Tourism and hospitality are sometimes seen as industries people work in temporarily while studying or deciding what to do next. Those working in the sector know the reality is very different.
From chefs and hotel managers to event coordinators, tour guides and venue operators, the industry offers diverse and rewarding long-term career pathways.
One of the best ways to show young people what those pathways look like is through work experience.
Your invitation to join
Tourism WA is inviting tourism and hospitality operators across Western Australia to register their interest in hosting secondary school and tertiary students for work experience or work placements. Participating businesses will be listed on westernaustralia.jobs work experience page, making it easier for students and jobseekers to identify operators who may be open to hosting them.
Being listed does not mean you must accept every request. It simply signals that your business is willing to consider opportunities when your team has the capacity.
Work experience can last from a single day to a week and gives students a brief introduction to an industry and workplace.
A work placement is different. It forms part of a student’s formal education or training and involves spending a longer period in a workplace under an employer’s supervision. Students gain practical skills, experience real workplace conditions, build industry networks and develop a better understanding of employer expectations.
For students, spending time in a real workplace can be eye-opening. A work experience stint might involve seeing how a hotel reception team manages guest arrivals, watching a chef and kitchen brigade prepare for a busy service, or observing how front-of-house staff keep a café or restaurant running smoothly during the lunch rush.
Students placed with a tour operator or visitor attraction might see how guides create memorable experiences for travellers, or how bookings, logistics and customer service all come together behind the scenes.
Career progression
Just as importantly, placements allow businesses to show the real career progression available in the industry.
A student might learn that the executive chef started as an apprentice, that the venue manager began in an entry-level hospitality role, or that a tour guide developed their skills into managing operations or running their own business.
These stories help young people understand that tourism and hospitality is not just casual or short-term work. It is an industry where people build skills, take on leadership roles and grow long-term careers.
Even a short placement can help a student build confidence, learn about workplace expectations and discover parts of the industry they may never have considered before.
How to participate
If your business would like to help inspire the next generation of tourism and hospitality professionals, we would love to hear from you.
To be added to the list of participating businesses simply fill in this form or email [email protected].
Opening your doors for a few days could be the moment a young person discovers that tourism and hospitality is not just a job, but a career with real opportunities.wor