Owner Stories
Behind every statistic is a person who built something from nothing. These are the unfiltered experiences of hospitality operators across Australia — the costs they carry, the rules they navigate, and the resilience that keeps them going.
I've been trying to find a qualified baker for eleven months. I'm up at 3am every day because there's no one else. I looked into sponsoring someone from overseas, but the salary threshold is higher than what the business can sustain in a town this size. I love what I do, but I can't keep doing it alone.
Sarah M.
Regional Bakery
Reported Impacts
More Stories From the Industry
Each account adds to the body of evidence we present to government. Together, they paint a picture no policymaker can ignore.
Marcus T.
Inner-City Cafe
We used to open seven days. Now we're down to five because I simply don't have the staff. I've had 200 applications for a barista role — maybe three were qualified. The locals who are good get poached within months by bigger venues offering more money. My revenue is down 30% and I can't sell the business because buyers see how dependent it is on me.
Priya K.
Family Restaurant
We started the sponsorship process for a sous chef eighteen months ago. We're still waiting. In the meantime, I've burned through three casual cooks who couldn't handle the menu complexity. We've dropped our catering service entirely — that was 25% of our revenue. My family barely sees me.
Dave R.
Multi-Site Pub Operator
I run three pubs across regional NSW. Every single one is understaffed. The irony is we're in towns where the pub is the community hub — if we close the kitchen, there's nowhere else to eat. I've spent $40,000 on recruitment fees in the last year with almost nothing to show for it.
Share Your Story
Your experience is evidence. Whether you go public or stay anonymous, your account directly strengthens our advocacy and helps build the case for reform.
Public With Attribution
Your name, venue, and story are published in full. This option carries the most weight in advocacy — named accounts from real operators are difficult for policymakers to dismiss.
Public but Anonymous
Your story is published with venue type and region only — no identifying details. Still valuable for building the public case, while protecting your business relationships.
Private Evidence Only
Your submission is used solely as confidential evidence in policy briefs and government submissions. It will never appear publicly. Ideal for operators with sensitive commercial concerns.
Submitting takes five minutes. We will never share your details without explicit consent, and you can change your privacy preference at any time.