Age no barrier: Cobargo pensioner praises TAFE for successful career shift.

Glen Stewart returned to Australia in 2018 after more than 20 years as a commercial saturation diver on offshore marine installations and life support technician on off-shore oil rigs, living 180 metres underwater in chambers for days on end.

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Mr Stewart decided to look for part-time work to supplement his age pension in the high-demand hospitality industry and this month completed a certificate III in hospitality at TAFE NSW Bega.

Even before graduating he secured two jobs: as a barman at the Cobargo Hotel and as a waiter at Sweetwater Smokehouse and Grill.

It comes amid strong demand for hospitality staff on the Far South Coast as the tourism industry recovers from the impacts of COVID-19.

"I moved to the area initially to volunteer with Blaze Aid but soon realised the age pension wasn't enough for me," Mr Stewart said.

"Because of my age, I couldn't do really physical work and I didn't mind the sound of hospitality."

With the state-of-the-art commercial kitchen and a functioning training restaurant, Mr Stewart said the first hand experience he got at TAFE Bega was one of the things that helped set him apart and to secure employment.

READ ALSO: Bega TAFE Industry Night showcases students' work to the heads of hospitality in region.

"To have an actual restaurant to train in means it's very hands-on, just like the workplace."

Mr Stewart also credited the teachers' vast industry experience and the hands on nature of the training.

"It's all those little nuances of the job they know from their experience in the industry," he said.

"Little details like table orientation, ironing the tablecloths and putting hand-written dockets in through the pass."

He said he was now considering enrolling in a diploma of hospitality at TAFE NSW to further boost his skills and employability.

Mr Stewart also benefited from recent changes to the age pension, which means the first $300 of fortnightly income from work is now not counted under the pension income test.

TAFE NSW Bega head teacher of hospitality Deirdre Jory said TAFE NSW was working closely with the local hospitality industry to provide a pipeline of job-ready workers like Mr Stewart.

She said to help encourage younger locals into the industry, TAFE NSW was currently offering free training to people aged 16 to 24 to gain the practical skills to launch a career or land a job for summer in high-demand industries, such as hospitality.

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