The Queensland Tourism Industry Council (QTIC) has secured $1 million to deliver an innovative workforce mobility program that will help tackle one of the biggest barriers facing Queensland’s tourism industry – finding affordable accommodation for workers.

The funding forms part of the Queensland Government’s $6.84 million Workforce Connect Fund, which is supporting nine industry-led projects designed to address critical worker shortages across construction, health, manufacturing, community services and tourism.

QTIC’s proposed Seasonal Mobility and Staff Accommodation Exchange (SMASE) was developed in direct response to member feedback and years of advocacy around the challenges tourism businesses face in attracting and retaining staff, particularly in regional destinations.

Tourism and hospitality businesses across Queensland continue to experience acute seasonal workforce shortages, with limited staff accommodation, high relocation costs and transport barriers preventing willing workers from taking up available jobs.

QTIC proposed an initiative to create a statewide workforce mobility network centred on a digital platform that connects employers, workers and accommodation providers, making it easier for tourism businesses to fill vacancies while helping workers access employment opportunities and affordable accommodation.

The program will be piloted in the Whitsundays, Far North Queensland, Sunshine Coast, Fraser Coast and Southern Great Barrier Reef, with South East Queensland acting as a feeder region where workers can relocate to destinations experiencing peak tourism demand.

The digital platform will be supported by dedicated regional coordinators who will work directly with employers, accommodation providers and workers to broker placements, verify accommodation options and coordinate relocation support.

QTIC CEO Natassia Wheeler said the project was a significant advocacy outcome for the tourism industry and reflected the organisation’s strategic focus on delivering practical, industry-led workforce solutions.

“One of the biggest challenges facing tourism businesses isn’t a lack of jobs – it’s finding somewhere for workers to live,” Wheeler said.

“In many of Queensland’s most popular tourism destinations, businesses are telling us they have vacancies they simply can’t fill because prospective employees can’t access affordable accommodation or afford to relocate.

“This project has been shaped by consistent feedback from our members, who have told us that workforce mobility and access to affordable staff accommodation remain two of the biggest barriers to growing their businesses.

“Rather than simply highlighting the problem, QTIC took a practical solution to government. SMASE has been designed to connect the dots by bringing together employers, workers and accommodation providers through one coordinated, industry-led platform.

“The program will make better use of existing accommodation, support workforce sharing between tourism regions with different seasonal peaks and provide relocation assistance to help workers move where they are needed most.

“We’re delighted the Queensland Government has backed an initiative that has been informed by industry and designed for industry. It demonstrates what can be achieved when government and the tourism sector work together to address real challenges with practical solutions.”

The initiative aligns with QTIC’s Strategic Plan to strengthen workforce capability and improve the long-term resilience of Queensland’s visitor economy – and is part of the organisation’s industry skills and jobs program.

“As Queensland prepares for Brisbane 2032, ensuring tourism businesses have access to a skilled, mobile workforce is essential,” Wheeler said.

“This is about creating more opportunities for people to build careers in tourism while giving businesses the confidence they can access the workforce they need to grow and continue delivering world-class visitor experiences.”

Tourism supports more than 277,000 jobs across Queensland and contributes $45.5 billion in annual visitor expenditure, making workforce availability one of the industry’s most significant challenges.

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