Hospitality Club: Building Skills for Life

Written by Mrs Lee Olney (Head of Food Studies Faculty)

17 August 2026

The Hospitality Club at Aitken College provides students with the opportunity to develop practical hospitality skills while gaining valuable real-world experience in a fun, supportive environment. Open to students from Year 8 onwards, the club allows students to build confidence, work collaboratively, and develop transferable skills that will benefit them well beyond the classroom.

One of the highlights of the Hospitality Club is our weekly staff café, which operates every Tuesday morning from 7:30 am to 8:30 am. Students take on a variety of roles to ensure the café runs smoothly, including preparing and serving barista-made coffee, greeting customers, handling food preparation, managing orders, and maintaining a clean and organised workspace. Working in a fast-paced café environment gives students the opportunity to practise teamwork, communication, time management, problem-solving, and customer service while delivering high-quality food and beverages to staff.

Throughout the year, Hospitality Club students also play an important role in supporting our Parents and Friends (P&F) Association by assisting with special community events such as the annual Mother's Day and Father's Day Breakfasts. These events allow students to experience catering for larger groups, working efficiently under pressure, and providing professional service to members of our school community. Their enthusiasm and commitment contribute greatly to the success of these much-loved occasions.

To further develop students' skills, the Hospitality Club also holds a dedicated hospitality training session once each term after school. These practical workshops focus on developing students' knowledge and confidence in areas such as barista techniques, milk texturing, coffee preparation, food preparation, food safety and hygiene, and customer service. Students receive hands-on instruction and have the opportunity to refine their skills in a supportive learning environment before applying them during café service.

The Hospitality Club is about much more than making coffee or serving food. Students develop important life skills including responsibility, initiative, leadership, organisation, resilience, and effective communication. They learn the importance of working as part of a team, meeting deadlines, following food safety procedures, and delivering excellent customer service; all essential skills that are highly valued in the hospitality industry and many other workplaces.

Whether students are interested in pursuing a career in hospitality or simply want to gain practical experience and confidence, the Hospitality Club offers an engaging and rewarding opportunity to learn by doing.

We are incredibly proud of the professionalism, dedication, and enthusiasm our students demonstrate each week, and we look forward to continuing to provide authentic learning experiences that prepare them for future success. New students from Year 8 upwards are welcome to become a part of this experience.