Posts Tagged ‘Advanced Diploma of Hospitality’

Student Blogger!

Wednesday, July 7th, 2010

Hello again!

So I’m into my third week of holidays and, my gosh, it’s going so fast! I’ve just come back from a gorgeous long weekend away to the beautiful Hunter Valley. I stayed at the overly indulgent Crowne Plaza Resort and enjoyed a nice couple of days tasting wines, running through vineyards, eating amazing food and relaxing with spa treatments. It’s gorgeous up there. I’m not much of a ‘winey’ but I was definitely open to trying everything, from my favourite sparkling to the unknown land of port. And I must admit, I did discover some wines that I didn’t think I would enjoy but I definitely found interesting.

Last Monday night (5th of July), a group of eight Hostec students and I trekked to the new Australian Hotels Association building to help them cater for their winter drinks function. The event featured drinks and canapés for the influential people in Sydney’s hospitality accommodation industry.

The event entertained representatives from Sydney’s five-star hotels including The Observatory Hotel, Hilton Sydney and Four Points by Sheraton and Sydney’s biggest hospitality suppliers and sponsors including Lion Nathan, Sydney City Lexus and ofcourse Hostec! I was appointed on the front desk in the lobby to ensure people were on the list and had their name tags. Later in the night, however, I was helping the bar staff refill drinks for guests. Other students helped in the kitchen and served canapés.

It was a great night, which allowed students to volunteer and be noticed. Also, the place has amazing 180-degree views of Sydney’s Circular Quay, which we enjoyed all night! I don’t know how they can concentrate over there at AHA with such great views!

I’d like to take this opportunity to congratulate my good friend Tim Gatt on his new job at Tetsuya’s Restaurant! For a second-year apprentice he’s full of passion, enthusiasm and innovation and I know from here on he will only go up.

Also, please feel free to email me at draunjak@hotmail.com if you have any questions or ideas on topics you would like me to blog about – I am always looking for new ideas!

Kind regards
Danielle


Hostec Student Life!

Monday, May 31st, 2010

Everything’s going great here. During the first term I was still finding my feet and getting used to the different styles of lecturing, the diversity of students and the level of study. Now I’m feeling right at home.

It’s a bit crazy at the moment but organisation is the key. We’ve got three assignments from each subject which is a decent effort of study a week. Then I have three or so shifts a week at work and trying to catch up with mates, see the family, eat, drink, sleep and hopefully give myself a little time to relax! It doesn’t sound like much but there never seems to be enough time in a day to do all you need!

I live out west so unfortunately I have over an hour train ride to and from the city for each day for college and this cold weather makes it very tempting to stay in bed! However, the train does give me time to read over my notes and listen to music or even catch up on sleep! Yes, sadly I am a part of the commuting cult that falls asleep during the journey, occasionally finding a comfy spot on the shoulder of the person next to me.

As eventful and unpredictable as my days are, there is no other way I would rather spend my time learning and working. Working at Crowne Plaza is great as well. It’s such a fun place to start and learn in plus, working within an entertaining team of people makes every shift enjoyable.

I stress and I do struggle with managing everything but we all do because that’s how we learn… and really that is the life of a student in Sydney! Stress. Struggle. Accomplishment. Growth.

Danielle. X


My first week at Hostec!

Monday, February 22nd, 2010

Honestly, I had no idea what to expect from my first week at Hostec. I knew I’d be thrown into a crazy and completely different routine but I was too excited to even think about it. I was shocked to see a student leave class without permission or not address the teacher with an ‘excuse me Mrs?’ but as the day continued I slowly took grasp of the fact that we are all adults and treated accordingly. My lecturer Petronella made me feel welcome and comfortable within our class and brought a fresh humour and warm personality to liven up class. As Hostec is both a college for International and Domestic student, it turns out that I happened to be the only ‘Australian’ student in my class. To be honest but, I love it. I love the mix of languages and cultures other students bring and look forward to learning more about them and their diverse cultures.

Having lunch in the Wynyard Park gives me a chance to relax and revitalize for afternoon class. I love sitting and watching the hussle and bustle of Sydney streets and the large array of people the city attracts! Overall my favourite part of college is that it’s in Sydney; completely and easily accessible from anywhere and close to anything important and entertaining!

Tomorrow we have class in The Menzies hotel, a grand hotel of Sydney and I can’t wait to be studying in somewhere different and amazing like The Menzies. Guess that’s the perks of studying with Hostec!

For now,
Danielle
X


Life in Sydney

Friday, February 12th, 2010

Hi Everyone,

My name is Yewande! I am from Queens, New York but go to Vanderbilt University in Nashville, TN. I am studying in Australia for the next four months for a school internship program. I am excited to be in Sydney, because it reminds me of my hometown New York City. There are so many different types of people, foods, and it’s just a dynamic place. I am doing an internship here at Hostec. It is above the Wynyard train station and the office is young and funky with bright green tones and glass doors. I am a marketing intern in the office and I am enjoying learning about Australia, its educational system, and meeting new people.

I am so excited to explore this place. There are so many great beaches, restaurants, museums, and all the great things a big city should have. I will update my adventures through this blog so you can see how the day in the life of a student/intern in Sydney can be.

I must admit to you, I was scared to move to a new city at the other side of the world by myself. But I am so happy, I did because I am growing so much as a person and learning so much about what I want to do with my life. For anyone that is scared to leave their current situation and try something new, I would say to do the craziest things and experience life before it passes you by.

Until next time,

Yewande


Introducing Hostec Student Blogger, Danielle!

Thursday, February 11th, 2010

Hi Everyone!

My name is Danielle Raunjak. I was lucky enough to successfully win the 2010 Advanced Diploma of Hospitality Scholarship at Hostec International Academy! I have just completed my Year 12 studies at Bede Polding College in Windsor and look forward to a full packed adventurous year! I have recently become and food and beverage attendant at Crowne Plaza Norwest where I am learning everyday about myself and the best service I can give. Inserted is a photo of me working New Years Eve at Crowne Plaza! I enjoy work so much I find it hard to call it work! In my spare time I believe there is nothing better to do than eat delicious food and socialize with my unforgettable family and friends. I live about an hour west out of the city, so the hour and a half train ride may be exhausting but is well worth the culture and hussle and bussle of Sydney. I love China Town and Paddy’s Markets and couldn’t think of a better meeting spot than a good Yum Cha restaurant! My Dad was born in Austria whilst Mum was born in Fiji with Chinese, Samoan and Tongan running through her. I think the different cultures and traditions I have grown up around have allowed me to love Australia for its diversity and also made me grateful for what this amazing country has to offer.

I discovered Hostec through the annual Careers Expo held for Year 10 and 12 students at the Kingswood campus for UWS. This careers market changed my direction of schooling dramatically as I soaked up all information I could on colleges and courses for hospitality. I truly think that exposing yourself to resources such as careers expeditions and any information careers advisors give is the best advantage you can get in finding out what’s right for you. Hospitality has unconsciously been a way of life to me. I have grown up around great food, experienced many holidays from travelling to Fiji to camping down at the local river and always felt a reward in making people happy.

I can’t tell you what this year will hold for me, but I know it will go fast. I’m excited to meet both the international and domestic students I will be studying with and cant wait to develop myself and work within some of Sydney’s greatest hotels. I will update my blog regularly to keep you posted on the fun times and quirky tales of my life as a student. Becoming apart of Hostec I believe I am one step closer to where I want to be and I know that the teachers, resources and contacts Hostec has will enable me to grow as a person and within hospitality. I cant wait!

For now,

Danielle
X


And the Hostec Academy 2010 scholarship winners are…

Friday, November 27th, 2009
Scholarship finalists Natalie Murphy, Rachel Eacott, Jake Poutoa, Samantha Rokancevska, Sandy Rokancevska, Joseph Pearsall, Annie Situ

Last Friday at the Crowne Plaza Hotel Coogee Beach the finals were held for the Chef’s of Tomorrow competition, a cook off for the Hostec Certificate III in Hospitality scholarship program.

Our 7 finalists, supported by family, friends and school teachers battled it out. Unlike the heats where the entrants had to produce a dish from a mystery box of ingredients, the final was a recipe based challenge with all students cooking the same dish.

Our judges, Hostec Managing Director Raman Nambiar, Academy General Manager Andrew Ugarte and Culinary Head Teacher, Chef Matthew Brock judged the students in three categories. The categories included punctuality, dish preparation and presentation along with passion for cooking and working in the hospitality industry.

The competition was extremely tough, with supporters and Hostec staff enjoying an incredible meal of Slow Roasted Lamb Rack with Rosemary Potatoes and Green Beans. After much deliberation, the judges awarded three full scholarships and four bursaries for our 2010 Certificate III in Hospitality.

In addition to the Certificate III in Hospitality scholarships, the Academy also awarded one full scholarship for the Advanced Diploma of Hospitality. This scholarship was awarded after a rigorous interview process.

The scholarships were awarded as follows:

Certificate III in Hospitality
Full scholarships
Natalie Murphy – Gilroy Catholic College
Rachel Eacott – Elderslie High
Jake Poutoa – Eagle Vale High School

Bursaries
Samantha Rokancevska – Fairview High
Sandy Rokancevska – Fairview High
Joseph Pearsall – Moorebank High School
Annie Situ – Strathfield Girls High

Advanced Diploma of Hospitality
Full scholarship
Danielle Raunjak – Bede Polding College

Thank you to everyone who participated and we look forward to welcoming our winners to the Hostec Academy in 2010.

For more information on the Hostec Academy and our scholarship program, please contact Emma Jones, Marketing Communications Manager on 02 8002 0235 or e.jones@hostec.com

Advanced Diploma of Hospitality scholarship winner Danielle Raunjak with Hostec Academy General Manager Andrew Ugarte

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