The Government has announced that hospitality will become one of nine new industry-led subjects available to Year 12 and 13 students from 2029.
The new Hospitality Food and Beverage subject will combine culinary, operational and business knowledge, helping students understand the breadth of careers available across our industry—from food and beverage roles through to operations and business leadership. Tourism will also be introduced as a separate subject.
This is a positive step towards creating stronger links between schools and industry. We have long advocated for clearer hospitality pathways that give young people practical, relevant learning and help them see hospitality as a skilled and rewarding career.
The subjects will count towards students’ secondary school qualifications and have the same standing as traditional subjects. Their development will be led by the Industry Skills Board (ISB), working alongside education experts and industry and the Association is engaging with the ISB on next steps.
There is still important work ahead to shape the subject content and make sure schools can deliver it well. We will continue representing the industry through this process so that the new subject reflects the skills businesses need and gives students a strong foundation for further study, training or employment.