Sarah Courtney,Minister for Small Business, Hospitality and Events
The mental health of Tasmania’s tourism businesses is the focus of a new $100,000 support package.
The program has been developed in recognition of the financial and mental impact of COVID-19 on the State’s small businesses and their employees.
The past 12 months has been extremely challenging for small tourism businesses across Tasmania as they’ve rapidly responded to huge changes due to COVID-19, and then adapted to a ‘new normal’.
As part of the recently announced $20 million COVID-19 Small Business Sustainability and Recovery Assistance Package, $1 million will go towards mental health support for Tasmanian small businesses in recognition of the financial and mental health impact on them and their employees.
Tasmania’s tourism businesses will receive $100,000 through the Tourism Industry Council of Tasmania (TICT) which will deliver the year-long mental health support package.
As part of the program, Tasmanian Lifeline will deliver tailored counselling services and mental health training programs which will include a series of wellbeing and resilience workshops hosted by Dr Melanie Irons, and featuring Tasmanian tourism champion Bianca Welsh and Mitch MacPherson from Stay ChatTY.
