The McGowan Government has committed almost $4 million over the next two years to develop workforce skills for the tourism and hospitality industries.
The Tourism Workforce Development Program will fund short-term programs to address the current shortage of workers while also building a pipeline of talent for the future.
Many of the programs have a focus on connecting local people with local jobs across the State.
This will include longer-term initiatives aimed at encouraging young people to consider careers in tourism and hospitality.
The funding will also support a series of job-ready skills training courses with StudyPerth for international students and initiatives targeting working holiday makers to leverage the returning pool of workers in these markets.
Bespoke job-ready training and accredited micro modules will be delivered in partnership with regional TAFE campuses and through initiatives connecting prospective workers directly with local employers.
Tourism and hospitality will be promoted as a rewarding career through activity such as the Chef Ambassador in-school hospitality demonstration program delivered by Hospitality Group Training, and an annual program of in-school tourism career information sessions will also support longer-term initiatives aimed at encouraging young people to consider careers in tourism and hospitality and creating a sustainable pipeline of local skilled workers.
Tourism WA will partner with peak industry bodies to develop a toolkit of information and resources and provide industry education, aimed at supporting employers with attracting and retaining workers.
The recently launched westernaustralia.jobs website, a dedicated tourism and hospitality jobs, training and careers workforce portal, will be the central call to action for Tourism WA workforce initiatives and continue to be funded through the Package.
The site, developed in partnership with the Australian Hotels Association WA, has attracted more than 420 employers and 350 job seekers since its launch in May, connecting them with more than 500 jobs.
As stated by Tourism Minister Roger Cook:
“The tourism and hospitality workforce is the backbone of a thriving industry.
“Supporting businesses with filling job vacancies, helping to retain workers and upskilling job seekers is essential to the industries’ success and a high priority for the McGowan Government.
“This program will lead to more workers being trained to fill immediate vacancies while also building a pipeline of talent for the future.
“This will have a flow-on benefit to visitors to ensure we continue to deliver a world-class visitor experience.
“We’re focused on maintaining a strong workforce into the future which is central to all of the initiatives being funded through this Package and critical to growing the tourism industry.”
