The ATAC Board and members were recently invited to take part in an important roundtable discussion with Service and Creative Skills Australia (SaCSA). This session, held during ATAC Future Focus, was specifically extended to ATAC to ensure the voice of independent travel agents was heard alongside the larger players already involved.
The roundtable focused on two critical areas shaping the future of our industry:
- The drivers of workforce shortages for Travel Consultants
- The qualification review of the Certificate III in Travel
The conversations were open, genuine, and highly valued by SaCSA, who appreciated the thoughtful insights contributed by both the Board and members during the facilitated session and panel discussion.
Key Outcomes
The roundtable highlighted that while the industry’s greatest strength lies in passionate, experienced people motivated by a genuine love of travel, there are pressing challenges in attracting the next generation. A lack of career awareness among young people and outdated training frameworks remain key concerns.
To secure a sustainable workforce, the sector must:
- Modernise training
- Raise the visibility of travel as a career path
- Continue investing in relationship and service-based skills development
SaCSA noted the fantastic feedback received from ATAC participants and valued the genuine and helpful discussions held throughout the conference sessions they attended.
What’s Next
SaCSA is compiling a full report which we will share with members once available. This is a valuable step in ensuring independents have a seat at the table as government, industry, and training bodies plan for the future of our workforce.