Delicious food, excellent service and an inviting atmosphere are what you expect whenever you dine out. It's up to the restaurant and catering manager to make sure that this happens.

In Western Australia there are around 4,000 restaurant and catering managers. Most work in the Perth metropolitan area, with smaller numbers in the South West and the remainder located throughout the rest of the State.

The gender split of people working in this occupation is fairly even.

Over 500 people commence training in relevant TAFE, private college and university courses each year.

A Juggling Act

Having cold meals served when they should be piping hot, running out of drinks, and dealing with staff who have conveniently forgotten the meaning of quality service, are just some of the incidents that restaurant and catering managers would like to avoid.

Restaurant and catering managers plan, organise and control the operation of establishments where food and beverages are served.

It is up to the restaurant and catering manager to make their customers feel welcome and special. After all, the customer is paying for a memorable dining experience. If they have a particular request, let's say they'd like a table with a view, then the restaurant and catering manager does their best to arrange it.

Ensuring that there are enough wait staff to look after that day's customers is another juggling act handled by the restaurant and catering manager.


A Finger In Every Pie

Andrew, who started his career in hospitality as the owner/manager of a takeaway business and then went on to manage a buffet restaurant at a 5-Star hotel, says it was important for him to know what was happening throughout the restaurant.

''Yes, a lot needs to be done and it can be challenging, but I get an adrenalin rush whenever I see customers coming through the door. I've got to make sure that the food doesn't run out during the evening and that customers are being well looked after.''

Andrew often has a friendly chat with many of the customers, and as the restaurant and catering manager he must handle any customer complaints. Perhaps a customer has been waiting far too long for their meal or drink. He must do what he can so that a customer leaves happy and contented. Then they are more likely to return again and again.

At the end of a busy day, it's time for Andrew to instruct the waiters to clean and reset the restaurant area. The kitchen staff also clean their work area, while Andrew takes note of what supplies are needed.

Budgeting and marketing decisions are also a restaurant and catering manager's responsibilities. They look after the hiring and training of new staff, and ensure that health and safety regulations are followed by all of the staff.


A People Person

You'll definitely have to be a people person to enjoy and succeed in this occupation. Good communication skills are a must, given the number of people you will deal with. You'll also need great organisational skills and be able to cope with unexpected problems - a power cut would cause considerable hiccups for a restaurant.

While needing good management and customer service skills, it's still important for these managers to understand how different kitchen appliances work should they need to step in and help out in the kitchen. It's also a good idea to know how to operate a computer reasonably well.

To be successful, it is important for a manager to be in touch with the latest tastes and trends so that you know what the competition is like and what your customers want. Keeping the menu fresh keeps the customers coming back.


In Western Australia, most restaurant and catering managers work in privately owned cafes or restaurants, or in hotels, motels and other holiday resorts. There are also good self-employment opportunities in this occupation, but it is advisable to have many years' experience in the industry before starting out on your own. You'll also need a lot of capital to start up a business.

Restaurant and catering managers spend most of their time in the dining area and in the kitchen. Most of the time is spent on their feet. They often work in the evenings and on weekends and on public holidays.


The starting salary is about $35,000 per year and it may go higher than $55,000 for managers employed in 5-Star hotels or for those restaurant and catering managers who run their own business.



According to employment forecasts and industry representatives, employment prospects for this occupation are excellent due to strong growth in the hospitality industry, and a persistent shortage of skilled personnel.

There are no specific educational requirements and many people progress into this occupation after working in a range of other hospitality-related jobs, such as waiters, chefs, and function coordinators. In tourism and hospitality, there is no substitute for industry experience.

However, a range of relevant courses are also available. A number of TAFE colleges and private training organisations offer courses, such as the Certificate IV in Hospitality (Supervision) - Food and Beverage. Please check out the TAFE and NTIS sites below for further information. A Diploma and Advanced Diploma of Hospitality (Management) are also available.

Another pathway into the hospitality industry is available through Certificate II and III (traineeships) in Hospitality offered under the Australian Apprenticeships scheme. For more details, please contact the Australian Apprenticeships Hotline on 13 38 73 (local call cost).

Vocational training in hospitality programs can also be started at school, while you complete your other studies. For more information on how you can do this, please contact your school's career adviser or vocational education coordinator.

Edith Cowan University offers a Bachelor of Business majoring in Hospitality Management, a Bachelor of Hospitality Management and an Associate Degree in Hospitality Management. Murdoch University also offers a Bachelor of Commerce (Hospitality and Tourism Management). For more information, please check out the Universities website below. However, a degree offers no guarantee of immediately starting out in management.

	Other Training Providers
	National Training Information Service website.
	TAFE Colleges
	Homepage links and contact details for all TAFE Colleges in WA.
	TAFE Handbook
	An online guide to full-time TAFE courses throughout WA.
	Universities
	Homepage links and contact details for all Universities in WA.

WA Hospitality and Tourism Industry Training Council
PO Box 1794 West Perth WA 6872 Ph: (08) 9322 9922

Catering Institute of Australia (WA)
8/7 Macleod Road Applecross WA 6154 Ph: (08) 9316 9368

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