WAITOC

The team at WAITOC would like to wish all our members and supporters, a peaceful, joyful festive season and a New Year filled with new journeys and discoveries. See you in 2025!

WAITOC is very pleased to see a new grant announcement through the National Indigenous Australians Agency, with the new Remote Jobs and Economic Development (RJED) program. The RJED Program will provide people in remote communities with more jobs offering fair pay and conditions. WAITOC has assisted with consultation on the design. The RJED Program seeks to fund 3,000 new job/s over three years to support job seekers move into employment in RES regions. 1.  RJED Round 1 grant opportunity - $26.5 million for approximately 378 jobs, opened on 11 December 2024 and closes on 3 February 2025. 2.  RJED Round 2 grant opportunity - $17.6 million for approximately 252 jobs, opening on 4 February 2025 and closing on 31 March 2025. WAITOC will learn more about the impacts and opportunities for WA Aboriginal tourism businesses in the regions and share more with our members as we progress. We encourage our members to consider where such jobs might be able to exist in their businesses, and read more about the grant here. https://lnkd.in/gBisJfDD

🌟 Exciting career opportunity for Aboriginal youth candidates in 2025 🌟 Accor is pleased to announce that Pullman Bunker Bay Resort Margaret River Region is looking to participate in the Accor Indigenous Hotel Traineeship for 2025 as part of their national program! This program is designed to create career pathways in the hotel industry for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander candidates. Successful applicants will gain valuable hands-on experience through 3 x 4-month departmental rotations, covering Food & Beverage, Housekeeping & Engineering, and Front Office & Guest Services. 🗓️ Program Start Date: February 2025 📍 Locations: Multiple locations across Australia (including Pullman Bunker Bay Resort) Why Apply? ✅ Gain a Certificate III in Hospitality (with the option to complete a Certificate IV). ✅ Experience real-world training in all major hotel departments. ✅ Tailored career development opportunities within Accor for all graduates. ✅ Full-time, paid roles with exposure to the hospitality industry. Key Dates & Info: 🔑 Applications are open now, closing 17 January 2025 This is an incredible opportunity for anyone passionate about building a career in hospitality. We encourage all Aboriginal candidates in WA to apply and share this with their community, family, and friends. If you’d like more details or want to encourage someone to reach out for a yarn, contact Briony from WAITOC: [email protected] or Alexis from the Pullman Bunker Bay: [email protected] https://lnkd.in/gewEm9d8

WAITOC State Election Plan Released As WA’s leading indigenous tourism organisation, WAITOC seeks continued support to deliver economic opportunities, youth empowerment and cultural preservation in its State Election Plan released today. Industry statistics show that Aboriginal tourism has contributed $63.8 million to the gross state product* and $41 million to gross state income – a soaring increase on previous years – but Aboriginal tourism is more than an economic driver, says WAITOC CEO Robert Taylor. “It represents one of the few opportunities for economic growth, youth empowerment and cultural preservation,” Rob says. “More than an industry, Aboriginal tourism bridges cultures and promotes understanding while empowering youth to embrace their heritage and explore careers in tourism. This sector inspires pride and offers opportunities for Aboriginal communities to share their heritage while creating pathways for sustainable livelihoods.” The WAITOC Election Plan has called for additional funding to create up to 2000 jobs through training and capacity building; developing the Aboriginal Tourism Accelerator and Business Support Hub Programs; supporting eco-tourism certification and initiatives; offering digital marketing and IT training for operators; accessing grants; encouraging community engagement with major tourism projects; and building a state-of-the-art training facility. “By investing $40 million in this plan, the government can ensure robust support for initiatives that empower Aboriginal youth, enabling them to actively participate in preserving and promoting their culture while benefiting economically and socially,” Rob says. “This funding is crucial to fostering a resilient and vibrant Aboriginal tourism industry that drives economic growth, enriches the community, and safeguards cultural heritage for future generations.” Click here to read WAITOC’s Election Plan in full: https://lnkd.in/g7vKTrXB

A new range of tours was launched last week with WAITOC member Beelya Cultural Tours, and supported by City of Armadale. The launch was featured in a story for the local Examiner. The first tour, at Forrestdale Lake covered Aboriginal culture and stories, the wetlands’ abundant food chain and traditional uses for many plants and animals. We look forward to seeing their success!

Congratulations to Johani Mamid and Mabu Buru Tours in Broome for recognition in this feature on standout global Indigenous tourism experiences.

The Wyndham Collective Arts Hub has officially opened its doors, and WAITOC was pleased to have supported them on their journey so far. Led by Bianca Long (Jaru Girl), this hub is a vibrant space for local talent to shine, offering training and employment pathways in art, design, and retail. Community and culture come together to inspire and empower, with stunning artworks and designs to admire and purchase. Debbie Barrington from WAITOC attended the opening, along with some of the contributing artists, Keda Bond from East Kimberley Chamber of Commerce, Temali Howard from Blak Tapas, Jawun secondees, Peter Gregory and Becky from Job Pathways, Michelle from Kimberley Development Commission and Viv from Kununurra Visitor Centre.

WAITOC is pleased to have engaged the Centre for Tourism Research at Edith Cowan University, led by Professor Sam Huang, to undertake the research component of our ‘Ancient Cultures Meet’ project, supported by the National Foundation for Australia-China Relations (NFACR) 澳中基金会 . “This industry-university collaborative research project is a key foundational part of our broader Ancient Cultures Meet project, and is intended to provide the sector with fact-based practical recommendations on how Australian Aboriginal tourism can be more successful in the China market”, said Mr Robert Taylor, CEO of WAITOC. Professor Sam Huang said “ECU is delighted to partner with WAITOC on this project, and are excited to be working with industry on such important research”. Project managed by China expert Mr James Clarke (柯雅各), the report findings are expected to be released in 2025.

WAITOC is delighted to have supported this venture, and the experience of seeing the Kimberley in a way that hasn't been done before is incredible. We encourage everyone to book in to see this at the Western Australian Museum in all their locations.