million to fill critical skill shortages and boost our local workforce, with measures including $2.6 million to deliver the Working Holiday Maker Campaign, $3 million Flexible Workforce Solutions fund, relaunch of the Work, Stay, Play incentives program, and $1.5 million for a global worker attraction program.
Budget 22 also allocates $1 million in funding to attract more international students to the Territory.
International students are a valued part of the community and the Territory Labor Government is working to ensure the NT is a destination of choice for people seeking a quality education in Australia.
The accredited RSA course, designed specifically for international students not studying a hospitality industry-related course, can be found online at: www.internationalstudentsrsant.com.
Quotes from Chief Minister, Natasha Fyles:
"The Northern Territory is bursting with opportunity. We have been listening to Territory businesses -they are saying business is good, and the economy is going in the right direction, but they need more workers.
"We will always look at innovative ways to adapt programs we have underway to make a difference to locals and fill gaps where we can. The international students RSA program is a clear example of this. There are now an extra 130 hospitality staff members in our venues.
"International students strengthen cultural, social and economic ties - with each student contributing an average of $40,000 to the economy and the sector supporting over 600 Territory jobs each year."
Quotes from Minister for International Education, Ngaree Ah Kit:
"We have seen over the past couple of years just how integral international students are to the social and economic fabric of the Territory, including from a workforce capacity perspective.
"The customised free course has delivered a significant dividend of new workers for the hospitality industry which is grappling with severe staff shortages while trying to benefit from the influx of dry season visitors to the Territory."
Northern Territory Government
