Profiles 
What do Food and Beverage attendants do?
Food & beverage attendants, or waiters/waitresses, serve food and drinks to guests in hotels, restaurants, clubs and similar establishments.
A waiter/waitress may perform the following tasks:
- set tables with clean linen or place mats, cutlery, crockery and glasses
- welcome and seat customers and hand menus to them
- tell guests about the menu and drinks and appropriate combinations of food and drinks
- in some cases promote local produce and attractions to visitors from interstate and overseas
- take customers orders and pass them to kitchen staff or bar attendants
- serve food and drinks
- carve meat
- make up bills and present them to customers
- handle money and credit cards
- take restaurant reservations
- clear tables and return dishes and cutlery to kitchens
Waiters often work split shifts and in the evenings, weekends and public holidays. They spend long periods on their feet and may have to deal with difficult customers. Waiters/waitresses must be a minimum age of 18 years to serve alcohol.
How do I become a Food & Beverage attendant?
To become a Food & Beverage attendant you usually have to complete a certificate in Hospitality (Operations). Entry to the certificate courses generally require a minimum of year 10. You can also become a Food & Beverage attendant by doing a traineeship in Hospitality (Operations) which is both on and off-the-job training. The off-the-job training is provided through Registered Training Organisations (RTO’s), including Group Training Companies. Entry requirements may vary but employers generally require a minimum of Year 10.
Qualifying as a Food & Beverage attendant involves:
- Completing a certificate in Hospitality (Operations) as a course or a 1 year traineeship
- Attending paid work with a “host employer” for the duration of the traineeship
- Attending off-the-job Training at an RTO
Ideal Personal Requirements to be a Food & Beverage attendant include:
- Well presented
- Good communication skills
- Friendly, efficient and speedy
- Enjoy working with people
- Able to work as part of a team
- Be honest and have good cash handling skills
Food & Beverage Profile