AFTA recruiting for mental wellbeing

The Australian Federation of Travel Agents will appoint a new staff member focusing on the industry’s mental health, with funding secured under the Vic Small Business Wellbeing Project.

Recruitment is currently under way for the full-time role supported by the Vic Department of Health for this financial year, meaning Victorian AFTA members will be able to access “in-person bespoke and individual services,” the Federation said.

The wider AFTA membership base will also benefit from tailored webinars and workshops and training of its staff, alongside existing support for the sector available through the Beyond Blue New Access Scheme.

AFTA Chairman Tom Manwaring said people working in travel had been hit hard by COVID-19.

After 18 months of hard lockdown, the cumulative impact of continuing state and territory border closures and the international travel ban means that “this additional support for our members’ mental wellbeing could not have come at a better time,” Manwaring said.