Jobs Safe With New Academy

Newcastle Herald

Saturday November 29, 2008

By ALISON BRANLEY

HUNTER TAFE says no jobs will be lost and no staff transferred under a plan to create a specialist hospitality school at its Kurri Kurri campus.

Teachers' union concerns that the project could lead to course cuts or job losses forced the Hunter Institute to reveal its plans to unveil the new Hunter Valley Hotels Academy next month.

Tourism and hospitality faculty director Gary Sewell said hospitality staff and courses at its Hamilton and Ourimbah campuses would remain.

The existing accommodation, restaurant and bar at the Kurri campus will be renamed next month as the Hunter Valley Hotels Academy for advanced diploma of hospitality management students.

"We are basically offering those courses to a new group of students," Mr Sewell said.

"It's a really exciting project and something that will involve the private sector."

NSW Teachers Federation Hunter organiser Malcolm Ogg said the union was concerned there was the potential to move all hospitality courses to the new academy.

"There's the potential teaching positions in the Newcastle, Hunter and Central Coast will be affected," he said.

© 2008 Newcastle Herald

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