Hospitality recruitment agencies Brisbane: chefs, cooks and floor staff for Queensland venues

Greater Brisbane had 2,526,238 residents at the 2021 Census. Hospitals were the largest employing industry at 5.1% of employed residents, and takeaway food services came fourth at 2.3% against 1.9% across Australia. Of the five biggest cities, Brisbane is the only one where takeaway food services reach the top five, while cafes and restaurants appear instead in Melbourne, Perth and Adelaide. The figures count residents who work in an industry, not venues or vacancies. For hospitality recruitment in Brisbane, a brief should say whether the role is in quick-service food, casual dining, a hotel, a resort or a function venue, because each looks for a different mix of kitchen and floor skills.

The Queensland Government says responsible service of alcohol training is mandatory for individual licensees and for any staff serving or supplying alcohol at the licensed premises, and it names approved managers, bartenders, glass collectors, floor staff and room service staff. Approved managers and individual licensees must also complete responsible management of licensed venues training every three years, and anyone holding that certificate is treated as already trained in responsible service of alcohol. That makes the RSA certificate one of the first things to ask for on a Brisbane shortlist, including for floor and glass collecting roles. Say in the brief whether the role is a manager role, because the certificate required differs.

The hospitality awards are national, so a Brisbane venue pays the same minimum rates and penalty percentages as a venue in any other state. What changes is the calendar. The Queensland Government lists the Royal Queensland Show holiday for the Brisbane area only, Labour Day on the first Monday in May and a part-day public holiday on Christmas Eve from 6 pm to midnight. Our hospitality award pay rates guide has a Queensland section that sets out the difference. Queensland employers who employ workers must also insure them against work-related injury or illness. Put the holidays the roster covers into the position description so a candidate can see the hours they would work.

People who search for hospitality agencies Brisbane find job boards, shift suppliers and permanent recruiters in the same list. CrossNation is a permanent and contract recruiter, so as a hospitality recruitment agency in Brisbane it delivers a brief, a shortlist and an offer. A Brisbane brief can include the Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast, and we say where each candidate lives so you can plan a start date. We do not run casual rosters. Venues that want overseas chefs or cooks can brief us for sponsorship-ready overseas candidates; the employer holds or obtains its own approval, and CrossNation cannot promise a visa, an approval or a job. This is general information, not migration advice. Speak to a registered migration agent.

Brisbane CBD and inner suburbs, South Bank, Fortitude Valley, Moreton Bay, Logan, Ipswich, Redland, Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast, Toowoomba.

Greater Brisbane had 2,526,238 residents at the 2021 Census and a median age of 36, compared with 38 in Queensland and 38 in Australia.

The industries employing the most people in Greater Brisbane included Hospitals (except Psychiatric Hospitals), Supermarket and Grocery Stores, Primary Education.

Hospitals (except Psychiatric Hospitals) employed 62,917 people (5.1% of employed residents), compared with 5.0% in Queensland and 4.5% in Australia.

These are ABS 2021 Census figures. They describe the area, not CrossNation's own placements.

Median weekly household income in Greater Brisbane was $1,849 at the 2021 Census, above the Queensland figure of $1,675 and above the Australian figure of $1,746.

The most common occupation groups among employed residents were professionals (24.7%), clerical and administrative workers (13.5%), managers (12.6%).

Hospitals (except Psychiatric Hospitals) was the industry employing the most residents of Brisbane, at 5.1% of employed residents.

Wages for a role follow the award or enterprise agreement that covers it, not the Census medians. The screening checks for care and disability roles in Queensland are on our recruitment agency Queensland page. This is general information, not migration advice. Speak to a registered migration agent.

Wages are separate from our fee and follow the Hospitality Industry (General) Award 2020, the Restaurant Industry Award 2020 or an enterprise agreement. From 1 July 2026 the General Award sets a level 1 employee (kitchen attendant grade 1, food and beverage attendant grade 1) at $1,004.90 a week ($26.44 an hour) and a level 4 cook (tradesperson) grade 3 at $1,119.10 a week ($29.45 an hour) for full-time employees, and superannuation is paid on top at 12%. These are award minimums, the same in every state. Check Fair Work for the latest rates.