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Workforce recruitment program launched in time for summer

by | Oct 22, 2021 | Latest News

      Tourism Jobs Bank, a matchmaking service for the tourism and hospitality sector across Geelong, Bellarine and Great Ocean Road.

      A new pilot program will ensure the Geelong, Bellarine and Great Ocean Road tourism sector is well positioned to recruit much-needed workers this summer and beyond.

      Great Ocean Road Regional Tourism together with Tourism Greater Geelong and The Bellarine have developed a recruitment program to help employers find employees for a prosperous future. This pilot program has been funded through the State Government’s Regional Recovery Fund.

      The sector continues to face a critical worker shortage, exacerbated by the pandemic and the loss of international students and backpackers. This means that although the industry is thrilled to be able to open back up, business owners have a painstaking and time-consuming job ahead of them – recruiting staff.

      The pilot program, Tourism Jobs Bank, will support the industry to use professional recruitment services to find suitable staff. Direct Recruitment, a Geelong based recruitment service, was successful in tendering to deliver this program. The program will be underpinned with a dedicated marketing campaign and provide training support for both employers and candidates.

      Simply put, the Tourism Jobs Bank will matchmake employers with job seekers.

      The program seeks to attract new workers to the region, as well as engage people who already live in the area. With a broad range of jobs available across the tourism and hospitality sector we are looking for the young, skilled, keen and the young at heart. The sector comes with the promise of work-life ‘and bank’ balance, an enticing proposition to all.

      Local marketing agency Oregional Collective, has been engaged to produce the campaign that will go to market in late October. The fun identity has been designed to communicate an easy-going, approachable vibe that speaks the language to both target audiences, prospective candidates, and businesses.

      “We want to take the recruitment pressure off employers, lifting that weight from their shoulders so they can focus on getting their businesses back to full speed,” Liz Price, General Manager from Great Ocean Road Regional Tourism said.

      “Our region is a great place to live and work and is easily accessible from Melbourne, Ballarat, and Western Victorian towns. We are also keen to attract locals and those that come just for the summer to think about earning some extra cash this season and working in the sector.

      “We are grateful for the State Government of Victoria’s investment in this pilot and look forward to working with the tourism and hospitality businesses, Direct Recruitment and Oregional on the program,” said Brett Ince, Executive Director, Tourism Greater Geelong Bellarine.

      The region is hoping for a busy peak season and attracting workers will be critical to businesses being able to trade at capacity and maximise the opportunity to be open, something very needed after the significant periods of lockdown experienced over the last two years. Direct Recruitment is proud to be partnering in the program, their goal is to be the go-to employment pathway for the hospitality and tourism sector in an extremely challenging labour market.

      “Direct Recruitment is thrilled to help our region’s tourism sector get back to what they love doing. If job seekers need upskilling, we can offer free training, such as food handlers’ courses, and an attractive training incentive program for employers who are part of the pilot program,” said Manager for Hospitality and Tourism at Direct Recruitment, Alela Pinto.

      Each candidate placed through the program will receive a welcome pack highlighting the regions’ tourism delights and will also go into a draw to win the ultimate Greater Geelong and Great Ocean Road holiday for two to enjoy post summer.

      The Tourism Jobs Bank is ready to connect staff with tourism employers in Geelong, Bellarine and the Great Ocean Road now. To understand the details and training incentives on offer, employers and job seekers can head to www.tourismjobsbank.com.au or email apinto@directrecruitment.com.au.

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