Outback Hospitality was initiated through the Outback Tourism Skills Formation Strategy (SFS) project to assist the Central West Queensland Tourism industry’s workforce planning and development.

The SFS industry reference group consisted of 20 tourism industry professionals from around the region who have untold energy and enthusiasm for the development of tourism in the region. Through extensive consultation they identified a number of common workforce issues and implemented an action plan to overcome or help reduce the impact of those issues. They also identified that it wasn't just tourism businesses in CW Qld that had these issues, but ALL businesses in ALL industries, right across Australia's Outback.

So, this is a real example of regional businesses working together and being proactive to overcome issues. 

The Outback Hospitality website brings together all of the outcomes from this SFS project. It aims to assist those looking for work to be able to find it; and also be a place for businesses to come together to promote their jobs and the region, and be able to find answers to their workforce issues.

Skills Formation Strategies (SFS) are an initiative of the Queensland Department of Education and Training and hosted by an appropriate organisation. The Outback Tourism SFS was hosted by RAPAD (see below).

In 2009, the Central West Qld tourism industry identified that some staff in the region hadn’t yet visited or were unfamiliar with the attractions, accommodation and services available in other towns and localities around the region. In order to better familiarise staff, Oi! was developed to provide basic information about the main attractions of towns through a series of videos of people living and working in them. Oi! enables staff to better answer tourists questions and to better on-sell other parts of the region and helps create a network of operators working together for the benefit of the wider outback community. We hope you enjoy Oi! and appreciate the input from over 220 businesses around the region.

The Central Western Queensland Remote Area Planning and Development Board (RAPAD) is a unified local government organisation which aims to assist and facilitate the growth and development of our Central West and wider Outback region. By working together member local governments are united in their desire to enhance the quality of life for all residents.

Launched in October 2010, the 'Outback Mates' ambassador scheme, an initiative of the Outback Queensland Tourism Association, Tourism Queensland and local government authorities.

The first Outback Mates in Barcaldine will assist visitors with general information, local insights and probably a few 'tall' stories. It makes sense to appoint local tourism ambassadors - or 'Outback Mates' - who can enhance visitors' experiences as they travel throughout the region. An 'Outback Mate' can be a council worker, retiree, popular character around town or local business person. They are volunteers who typify the spirit of the Outback and have the permission of their employers to be 'Outback Mates' as part of their normal daily activities.

Outback Mates will work with local visitor information centres to ensure visitors find the best places and experiences in Queensland's Outback.
 

To see the full media release from Minister Lawlor, click here.

Words courtesy of Tourism Queensland.