Peter Rowland

Developing hospitality staff and improving training outcomes

www.peterrowland.com.au

Founded 48 years ago by Peter Rowland OAM, the business initially specialised in producing boutique events in and around Melbourne. From these beginnings as a traditional catering service in food and beverage, Peter Rowland Catering have grown to become one of Australia’s largest hospitality businesses employing over 5,000 staff. Wholly Australian-owned, Melbourne based and operated, they have acquired an unparalleled knowledge of the hospitality business managing major events, weddings, special events, retail and commercial outlets.

John Doyle - Learning & Development Manager

Our challenge
Prior to my arrival in 2009, Peter Rowland Catering’s idea of training was on the job. This was predominantly practical and differed from venue to venue. This old fashioned method of ‘sink or swim’ training resulted in new staff leaving the business at the start of their career, a real shame when you have keen enthusiastic learners. Practical training can often miss the underpinning knowledge that is required.

Training Solution
In partnership with our training provider Holmesglen Institute of TAFE, change from our previous training methodology and implement Didasko’s learning resources together with other training enhancements.

Outcomes

• Using Didasko’s resources now allows me to get the most out of my training workshops. I can focus on two or three units in a workshop and then set self passed assessments, this allows the staff the time to research and reflect on the workshop.
• We are only in our second year, looking and listening to the staff that used the product last year I can see more confidence, I believe this comes from building the knowledge base of our staff. Last year we improved our completion rate, an excellent result of which I believe Didasko only enhanced the program. Great learning tool for Gen Y learners.
• During the eight months of our Certificate III, we have designed workshops that allow a reflective process of the workplace. I truly believe that the Didasko resource is designed to suit all the different learners in our business.
• At Peter Rowland Catering we are trying to creating a learning culture, both the Didasko resources and our educational partner, Holmesglen have allowed Peter Rowland Catering to move to a new standard. I believe this gives us the edge on our competitors as our staff are feeling a sense of belonging.

Holmesglen

eLearning to improve outcomes and reduce delivery costs

www.holmesglen.edu.au

Holmesglen Institute of TAFE remains a leader in vocational and higher education and one of the largest providers of TAFE in Victoria. Holmesglen delivers over 600 courses to nearly 50,000 students with around 4,000 international student enrolments. Holmesglen courses are highly regarded within industry, and include: Degree and graduate certificate courses, Apprenticeships and pre-apprenticeships, over 200 nationally accredited certificates, diplomas and advanced diplomas and short courses.

Ross Digby, Associate Director – Centre for Hospitality, Cookery & Bakery

Our challenge
A need to provide more blended learning and training options, improve access and flexibility, improve our training outcomes and reduce our training delivery costs.

Solution
We implemented Didasko Online for both our domestic and growing international markets.

Outcomes

• Increased learner engagement
• A 66% reduction in ‘face to face’ training delivery time and costs
• Improved trainer and assessor utilisation ratios
• Reduced resource management and administration costs of AUD $4,000+ per semester
• Reduced direct printing costs for worksheets

Continuing Education Bendigo (CEB)

Remote learning and training by a Training Provider

www.cebendigo.com.au

Continuing Education Bendigo is one of the largest community colleges in Victoria. CEB provides a range of quality vocational, skills, pre-accredited, accredited, online, tailored, and special interest courses; and caters to the learning and development needs of individuals, business and industry, and their local community.

Since 1973, CEB has offered quality learning, training and development opportunities to the Bendigo community and surrounding regions through a range of collaborative partnerships, innovation and government funded programs. They are widely recognised in the Bendigo region as a unique place of learning, which offers both short and accredited courses for a broad section of the community. This year alone more than 2,200 students will enjoy the opportunity of participating in one of many and varied programs.

Our challenge
Our learner Megan is an indigenous woman from the remote area of Halls Creek in the Kimberleys, Western Australia.

The store owner received an opportunity to move overseas for an indefinite period of time to work and he decided that Megan was ready to run the general retail store on her own. He had attempted numerous times for a training provider to help Megan complete a qualification, but after several attempts, still had not found a way for Megan to gain her Certificate II in Retail whilst working.

Training Solution
CEB implemented a combination of online content supplied by Didasko, email contact with both CEB’s eLearning Coordinator and Retail Trainer, and the use of Skype voice over IP to work through some of the more difficult content.

Outcomes

• Megan completed her course within 3 months “with flying colours”
• CEB piloted a successful remote learning and training option
• Megan is the first Kija woman in her community to achieve a vocational qualification.