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About the Labour and Skills Working Group
Through Tourism 2020, the Labour and Skills Working Group is focused on easing the labour and skills pressures facing the tourism industry.
Priorities
The Working Group has identified four key priorities to address as part of its work program:
- Enhance recruitment and retention for the industry.
- Enhance regional workforce planning and development to target employment 'hot spots'.
- Identify education and training gaps and potential mechanisms to address them.
- Facilitate workforce mobility and expand the traditional workforce.
Considerable progress has been made against many of these priority actions.
What's new?
Free job postings available to employers
Tourism businesses now have access to a new online jobs board to promote temporary positions that they are struggling to fill. Businesses will be able to upload an unlimited number of job vacancies free of charge to Monster.com – one of the largest and most well-known employment sites in the world.
In addition to the new jobs board, an online 'jobs widget' has been developed which businesses can embed into their own website, allowing visitors to search for temporary positions while they research, plan and book their Australian holiday.
Businesses have until 1 March 2014 to upload their vacancies. Visit http://workingholidayjobs.careerone.com.au to get started!
Seasonal Worker Program
The Seasonal Worker Program trial is proving to be a success for accommodation businesses in Broome. Testimonials from Approved Employers demonstrate how the Program has provided their business with a more stable and reliable workforce during peak seasons.
"A few of our permanent employees who assist as mentors and trainers to the seasonal workers asked if the seasonal workers would be returning the following season, after appreciating their high standard of work and invaluable contribution". Nicole Taylor, HR Manager, Cable Beach Club Resort and Spa (an Approved Employer since January 2012).
Approved employers in Broome have already employed more seasonal workers for the upcoming peak season, including returning workers from the 2012 season.
The Seasonal Worker Program involves a three-year trial engaging workers from the Pacific and East Timor to work with accommodation providers across a number of hospitality and hotel operational tasks. They can work for periods up to 6 months to help accommodation providers meet the challenge of finding workers during periods of seasonal demand. The trial is in five regions: Broome; Northern Territory; Tropical North Queensland; the Whitsundays; and Kangaroo Island.
If you are an accommodation provider in one of the trial regions, find out how to become an Approved Employer by visiting Seasonal Worker Program and watching the introductory video. You can also download the full interview with Cable Beach and find out how the Program can provide your accommodation business with reliable labour to meet low-skilled seasonal labour needs (see Related documents below).
Workforce Futures
The $8.2m Workforce Futures program has officially opened for business, with more than 850 tourism and hospitality businesses already participating with free one-on-one specialist advice from Skills Advisors across the country.
Businesses will gain up to 17.5 hours access with a Skills Advisor to determine their current and future skills needs. Following this, businesses can choose to follow up with staff training programs to ensure that employee skills align with the businesses' current and future needs.
The program will directly benefit up to 2000 businesses in total, including T-QUAL accredited businesses and businesses in Tourism Employment Plan regions.
If you are a business in need of specialised workforce planning advice to support retention and up-skilling of your workforce, visit Workforce Futures website for further information.
Tourism Employment Plans (TEPs)
A Request for Tender to develop the Kangaroo Island TEP is now open on AusTender (closing 3 June 2013). This will lead to the engagement of a contractor who will work closely with regional stakeholders to develop the TEP over a 12 month period.
The Red Centre TEP has been finalised, with a number of actions now to be undertaken to address labour and skills issues in the region. This includes establishment of an Interagency Network to direct businesses to the right starting point in accessing labour and skills assistance programs, and implementing an employment 'region of choice' campaign to encourage people to live and work in the Red Centre.
Meanwhile, the Broome TEP is nearing finalisation, and the contractors in the Sydney and Mornington Peninsula-Phillip Island regions are commencing consultations with industry to guide the development of the TEP over the next 12 months.
For further information on the TEPs, visit Tourism Employment Plans.
Careers Promotional Campaign
The National Tourism Alliance launched the Careers Promotional Campaign on 15thFebruary. It provides the tourism and hospitality industry with a range of free promotional tools to enhance its ability to market career pathways. This includes online advice, themed promotions, a training widget factsheets, case studies and career path information through Discover Your Career.
To find out how your business can benefit from the Careers Promotional Campaign, contact the National Tourism Alliance via email admin@tourismalliance.org or call 02 8971 3155.
Working Group meeting update—March 2013
The Labour and Skills Working Group last met on 22–March 2013. The Group were informed that the first two Tourism Employment Plans are in the process of being finalised, and that implementation has been transferred to the respective regional steering committees. Key outcomes from the meeting are available in Related documents below.
Revised Tourism, Travel and Hospitality Training Package
The revised Tourism, Travel and Hospitality Training Package has been endorsed by the National Skills Standards Council following an extensive consultation and revision process with industry stakeholders.
The Training Package (SIT12) has been updated to ensure it remains relevant and responsive to the current and emerging skills requirements of industry. Seven new cross-sector skill sets have been developed to meet industry needs across tourism, travel and hospitality. These include customer service; customer service management; and service for international visitors.
National Workforce Development Fund
More than $18.8 million combined industry and government funding has been committed to tourism industry projects (including Workforce Futures) under the National Workforce Development Fund. Funding has supported training and workforce development in areas of skills need. More than 1451 training places have been funded in the tourism industry, with 69% of this spending occurring in small businesses. Visit Service Skills Australia or call (02) 8243 1200 to see how you can access the next funding round or to read a number of great case studies on how businesses have managed their workforce needs through the Fund.
Template Labour Agreement
A template Labour Agreement has been proposed for the tourism and hospitality industry to improve industry access to semi and highly skilled overseas workers in occupations identified as being in critical shortage. A discussion paper on the proposal was released in 2012 seeking industry comments on the list of eligible occupations, salary, skill level and English language requirements. The discussion paper is now closed for comment.
The Department of Immigration and Citizenship is currently reviewing industry submissions and investigating options to meet the skills needs of tourism and hospitality employers . Please visit the publicly available industry submissions.
Support materials and further information
The following highlights some key information sources to assist businesses with addressing recruitment, migration, workforce development, mobility and research needs.
Recruitment
- Tourism Industry Employer Factsheet
- This provides employers with a list of programs and support services to address labour and skills needs, including incentives to help businesses employ Indigenous job seekers, workers with a disability and the very long-term unemployed.
- See Related documents (below) to download a copy.
Workforce development
- Skills Connect
- Skills Connect is designed to help link eligible Australian businesses with a range of skills and workforce development programs and funding. This is a valuable resource for employers looking for support to meet their unique business needs.
- Visit Skills Connect to find out more, or call the Skills Infoline on 133 196.
Migration
- Visa Options Factsheet
- This highlights the options available for businesses to employ overseas skilled workers including cooks, chefs, service staff and managers.
- See Related documents (below) to download a copy.
- 457 Visa Guide
- This guide assists employers through the processsprocess of sponsoring overseas workers on 457 (temporary skilled migration) visas.
- Department of Immigration and Citizenship data shows that the total number of 457 visas granted for the "accommodation and food services industry" for 2011-12 was 3,660 (an increase of 137.6% on the previous year). Cooks were the 6th highest occupation across all industries to have 457 visas granted in 2011-12, with 1,560 granted (an increase of 189.6% on the previous year). At 30 June 2012, there were 2,020 cooks and 1,480 chefs working in Australia with 457 visas.
- To find out how to sponsor workers under the 457 visa program, download a copy of the guide and workshop presentation from Related documents (below).
- Skill Select
- SkillSelect is an online service that enables skilled workers interested in migrating to Australia to record their details and be considered for a skilled visa.
- Employers can quickly and easily identify and contact intending skilled migrants and nominate them for skilled visas to fill shortages.
- To find out more about SkillSelect, including video tutorials and FAQs, visit SkillSelect.
Mobility
- Responsible Service of Alcohol Factsheet
- For the first time, all states and territories have measures in place, or are introducing measures, to recognise interstate Response Service of Alcohol (RSA) certification. This factsheet highlights career opportunities for those with RSA certification that may be looking at moving interstate.
- See Related documents (below) to download a copy of the fact sheet.
Research and statistics
- Australian Tourism Labour Force Report
- This report highlights that there are an estimated 35,800 tourism vacancies across Australia at present, and by 2015 an additional 56,000 people will be needed to fill vacancies. The report is provided in two parts: Labour Force Profile (Part I); and Labour Force Projections (Part II).
- See Related documents (below) to download the report.
- Skills Info
- The SkillsInfo website provides data on industry employment trends and prospects in Australia, as well as information on the Australian labour market, vacancy trends, skills shortages, regional employment, and education and training.
- Visit SkillsInfo to find out more.
Related documents
Membership
- Tourism Western Australia (Chair)
- Australian Hotels Association
- Australian Government Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations
- Australian Government Department of Immigration and Citizenship
- Australian Government Department of Industry, Innovation, Science, Research and Tertiary Education
- Australian Government Department of Resources, Energy and Tourism
- Queensland Tourism Industry Council
- Restaurant and Catering Australia
- Service Skills Australia
- Tourism NT
- United Voice
More information
For more information about the Labour and Skills Working Group email ascot-tmm@ret.gov.au.