Who we are

Club Training Australia is the leading Registered Training Organisation (RTO) in the Queensland club and hospitality industry. We deliver nationally accredited training in Office of Liquor and Gaming & Racing (OLGR) approved RSA Responsible Service of Alcohol QLD, RSG Responsible Service of Gambling QLD, Office of Liquor, Gaming & Racing approved RMLV Responsible Management of Licensed Venue QLD. Club Training Australia also is approved to deliver the Fire Safety Advisor Training as well as many other nationally recognised programs.

Dickson-Wohlsen Strategies is our consulting arm: a specialist consulting firm, delivering a range of services to the tourism, leisure and hospitality sectors. Our clients include casinos, hotel chains, clubs, hotels, gaming and hospitality corporations, tourism operators and government departments.

Dickson-Wohlsen Strategies and Club Training Australia are a part of the one organisation. Together, DWS and CTA deliver quality training to over 30,000 student lessons in hospitality each year and deliver over 200 consulting assignments to a wide range of hospitality clients.

Background

Club Training Australia was the vision of Managing Director, John Dickson, who in 1993 created a “little training company to see me through to retirement.” It was soon apparent, after the introduction of poker machines, that the emerging club industry in Queensland required a professional organisation committed to providing them with a range of training and consulting solutions necessary to promote and develop the skills of staff and meet their statutory requirements.

Now 16 years on Club Training Australia is the largest Registered Training Organisation providing services to the club industry sector and maintains the highest possible standard of government and industry accreditation and registration, from Certificate II to Advanced Diploma (AQF level 6).

Club Training Australia holds a current user choice contract and co-ordinates and delivers training to trainees on a state-wide basis. All Club Training Australia training personnel have extensive industry experience and provide national recognition through the issue of Statements of Attainment and Certificates.

Quality Management System ISO Certified

The company has been verified by an independent audit and satisfies the applicable requirements of standard AS/NZ ISO 9001:2000 Business Category: Nationally Registered Training Organisation.

Training Programs

The company delivers training programs that cover all aspects of the hospitality industry. The courses range from regulatory training delivered to government standards, Hospitality Traineeships resulting in nationally recognised certificates, university lectures towards degree programs and custom designed training in a range of topics designed to improve overall industry standards.

Regulatory Training

To assist venues implement their legislative obligations the following courses are delivered:-

• Responsible Management of Licensed Venues RMLV (OLGR Approved)
• Responsible Service of Alcohol RSA (OLGR Approved)
• Provide Responsible Gaming Services RSG (best practice though not mandatory)
• Mandatory Gaming Nominee Training
• Customer Liaison Officer (CLO)
• Fire Safety Advisor
• Follow Workplace Hygiene Procedures
• Food Safety Supervisor Course

In the last two years Club Training Australia has certified over 11,000 RSA students and 1,200 RMLV participants (based on current bookings including November and December 2008).

Management Training

For the educational development of senior management and general managers, the following courses are available:-

• Diploma of Hospitality
• Advanced Diploma of Hospitality (Management)

Units in our nationally recognised Diploma and Advanced Diploma are compatible with the prestigious Active Certified Club Manager (ACCM) Award as well as undergraduate programs through Southern Cross University.

Government Funded Training

Club Training Australia currently has over 400 government funded Hospitality Trainees undertaking either a Certificate II, III & IV. The company has a preferred training provider status with the Department of Employment, Training and the Arts to the value of $500,000 per annum. In the last two years over 1,150 students have completed their traineeship.

School Based Training

Club Training Australia is pro-active in encouraging the growth of education in the hospitality sector. Marketing directly to schools and hospitality outlets, the company facilitates the placement of students into suitable venues while they obtain a Hospitality Traineeship Certificate II or III. Venues may range from coffee shops, hotels, clubs and restaurants. Over 600 school based trainees have obtained their certificate through Club Training in the last 2 years.

Foster’s Leadership Academy

The Foster’s Leadership Academy was a program developed by Club Training Australia and sponsored by Foster’s Group Limited. It aims to identify the future leaders of the Queensland Club Industry and assist them develop their knowledge along with their team building skills and social networks.  The Foster’s Leadership Academy is also being in the early stages of expansion into NSW and Victoria.

e-Learning

The company is in the development stages of producing training and development programs electronically and on-line. Club Training Australia now offers Responsible Service of Gambling (RSG) and Follow Workplace Hygiene Procedures online.

• Duty Manager Development Programs
• Motivational Speaking
• Custom designed programs tailored to individual venue requirements.
• Training and development of Indigenous Australians
• Training for the development of women

Location & Facilities

The head office of Club Training Australia is located in Indooroopilly, Brisbane which houses company management, trainers, consultants and administration staff as well as dedicated training rooms. The majority of training however, is conducted on-site at the client’s venue. For this reason there are also full-time training consultants located in regional areas covering Far North Queensland and the Gold Coast.

Club Training Australia is dedicated to providing the most flexible means of delivering training, whether this is workplace based, off-the-job, distance, self-paced, one-on-one or through group structured training sessions. It has the equipment and resources to bring training to the most isolated regions, regularly conducting training in places such as Charleville, Weipa and Mount Isa.

Employees

Club Training Australia currently employs 22 full time staff plus casuals and contractors. Staff are either former or current hospitality professionals, carefully selected to ensure that they have the adequate knowledge and life experience to share with clients and students. The team also consists of academically qualified consultants who provide research and support to our trainers and clients and ensure training programs reflect the current needs of clients.

Maintaining industry activity and knowledge is a key aim of Club Training Australia. To achieve this many staff are still working on a part-time basis in hospitality venues. Other staff volunteer their services throughout the year at client venues and charity functions. This may range from bar and barista service, waiting tables, managing events and leading client staff.

Clients

Club Training Australia has an extensive client list of clubs, hotels and hospitality outlets. Ranging from the smallest to the largest clubs in Queensland, restaurant and catering franchises, major hotel groups and small independent operators, the company generally has over 100 active clients in any 12 month period.

A close relationship is developed with our clients who also call on us to assist them in developing industry best practices, operational procedures, strategic and business planning.

Professional Development

The company is committed to the development and progress of training for industry and strives to retain and improve their reputation, integrity and the quality of their services.

In 2002 the company formed a strategic alliance with the Queensland Government including QOGR and the Department of State Development and formed the Queensland Club Industry Support Committee. A Business Assistance Tool Kit was developed and introduced to assist all levels of club management and directors in the smooth and successful running of their clubs.

Industry Alliances

Club Training Australia has developed many other industry alliances which currently consist of:

• University of QLD – providing lectures to the Bachelor of International Hotel and Tourism Management
• Griffith University – deliver hospitality component for Graduate Certificate in Hospitality Management
• Southern Cross University – reciprocal agreement (credits) between Diploma and Advanced Diploma delivered by CTA and the School of Tourism and Hospitality Management
• ClubsQLD – platinum sponsors and key industry advisors to ClubsQLD
• Club Managers Association – provide all necessary training in QLD to meet of academic requirements of Active Certified Club Manager Award (ACCM).
• Foster’s Group Limited– Foster’s is the major sponsor of the Foster’s Leadership Academy developed by CTA to identify and develop the future leaders of the club industry in Queensland.