As Margaret River Region businesses continue to grapple with staff shortages, a number of initiatives are currently underway to address the issue in the short and long-term.
Immediate recruitment opportunities
Businesses looking to recruit staff immediately are able to access the following opportunities:
- Ctrl your summer job: Advertise casual summer vacancies free-of-charge
Post job vacancies at hospogigs.com.au, as part of the McGowan Government’s ‘ctrl your summer job‘ campaign encouraging South-West teenagers aged 14 to 17 years to take up summer jobs. Six local high schools are engaging with the campaign, which will be promoted through TikTok, Instagram and Facebook.
Register your Vacancies
- Tourism WA Job Connect: Meet job-ready workers in person
Meet with young local workers who have completed training through Tourism WA’s Job Connect programs.
Renowned chef Tony Howell and South Regional TAFE Margaret River will lead the 5-day Hospitality introductory course program, which will deliver a range of exciting nationally accredited elements, ranging from customer service training to safe food handling techniques.
On the final day of the program, local employers are invited to attend a morning tea to connect with the job-ready participants. The event is taking place on Friday 3 December at the River Hotel.
Register to Attend
Following the Hospitality Job Connect event, employers can meet newly-trained baristas at the Barista Job Connect event on Friday 10 December at TAFE – Margaret River Campus on Friday 10 December.
Register to Attend
Long Term Solutions: Worker Accommodation Study
While it is expected the current acute shortages in staff accommodation will be somewhat alleviated as market forces correct in the next year, this is a long-term issue, with businesses reporting that over the last decade, obtaining affordable short-term accommodation for workers has been a barrier to securing the staff required to run their operations.
In response to this, MRBTA has worked with partners to secure funding from the State Government and Tourism WA to undertake a ‘Seasonal Worker Accommodation Study’. The study will help to develop an understanding of the seasonal worker population in the region; what roles seasonal workers undertake; availability of suitable accommodation for seasonal workers, and assess and identify innovative options available to address any shortages in the provision of suitable accommodation.
Leading independent economics, policy and strategy advisory firm ACIL Allen has been appointed to undertake the study. Findings will be shared with MRBTA members over the coming months.
Accessing Pacific Labour
The Australian Government’s streamlined PALM scheme allows eligible employers to recruit workers from 9 Pacific island countries and Timor-Leste when there are not enough Australian workers available.
There are 2 initiatives in the PALM scheme: the Seasonal Worker Programme (SWP) for jobs up to 9 months and the Pacific Labour Scheme (PLS) for jobs between one and 3 years. New employers can now join both the SWP and PLS simultaneously through an improved application process.
Margaret River Region employers in the agriculture and accommodation sectors are encouraged to consider their eligibility for the scheme.
Check if your Business is Eligible