Jobs forum addresses region’s critical labour shortage

JOBS

Karlie Brady

Journalist

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Employment facilitators, members of the Douglas Chamber of Commerce, Council staff, Tourism Port Douglas and Daintree, and local business owners at the Local Jobs forum. Image: Karlie Brady.

Douglas Shire business owners, local leaders, and employment agencies came together this week to help solve the region’s ongoing labour shortage crisis as employers struggle to fill hundreds of vacant positions.

The Douglas Chamber of Commerce, Tourism Port Douglas Daintree, and the Douglas Shire Council hosted two Local Jobs Program forums in both Mossman and Port Douglas on Tuesday.

Karen Smith-Marron from the Douglas Chamber of Commerce said the forum was a step in the right direction to solve the issue.

“It was about getting some employers who are having trouble locating staff together so we can try and gauge what the problem is within the Shire and hear directly from them as to what they're looking for,” she said.

“I think the solution will be twofold; it will be getting local people employed into these positions but also looking outside to get people from other regions on a seasonal work basis.

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“I think being such a seasonal town the problem has always existed but it's more evident because of COVID and the shortage of backpackers to fill those jobs in hospitality.”

Tamilyn Brennan, an Employment facilitator for Cairns region from the Australian Government’s Local Jobs Program initiative talks to local business owners. Image: Supplied.

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Tamilyn Brennan, an Employment facilitator from the Australian Government’s Local Jobs Program initiative, ran the forum.

Ms Brennan said she was able to gather region-specific information from business owners which she can use to help design a local solution.

“It was about finding out what different business communities need,” she said.

“And first and foremost it's about getting local people into local jobs where possible.

“Out of the meeting we have already determined to have a local job fair here with a massive job matching event where we can have employers who have vacancies and pre-screened candidates and we can link the two together.

“That's only the short term obviously, there are much longer-term issues that we will need to deal with and challenges that will need advocacy.

Ms Brennan said the same issue is being seen in rural tourism towns right across Australia and she is in consultation with her colleagues in those regions.

“And together we can advocate the government for real change,” she said.

“There is a real workforce challenge. Part of it is about missing backpackers but part of it is also that the ebb and flow of the natural tourism season is out of sync at the moment.

“So we are having really short intense seasons and then all of a sudden it jumps away to nothing, so we need to develop a surge workforce model and that's also part of what has come out of this meeting.

“I know that we have an issue looming in six weeks with Easter coming. We will need a lot of hands-on deck here in Port Douglas and we face potentially not having them, so that's what we're hoping to address first,” she said.

The short time between now and the expected influx of tourists for Easter has some employers like Lydia D’ortun, manager at Ferntree Rainforest Lodge, concerned.

“I am very concerned, we are getting a lot of people booking accommodation so it's great to see that Queensland is getting busier and people are travelling, I’m just concerned the region won't be at the height of their expectations in terms of service if we don't have the labour,” she said.

“The meeting was good to see that we're all in the same boat and to see that they are doing something to help us. It is a good start it's just maybe a little bit too late as we're about to get busy.”

Ms D’ortun said she is open to hiring anybody who wants to work, however, being in Cape Tribulation, she finds it difficult to get people to relocate.

“We live in a place that is not for everyone, it's a wonderful place and we provide accommodation and food for staff, but it is just hard to find people who are eager.

“Without the backpackers coming this year, it’s hard, we're open and everyone is looking for staff, we just don't know where they are,” she said.

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