Free Graduate Certificate courses for tourism workers stood down due to the COVID-19 crisis

Tourism workers will be able to polish up their skills for free during the downturn caused by COVID-19 thanks to a government-sponsored partnership with UTAS and the tourism industry.

HOSPITALITY workers left idle by the coronavirus pandemic will be able to bolster their qualifications for free thanks to a government-sponsored partnership with the University of Tasmania and the tourism industry.

Eligible applicants will be able to complete a new Graduate Certificate in Business Studies, or Tourism, Environmental and Cultural Heritage, without charge.

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The courses were announced on Wednesday by Premier Peter Gutwein and University of Tasmania Vice Chancellor Rufus Black.

Kimberley Odgers, 25 of Hobart will be one of the first students to benefit from the no-fee study for tourism and hospitality workers. Picture: Zak Simmonds

Kimberley Odgers, business development executive at Hobart’s Hotel Grand Chancellor Hobart, said she would be at the front of the queue.

“One hundred per cent!” she said.

“When I got the call yesterday I was so excited. I think it’s a great opportunity, especially given all the free time I have on my hands now.

“I’m interested in the Graduate Certificate in Business Studies. I was already thinking about doing some extra study so it’s actually very good timing.

“It’s quite astronomical to do extra study, so when I found out that this would be at no cost, I thought, you know, it can’t be true. So yeah, it’s very, very, very useful.”

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Professor Black said it had been devastating to see the impact of the pandemic on the industry.

“We see these courses as a way of supporting Tasmania and Tasmanians to stay engaged, to build knowledge, knowing that will support the sector and its people until such a time that the impact of COVID-19 passes.”

Tourism Industry Council of Tasmania CEO Luke Martin. Picture: Zak Simmonds

Tourism Industry Council of Tasmania CEO Luke Martin said the training was a good way to turn the current tourism stoppage into an opportunity.

“We have a world-class tourism and hospitality sector here in Tasmania and a world-class University and the capacity for them to come together in an hour of need essentially for us is really exciting,” he said.

“The financial benefit of this is around $10,000 per student.

“So for each of our people sitting at home today, operators and tourism professionals, who have had their hours cut, who have been stood down or shut down, obviously money’s not necessarily something that’s easily accessible at the moment and the ability to actually do this course, at no expense to them for course fees, is a great opportunity.”

People should register their interest at utas.edu.au/GradCert