Overseas chefs solve resort’s staff shortage

Recruiting chefs from the Philippines has proven to be a winning stroke for the Novotel Ningaloo Resort in Exmouth in Western Australia’s north west.

“When the resort first opened we recruited two chefs from the Philippines at a time we couldn’t find chefs in Australia,” said Darren Cossill, Novotel Ningaloo Resort’s general manager.

“Chris and Jo (the chefs) are great and provide a high standard of cooking ability. They also brought a range of skills they had acquired while working in international class hotels in the Middle East.”

Darren also experienced the benefits of overseas recruitment as general manager of the Potshot Hotel and Graces Tavern, also in Exmouth.

“Operating two venues had its challenges, the largest being maintaining two happy teams of chefs. We had a very high turnover of staff and found employing new chefs increasingly difficult. We eventually turned to ISA Group and employed four chefs initially. The attitude and stability that these chefs brought to the kitchens rubbed off on our Australian chefs and we found ourselves with a reduced turnover and a happier work environment. Three of these chefs have since brought their families to Exmouth and have become valued members of the community,” said Darren.

ISA Group, which has operated its own recruitment office in the Philippines since 2006 and works with a network of recruitment companies around the world, has recently become a joint venture partner in a new skills testing and training centre in the Philippines.

“The centre has a commercial kitchen which enables us to verify the skills of applicants with ‘hands-on’ testing. We can also use it to train new recruits, if required, before they relocate to Australia,” said Brett Merrey, ISA Group’s head of recruitment.

For more information please contact brett@isa.com.au