WA Government injects $8m in hospo skills shortages

The Australian Hotels Association (WA) welcomes two key announcements and over $8 million in combined funding by the McGowan Government to address the dire labour shortages plaguing WA’s hotels and hospitality businesses.

The Australian Hotels Association (WA) CEO Bradley Woods said the significant funding allocated towards the Discover the Other Side recruitment campaign and the Tourism Workforce Development Program will be warmly welcomed by hoteliers, publicans and restaurateurs across the state.

“Addressing labour shortages is currently the number one issue for those running hotels and hospitality venues, so it is encouraging to see the WA Government allocating resources that match the scale of the problem,” Woods said.

“As the world emerges from COVID-19, the global competition for skilled and unskilled workers is fierce, so it is critical that WA puts its best foot forward through a targeted recruitment campaign.

“The westernaustralia.jobs portal, a joint initiative between Tourism WA and the AHA(WA), will be promoted to interstate and New Zealand workers, showcasing the incredible career opportunities available in WA’s hotels, bars, pubs, taverns, restaurants, and tourism businesses.

“Complementing the recruitment campaign is substantial funding towards short-term training programs that will equip local residents as well as interstate and international arrivals with workready hospitality skills.

“Hospitality and tourism employers have long advocated for greater investment in fundamental and practical skills such as barista courses, RSA training and customer service, all of which will be delivered as part of today’s announcement.

“The AHA also welcomes yesterday’s announced changes to WA’s migration program settings, which will make it easier for skilled workers to migrate to the state and take up opportunities in the hotel and hospitality industry. Addressing the shortage of skilled and unskilled workers in WA’s hospitality industry will take time, but we applaud the actions taken by the McGowan Government over the past 24 hours, which shows a strong commitment to tangible action,” Woods concluded.

The hospitality industry has faced widespread staff shortages since the beginning of the pandemic.

The NSW government has offered free responsible alcohol and gambling refresher courses to address the issue and many Aussie holidaymakers have seen accommodation prices soar as staff shortages continue. The average price of a hotel room in Melbourne has risen almost 20 per cent, according to The Guardian.

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