The union’s TAFE organiser Simon Bailey said he had heard from teachers that some students were turned away from hospitality courses due to a lack of teaching staff. 

But TasTAFE deputy chief executive of people governance and strategy Scott Marston said at this stage of the year, it was not a lack of teachers or resources that restricted access, but the scheduling of courses. 

“TasTAFE Drysdale tries to meet demand for courses wherever possible,” Mr Marston said. 

“Additional teaching resources have recently been arranged to help address staff workloads.

“Alongside added resources Drysdale South is currently recruiting a full-time permanent Tourism, Hospitality and Events teacher.” 

Mr Bailey said the shortage of hospitality teachers was particularly apparent in the South, but was also impacting students at the Northern campus.

He said some teachers were having to work 12-hour days and staff were not being replaced, leading to many taking leave. 

“Some teachers are working all day, having a half-an-hour break and then running a class for four hours at night,” Mr Bailey said. 

“You’ve got staff who are in continual contracts that are getting rolled over year after year.” 

Mr Marston said that across the state, Drysdale was also increasing its sessional teaching pool to help meet training demand during peak periods.

Tasmanian Hospitality Association deputy chief executive Greg Astell said the industry looked upon Drysdale as the leading training organisation in the state and its graduates were an important addition to the state’s hospitality industry.  

“We would go there, our members would go there, if they’re looking for staff and be well satisfied with the product that they were producing,” Mr Astell said. 

“It’s an important part of our training in the industry.

“Our aim is to work with Drysdale as an industry body and position it so it meets the demand for the future, because we know that by 2020 we’re going to reach this 1.5 million visitor target.”