A new tourism workforce and accommodation initiative is set to be piloted on the Sunshine Coast.
The Queensland Tourism Industry Council (QTIC) has secured $1million to deliver an innovative workforce mobility program that will help tackle one of the biggest barriers facing Queensland’s tourism industry: finding affordable accommodation for workers.
The funding forms part of the Queensland government’s $6.84million Workforce Connect Fund, which is supporting nine industry-led projects designed to address critical worker shortages across construction, health, manufacturing, community services and tourism.
QTIC’s proposed Seasonal Mobility and Staff Accommodation Exchange was developed in direct response to member feedback.
The initiative aims to create a statewide workforce mobility network centred on a digital platform that connects employers, workers and accommodation providers, making it easier for tourism businesses to fill vacancies while helping workers access employment opportunities and affordable accommodation.
The program will be piloted in the Whitsundays, Far North Queensland, Sunshine Coast, Fraser Coast and Southern Great Barrier Reef.
The digital platform will be supported by regional coordinators who will work directly with employers, accommodation providers and workers to broker placements, verify accommodation options and coordinate relocation help.
“One of the biggest challenges facing tourism businesses isn’t a lack of jobs,” QTIC CEO Natassia Wheeler says.
“It’s finding somewhere for workers to live.
“This project has been shaped by consistent feedback from our members, who have told us that workforce mobility and access to affordable staff accommodation remain two of the biggest barriers to growing their businesses.
“As Queensland prepares for Brisbane 2032, ensuring tourism businesses have access to a skilled, mobile workforce is essential.”
