RESET Report 2. The training needs and proposed development program for the visitor economy businesses of Melbourne's West.

As described in Report one, the tourism, hospitality and events sectors have been heavily impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Huge financial losses, employee redundancies and continuous emotional strain have impacted the majority of the industry across Australia and in the West of Melbourne in particular. Report one of this project noted the most significant impact after financial losses was the loss of jobs, with 14% of accommodation and food services jobs being lost between 14 March 2020 and 27 February 2021. As the industry in Western Melbourne opens up, after lockdown number six (following 260 days in lockdown over 2020 and 2021), the major challenge facing businesses is staffing. Report one also noted that staffing in Victoria was an existing problem prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2015, approximately 50% businesses reported recruitment difficulties, 36% experienced retention challenges and 65% suffered skill deficiencies (Deloitte Access Economics, 2015). In the latter case, skill deficiencies were mainly attributed to employees’ lack of suitable experience in tourism. This lack of experience in the sector implies that the average worker is not ‘tourism ready’. Cleaners, chefs and cooks were the three occupations with the most commonly reported deficiencies prior to the pandemic with regard to qualifications, skills and work experience (Deloitte Access Economics, 2015). Staffing shortages have become more significant as the pandemic continues, as many employees have left the sector to secure work in more stable industries or in other states less impacted by lockdowns. A report by Tourism Research Australia, using data from the ABS Business Conditions and sentiment Survey showed that in December 2020, 33 % of accommodation and food services business were finding it difficult to find staff, rising to 38 % by June 2021 (Tourism Research Australia, 2021, p. 29). Furthermore, a report by SEEK.com.au on the change in job ads listed from June to August 2021 compared to June to Aug 2019 highlighted job ad growth in tourism, hospitality and events jobs of between 4% and 28 %. Similarly, advertisements for chefs’ positions have risen by between 15% and 43% for various types of chefs (Pizza chef ads rose the most, followed by breakfast and executive chef positions) (SEEK, 2021).