Qld offers free courses

THE Queensland Tourism Industry Council (QTIC) has announced plans to help travel businesses upskill their staff via a new $3.6 million commitment.

To fill the expertise gap and meet the needs of a burgeoning travel market, the Qld Govt will fund a new Tourism Training & Skills Support Strategy, which includes $730,000 to upskill staff using short online courses known as micro-credentials.

“Queensland...has great opportunities on the horizon and we are focused on expanding training and skills programs to ensure we have homegrown talent to relieve pressure on employers now and into the Olympic decade,” Qld Minister for Training & Skills Development Di Farmer said.

“Our partnership with QTIC to deliver online education and training will help to ensure we are building a skilled workforce, and Queensland’s tourism sector is well positioned to deliver quality services to visitors.”

QTIC Chief Executive Officer Brett Fraser added the choice by many Queenslanders to holiday locally, as well as the reopening of borders, has meant the industry has struggled to find workers quickly during a skills shortage.

“That translates to a lot of restaurants, hotels and tourism experiences needing more staff to meet consumer demand,” Fraser said, adding that by providing operators with the tools they need to fill skills gaps quickly through free online courses, Qld can boost the capabilities of its tourism sector in a short time.

“The micro-credentialing program should be a game changer for our industry, providing 500 tourism and hospitality businesses with the critical skills,” Fraser added.

The training program is open to eligible tourism and businesses - CLICK HERE for more details.