Community
5 June, 2024
Luring tourism workers
MORE than 4000 jobs in the tourism industry across Queensland are up for grabs as a campaign is launched to urge high school students, school leavers and mature-aged workers to ‘join the crew’ and start a career in the billion-dollar sector.
The $1.4 million Choose Tourism campaign was launched last week and features five videos showcasing a day in the life of tourism workers, including tour guide Jared Tyerman at Skyrail Rainforest Cableway.
Mr Tyerman said he loved working as a ranger guide at Skyrail where there were a variety of jobs.
He said he had become an “eco-tourism advocate” and enjoyed showing people from throughout the world and across Australia the rainforest that Skyrail passes through.
Skyrail chairman Dr Ken Chapman said tourism was not just a career, but a fun lifestyle.
“There’s nothing better in a fun workplace than making people happy … it’s so fulfilling,” he said.
Dr Chapman said Skyrail employed 120 people and at any one time there were five vacancies, and roles were diverse, including electrical, heavy maintenance, retail, cleaning and ranger guides.
Dr Chapman also called on Indigenous people, especially the young, to apply for jobs at Skyrail.
“We really need Indigenous people, so if there are any younger Indigenous people who want a job, (contact Skyrail),” he said.
Crystalbrook Collection talent acquisition manager Tracie Picton said their three Cairns properties employed 450 people, with 30 roles currently available.
She said 30 per cent of the staff were locals as well as students and those on working holiday visas, 70 per cent of staff were also full-time with the remainder casual or part-time.
Ms Picton said the issue with staffing was retention and the company wanted to build its local workforce.
She said as well as the usual hotel roles, such as food and beverage and front and back of house, Crystalbrook Collection’s corporate services team of 30 was based in Cairns.
Queensland Tourism Minister and Cairns MP Michael Healy spent 30 years in tourism before being elected as an MP.
He said 30 years ago he rode a motorbike from Melbourne to Palm Cove where he landed a job at the Palm Cove Travelodge.
Mr Healy said he had a “fantastic” tourism career, which ended as QuickSilver Group’s sales and marketing director.
View the refreshed tourism careers website to support jobseekers with more information at
www.tourismcareers.com.au
