Island lovers wanted as skills shortage hits the Whitsundays
The Whitsundays conjure up images of clear blue water, tropical breezes and the free and easy lifestyle of the holiday maker. While it is all those things, like the rest of Australia the Whitsundays is experiencing a skills shortage of its own.
In short, its community is keen to attract people, both to visit and to stay permanently. If you love nature and boating, then this is the place for you.
With more than 800,000 visitors to the region in 2007 there is an acute need for skilled workers, particularly in the hospitality sector, but also in retail and construction.
The Whitsundays comprises 74 islands, eight of which are inhabited and in need of new workers. Its most populated spots include Hamilton Island and the mainland towns of Cannonvale, Airlie Beach, Shute Harbour and the rural town of Proserpine.
Skills needed
Tourism Whitsunday and the Queensland Government's Department of Education, Training and the Arts, have set up a joint strategy to attract skilled staff to the region including setting up the jobs website www.workinthewhitsundays.com.
Demand is high for tradespeople, customer service staff, auditors, front-of-house positions, servicing on the charter boat industry and other jobs in the marine industry.
The Barrier Reef College of TAFE on Shute Harbour Road is developing courses in line with specific skills shortages and to attract young people to stay in the region.
The skills shortage extends into many sectors beyond tourism, according to Rebecca Andrews, the executive officer of the Whitsunday Development Corporation.
Hamilton Island
With its hotels, cabins and apartments catering to a wide cross-section of visitors and the yachting and boating fraternity, Hamilton Island offers a wide range of jobs including hotel operations, food and beverage, chefs, childcare, recreation, trades, marina and security. People who speak Italian, German or Japanese are highly employable. The island is also part of the Work Connection disability employment service.
Island living is not for everyone. It works for people who don't mind a close-knit community and life in a remote location. Hamilton Island is more conveniently placed than most with an airport two minutes drive from town, several flights a day and daily ferries, as well as private craft.
Staff accommodation mostly consists of twin-share rooms with communal facilities or private rentals. There are opportunities to crew on yachts by responding to advertisements in the local press or by being in the right place at the right time.
Cruising for a living
Cruise companies also seek staff. Fantasea Adventure Cruising
launched its boutique cruise ship MV Fantasea Ammari last year. It staffing needs include cruise attendants, entertainment/hospitality/water activity skills, as well as qualified crew of all levels for its five-day cruises this season. There are other opportunities on shore, and on Fantasea day cruises and ferries. People can advance quickly from deckhand through to captaining ferries.
Finding a place to call home
Cheap accommodation is not always easy to find around Airlie Beach. "It's something that we are mindful of as a community and are making great efforts to address," said Rebecca Andrews.
A council initiative and board have a proposal in place with secure funding from the Queensland Government to build units worth more than $2 million on donated land in Jubilee Pocket near Airlie Beach. The region is keen to increase the stock of low cost and affordable housing.
Vacancies for share accommodation can be found in local publications and real estate agents list properties for let.
Some construction groups have created worker camps. Hutchisons, which is building the five-star Whisper Bay resort, provides accommodation for almost 300 workers in an old motel converted to workers camps that include leisure facilities and allow workers to have their families join them. The villages have provided accommodation to subcontractors on a temporary basis before they set up in the region.
Getting there
Proserpine and Hamilton Island airports have daily and weekly scheduled jet services to and from Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne through major airline operators Qantas, Virgin Blue and Jetstar and connecting flights to regional centres.
Daily passenger rail services call at Proserpine Railway Station and all major Australian coach and tour coach companies call at Proserpine and Airlie Beach.
