TTA keen for focus on Vocational Training Skills to be extended to tourism and hospitality industry

Tourism Training Australia (TTA) has welcomed the Vocational Training Skills Focus in the Commonwealth JobMaker package - an indication that Prime Minister, Scott Morrison recognises Australia's need to improve its provision of the skills required by businesses.

However, TTA Chairman, John Hart, said he was keen to see the series of Skills Organisation pilots designed - as the Prime Minister outlined - “to give industry the opportunity to shape the training system to be more responsive to their skills needs and take responsibility for qualification development” to be extended to the tourism and hospitality industry.

Currently only being trialled in human services, digital technologies and mining sectors of the economy, Hart noted “no other industry is facing challenges as deeply as those in travel, hospitality and tourism.

“The current system led to 40,000 vacancies in our industry prior to the pandemic.

“The industry therefore really needs a training framework that is far more responsive to the skills businesses need if it is to recover strongly.

Hart adds “there is a growing consensus that businesses and their employees need a variety of different training options.

“Many employees undergo several periods of upskilling, or updating their skills to do their existing job or work in their existing industry or adjacent industry.

“They are often short skill sets and micro-credentials, often delivered online, that are vital in delivering the skills that tourism, travel and hospitality businesses need.

“These skills need to be portable across all tourism and hospitality sectors and state and local jurisdictions. The current system certainly does not have the agility to achieve this in anywhere near the timeframes industries require”.

Hart also advises “if tourism, travel and hospitality are to recover and once again contribute more than agriculture, forestry and fishing, utilities and information, media and communications combined then it needs to attract Australians as an attractive career pathway that values continuous vocational training.

“This will require a nimble, efficient and responsive training system as part of a lifelong learning culture.

“We look forward to working with the Commonwealth to ensure that vocational training is more effective in supporting Australia’s tourism, travel and hospitality sectors. This is even more important as we emerge from the pandemic in a growing international economy.

For more information on TTA go to www.tourismtraining.com.au/