The Young Tourism Leaders Program brings together inspiring role models who spark interest and confidence in young people to consider a future in tourism.
Through sharing their experiences at schools and career events, our Leaders highlight the industry’s diverse pathways and provide practical guidance on starting a meaningful tourism career. Their contribution helps build Queensland’s future workforce and supports a thriving tourism sector.
Benefits of the Young Tourism Leaders Program
- Share your story and inspire others - Use your journey to motivate school, vocational, and tertiary students to explore careers in tourism and hospitality.
- Grow your professional profile - Gain visibility across Queensland's tourism sector through speaking opportunities, events, and industry engagement.
- Build leadership and public speaking skills - Develop confidence in presenting, mentoring, and representing the industry at schools, conference, and career events.
- Expand your industry network - Connect with leaders, educators, government partners, and like-minded young professionals across the state.
- Make a meaningful impact - Play a key role in shaping the future workforce and contributing to the growth and sustainability of Queensland's tourism industry.
- Be part of a statewide community of leaders - Join a cohort of inspiring peers who are passionate about driving positive change and raising the profile of tourism careers.
Meet the leaders
How schools can get involved
Schools can request a visit or presentation by completing the School Request Form available through QTIC. Once submitted, the Young Tourism Leaders team will coordinate all arrangements on your behalf, including matching your school with a Leader, confirming availability, and finalising session details.
To request a school visit or presentation, please refer to the FAQs. Information on how to submit a request for a Young Tourism Leader to visit your school in 2026 will be available soon.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does a Young Tourism Leader presentation involve?
A standard Young Tourism Leader (YTL) presentation runs for approximately 40 minutes (20-30mins for presentation, 10minutes for questions), plus time for questions. Presentations typically cover:
- The Leader’s personal career journey
- Insight into the diverse roles and pathways in the tourism industry
- Practical advice on how students can kick-start a career in tourism.
Can YTLs deliver curriculum-based presentations?
No. YTLs do not deliver curriculum-specific content. However, if your class is studying a relevant industry topic (e.g., hospitality, events, ecotourism), we can endeavour to match you with a Leader working in that field to provide real-world insights that complement your learning area.
How far in advance should we request a visit?
YTLs can generally commit 4–6 weeks ahead, depending on work schedules. If you are requesting a date further in advance, such as next term, we will record your request and follow up closer to the time when leader availability is clearer.
What information does the school need to provide when submitting a request?
To help prepare the Leader and ensure a valuable session, we ask schools to provide:
- A range of date and time options
- Year level/s of participating students
- Estimated number of students
- Any relevant context or themes being studied
This allows the YTL team to allocate the most suitable Leader and prepare them effectively.
How are YTLs allocated to schools?
YTLs are usually assigned to schools within their local region. If no Leader is available locally, due to demand or location, an online presentation can be offered.
Can we contact the Leader directly?
No. To respect Leaders’ privacy and manage their workplace commitments, all communication must go through the Young Tourism Leaders Program team via the YTL email address.
Leader contact details are not shared with schools or third parties.
How quickly will I hear back after submitting a request?
YTLs are asked to confirm their availability within five days to ensure timely communication. Once availability is confirmed, the YTL team will notify you and finalise arrangements.
When will final details be confirmed?
YTLs are asked to confirm their availability within five days to ensure timely communication. Once availability is confirmed, the YTL team will notify you and finalise arrangements.
Can photos be taken during the visit?
YTLs are encouraged to take a photo at your school for social media promotion; however:
- Photos cannot include students or other identifiable people unless full consent has been obtained by the school.
- To avoid consent issues, YTLs typically take a selfie in front of the school sign.
- Schools are welcome to take additional photos for their own internal use and channels, following their usual media-permissions process. In this instance, QTIC kindly requests a link to the school’s social media post so we can cross-promote the content on our own channels.
Get in touch
If you’d like to learn more about the Young Tourism Leaders program and how to get involved, please contact us at [email protected] or call us on 07 3236 1445.
The Young Tourism Leaders program is proudly supported by the Queensland Government and Tourism and Events Queensland.
