17.06.2021Tackling the hospitality staffing crisis

The Committee’s Visitor Economy Reference Group is turning its attention to the challenges of future skills, as we face a difficult road to recovery.

Melbourne’s hospitality sector is reporting a significant lack of hospitality staff. Skilled international labour has left the country, we are missing the unique casual workforce provided by our international students and local workers have left the industry. The old methods of recruiting, managing staff and driving productivity aren’t working.

So what now?

Our friends at the Melbourne Food and Wine Festival are holding an important forum to unpack this issue. Join panellists Maria Jockel (immigration law specialist, legal principal and national leader of BDO Migration Services), David Mackintosh (restaurateur, Ides, SPQR Pizzeria, Lee Ho Fook and Pope Joan), and Wes Lambert (CEO, Restaurant and Catering Association), as they look at what happens next and what businesses and workers can do right now to get by.

Tune in via Zoom at 2.30pm AEST on Tuesday 22 June.

The Committee will also be addressing the issue of future skills at our member exclusive forum with the Treasurer Tim Pallas, on Monday 2 August.

For more information about the work of our Visitor Economy Reference Group please contact us.