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Fun Wheels Pty Ltd are the premium dealer in Australasia for the Dutch company BERG’s commercial and domestic products. Our flagship product is their revolutionary pedal go-kart – the…
read moreThe Australian Tourism Export Council is calling for three months of work in the tourism and hospitality sector to be included in the eligibility criteria for Working Holiday Makers (WHM) visitors to qualify for a second-year visa, expanding it to include areas beyond the current ‘northern or remote and very remote Australia’ qualifying regions.
ATEC recognises the significant need for both skilled and unskilled labour across the sector and the lack of unskilled labour in particular is something which can be addressed by expanding the WHM visa criteria as way of meeting the severe labour shortages being faced as the industry rebuilds post-covid.
Expanding the eligibility criteria under which Working Holiday Makers (WHM) can extend their stay by an additional one to two years will help to meet the tourism industry’s dire need for unskilled labour and is the key request ATEC is putting forward to this week's Jobs Summit.
ATEC Managing Director Peter Shelley notes “Tourism and hospitality businesses across the country are facing severe shortages in staff, particularly the unskilled workforce which helps businesses to meet the demands of seasonal fluctuations.
“Previously WHM holders could work for three months in jobs primarily in the agricultural sector, in order to qualify for an extension of their visa. Some jobs in the tourism industry also qualify however these are restricted to work in regional areas of northern parts of the country.
“Tourism businesses across the country desperately need unskilled workers and these workers are crucial to the successful rebuilding of our industry.”
Shelley said that while the tourism industry required long-term solutions to the workforce challenge, there is an opportunity to instigate a short-term solution through the Working Holiday Maker program which was introduced in 1975 with the purpose of promoting cross cultural understanding.
“ATEC recognises the significant need for both skilled and unskilled labour across the sector and the lack of unskilled labour in particular is something which can be addressed by expanding the WHM visa criteria as way of meeting the severe labour shortages being faced as the industry rebuilds post-covid.
“We have an opportunity to use the WHM visa system to both support the rebuild of Australia's tourism industry and to help solve some of the critical workforce shortages being faced across the nation.
“Given the WHM visa is in essence a tourism visa, making it more attractive by offering a wider range of work options will create greater uptake and therefore also help support the regrowth of this export market."
ATEC is calling on the Federal Government to expand the definition of a ‘specified area of work’ within the WHM second year eligibility extension to include all tourism and hospitality work across the country. Expanding the criteria will encourage greater numbers of WHM visitors to Australia, provides a desperately need boost to our workforce, will lock in this expanded workforce for a second year, provides tourism dollars to our economy and will help to create a positive message for international visitors thinking of coming to Australia.
13th April 2022 - ATEC calls on all political parties to support tourism industry recovery
2nd February 2022 - ATEC calls on Federal Government to open Australia’s borders to international tourists
16th December 2021 - ATEC highlights need for government commitment to the tourism industry in light of Omicron
23rd November 2021 - ATEC highlights skill shortages to present challenges when international tourism recommences
13th August 2021 - ATEC continues to highlight that tourism regions are struggling to survive
11th August 2021 - ATEC and Beyond Blue partner to support wellbeing of tourism businesses across Australia
27th July 2022 - Free hospitality courses offered in NSW to kickstart careers and alleviate labour shortages
15th June 2022 - Accredited training program looks to address shortage of entertainment technicians
9th June 2022 - Industry feedback sees Australian Festival Industry Conference add workforce skills and labour shortages discussion to program
7th April 2022 - Snackr provides effective solution for venues facing staff shortages
5th February 2022 - NSW Government offers free RSA courses to counter hospitality staff shortages
29th October 2021 - Tourism and Transport Forum advise skills shortage hinders industry recovery
27th September 2021 - Financial losses and staff shortages significantly jeopardise the New Zealand Events industry
22nd September 2021 - Australian Regional Tourism adds voice to fears over skills and workforce shortages
16th September 2021 - Reopening Queensland tourism operators set to face staff shortages
5th September 2021 - Staff shortages result in long F&B queues during AFL semi-final at Perth’s Optus Stadium
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