The Australian Federation of Travel Agents (AFTA) has successfully lobbied to add ‘Travel Consultants’ to the Federal Government Skills Priority List, meaning travel traineeship programs will now fall under Employment Incentive Support.
As well as acknowledgement for the role played by travel agents in Australia, the priority listing will now cover traineeships from Certificate III Travel through to the Advanced Diploma of Tourism and Travel Management under the apprenticeship program.
AFTA’s National Taskforce for Skills and Careers has been actively lobbying for the changes to address the chronic workforce shortages holding back the sector’s full recovery.
The Taskforce developed significant policy documents and met with the Minister for Immigration and Minister for Skills last year to ensure these needs were understood.
AFTA CEO Dean Long said: “We have been working very closely with Minister for Skills and Training Brendan O’Connor, Minister for Trade and Tourism Don Farrell and Minister for Immigration Andrew Giles and the relevant departments and very much appreciate their support in getting the important role of travel professionals acknowledged.”
AFTA will also write to state and territory leaders to ensure these courses have funding allocated to rebuild the workforce.
“Many of our National Taskforce Members who have helped us achieve this win have already highlighted the importance of ensuring alignment across the country for funding and this will be firmly in our sights,” Mr Long said.
“We look forward to continuing to drive change on behalf of our members given the ongoing massive challenge faced across the board as a result of the chronic workforce and skills shortages.”
The updated eligible skills training on the Australian Apprenticeships Priority List is available here.
Read the guidelines for the Australian Apprenticeships Incentive System here.
To find out more, visit afta.com.au
