Strategy launched for skilling Fraser Coast tourism industry

Fraser Coast tourism operators and the Bligh Government have joined forces to ensure the region’s tourism growth isn’t restrained by skill shortages.

Education and Training Minister Rod Welford, who will be in the region this weekend for the Bligh Government’s seventh Community Cabinet, said the Fraser Coast Tourism Skills Formation Strategy would give industry greater responsibility for attracting, recruiting, skilling and retaining its workers.

“In a fast-growing region, Fraser Coast tourism companies face a growing challenge to recruit and keep good people,” Mr Welford said. “Industries like mining and construction are hard to compete with – a situation that is likely to continue for some time.

“Rather than remain passive, the tourism industry needs to look at ways to tackle this challenge, and our Government fully supports efforts to develop new strategies to remedy skilling and labour shortages.”

Mr Welford said the Government had provided funding of $128,000 over two years toward the Fraser Coast Tourism Skills Formation Strategy, an amount matched by the Fraser Coast South Burnett Regional Tourism Board Limited.

“The strategy represents a change of direction, in that industry will be driving future responses to staffing and training needs,” he said. “Through this process industry members will take the leading role in identifying training needs and how the industry can recruit, train, retrain and keep good people in the longer term.”

Mr Welford said the process could table proposals such as tourism traineeships, which had been launched this year at Bundaberg and involved TAFE, the regional tourism body, local businesses and a group training organisation.

He said this program was enabling eight Bundaberg Year 11 students to gain industry-wide skills which would lead to a Certificate III qualification. A range of local tourism operators are participating, offering opportunities for block work placements in accommodation services, wine tourism, retailing, hospitality, event management and attractions and tours.

Mr Welford said 25 skills formation strategies were now operating in Queensland, with 18 of these established under the Government’s $1 billion Queensland Skills Plan. Strategies encourage businesses, unions, organisations, regulatory bodies, education and training providers and government to work together to develop long-term solutions to workforce planning.

Mr Welford will join the Premier, her Cabinet and the state’s senior public servants for Community Cabinet in Hervey Bay and Maryborough this weekend.

"This is part of the Government's commitment to listening to Queenslanders concerns on their own home turf,” he said. “It is part of taking on board their views as the Premier and Government plan for the future.”

Media contact: Marnie Stitz or Emma Clarey on 3237 1000