The updated Explore Tasmania’s South map is hot off the press and lists all of DST's financial member businesses. Tourism Brochure Exchange will be distributing the map at all the gateways and brochure racks throughout the state but if you would like to stock some at your business there are are couple of alternatives:
Come to one of our events between now and Christmas. We'll make sure we have a stash on hand wherever we go.
Arrange to pick some up from our office. You'll need to call ahead to let us know as we can only keep limited stock in our tiny storage space. Also, over the coming weeks it will not be unusual for the office to be unattended, so to avoid a wasted trip, please give us a call on 6223 5650 before you come.
If neither of these options work for you, get in touch and we'll make another plan.
A Cuppa with Brian
Mona Foma 2022 is just around the corner, and like the 2021 festival, it will take place across two weekends in Launceston and nipaluna/Hobart in January.
To hear all about what's in store for the program and ways you can get involved, join us for a cuppa with Brian. This is a casual get-together over a cuppa and a bikkie with Festival Curator Brian Ritchie and the Mona Foma team as they talk you through the program and ways you can leverage off the Hobart weekend. There is literally just a handful of spots left, so book today to avoid missing out!
GEARING UP FOR DECEMBER 15
As you no doubt know, there is a lot of information being worked through by the government about business procedures in the context of living with COVID. We have collated your questions and shared them with Business Tasmania and these are being worked through as efficiently as possible.
For DST, our plan is to keep updating you with relevant information from the main source of truth, but where possible, we are trying to not bombard you or double up on communications from other bodies.
We aim to also run an online forum, where you will be able to ask questions and raise concerns when the majority of the information is available.
In the meantime, there are a few things you can do to get the ball rolling if you haven't already:
Utilise the services of the Tasmanian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (TCCI) - see below.
TCCI Workplace Advice Hotline
The TCCI has been funded by the Tasmanian Government to provide free support and advice to any Tasmanian business with workplace related enquiries relating to COVID. This includes, but is not limited to the following:
Advice on how to manage employee vaccinations in your workplace
Support in managing your employment obligations in the event of a COVID outbreak or lock down
Review and provide recommendations on COVID safe plans
Assistance to manage employee entitlements and conditions
Workplace health and safety advice in relation to managing the risks associated with COVID in the workplace
Advice on how to manage any risks associated with vaccination related policies or requirements
Refusal of entry to customers who refuse to use the Check In Tas app
Record keeping requirements and advice in relation to record keeping
Employee consultation requirements in relation to COVID policies and vaccination requirements
Support conducting a risk assessment
General employee related enquiries resulting from COVID policies, requirements or outbreaks
General WHS information and advice related to managing risks associated with COVID policies, requirements or outbreaks
The service can be accessed by contacting 1300 559 112 or by emailing hr@tcci.com.au.
Need staff?
We know that one of the biggest challenges our industry is facing at the moment is a labour shortage. If this applies to you, there are a couple of tools available to try and help:
Shift Sharer - Searson Buck is delivering this program to try and plug rostering gaps by connecting employers who have shifts to fill with potential employees who have availability to work.
Tasmanian Tourism and Hospitality Jobs is a joint initiative by the Tasmanian Hospitality Association (THA) and the Tourism Industry Council Tasmania (TICT) and is delivered by Visitor Experience Training (VXT). It's a free portal connecting jobseekers with job opportunities across Tasmania’s tourism and hospitality businesses. Tasmanian tourism and hospitality businesses can post job vacancies on the portal at no cost.
Jobs Tasmania has a comprehensive resource kit available online for employers to access funding, programs and support to grow their workforce.
Events Framework
Limits on the number of people dancing and drinking standing up at events and venues will be removed from 6 December 2021, with the additional requirement that all patrons in the areas where these activities are undertaken must be fully vaccinated. All staff working in these areas must also be fully vaccinated from 15 December.
For events, this means that if you have an approved limit of 5,000 people, every one of those attending can stand up and drink or dance, so long as patrons and staff are fully vaccinated.
The lifting of the limit only applies to pubs, clubs and events or areas of these locations where dancing and stand-up drinking is the primary activity, such as pubs, night clubs and music events. It does not apply to restaurants.
This new accreditation module is an optional program that can be completed in under 15 minutes via the online Quality Tourism Framework. It has been developed for businesses who want to share and communicate to both customers and staff that they have initiated policies and procedures regarding vaccinations within their workplace. It is a simple tool businesses can use to strengthen their COVID safe practices and support their communication with the wider community via the associated trademark.
GRANTS AND FUNDING
COVID-19 Small Business Advice and Financial Guidance Program
This program aims to provide eligible small businesses with access to specialist financial and other business advice services to assist businesses to recover, transition, grow or apply other strategies to address the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Eligible applicants will receive a grant of between $750 to $1 500 to obtain financial or other business guidance.
For more details, including the types of businesses services eligible under this grant, jump onto the Business Tasmania website.
INDUSTRY NEWS
Wine Trails 2022 - It's Here!
The 2022 edition of the Tasmanian Wine Trails publication has now been printed. It is being rolled out to Visitor Information Centres, airports, accommodation providers, major attractions and, of course, cellar doors.
Inclusive Tourism Resources
As part of the T21 Visitor Economy Action Plan 2020-2022, Tourism Tasmania has added a valuable resource to its corporate website to provide information to industry operators on inclusive/accessible tourism. It is a central reference point for the inclusive tourism sector, and provides high-level information, referrals and links to other resources for further information. Read all about Inclusive Tourism HERE.
Sidney Nolan's Ned Kelly series
This summer TMAG is delighted to present one of the greatest series of 20th century Australian paintings to Tasmanian audiences, Sidney Nolan’s Ned Kelly series.
This touring exhibition from the National Gallery of Australia features Australian artist Sidney Nolan’s 1946-47 paintings on the theme of the infamous 19th century bush ranger Ned Kelly.
It’s on show in Argyle Gallery 4 until Sunday 20 February 2022, and entry is free. Find out more on the TMAG website.
As we inch ever closer to launching our beautiful new website (very soon, we promise!), we are also gearing up to deliver some fantastic summertime blogs. First cab off the rank is one about Christmas activities, but we need your input...
Have you got Christmas celebrations planned that you want travellers to know about? Extra speccy Christmas lights or decorations? A Christmas market? An event or activity? A product launch for something especially Christmassy?
If you have anything Christmas-themed planned, we'd love to hear about it so we can include it in the blog, so please email us with details.
Destination Southern Tasmania, PO Box 184, Battery Point, TAS 7004, Australia, 6223 5650