Queensland Encourages Grey Nomads To Plug Skills Gaps

Tourism Queensland, Caravanning Queensland and www.workaboutaustralia.com.au have collaborated to provide grey nomads with easy access to information on working holidays in Queensland in the new Caravan and Touring Directory, 2008.

Research on the potential of Grey Nomads to help with the current skills shortage showed 56.7 percent of those interviewed were interested in undertaking paid work of some form while travelling and over half were also interested in some form of voluntary work while travelling.

Retirees were particularly interested in finding paid or volunteer work along major tourist routes such as

• The Pacific Way
• Capricorn Hwy
• Warrego Hwy
• Matilda Hwy

Queensland Minister Desley Boyle spoke about tapping into the at the popularity of grey nomad caravanning holidays to help ease skill shortages at the launch of Directory. She said an estimated 913,000 visitors stayed in a Queensland caravan park or camp ground over the past year which is a four percent annual increase and…

“Travellers are finding skills they have had for years are suddenly in demand in a regional towns, turning a stay of weeks into months.

Backpackers have been taking working holidays in Queensland for years so there’s no reason why retired Australians can’t do the same thing.

Caravanning grey nomads play an extremely important role in regional Queensland’s tourism industry travelling on average for 6 months or more during a single trip…

These people are usually recently retired and come from professional or trade backgrounds – what we say to them is stay longer in regions where their skills are needed…

At the moment we are seeing particularly high demand for skilled labour in flood affected regions.

It is a great time for travelling grey nomads to use their skills in these areas while also funding their highway adventures.”

About The 2008 Directory

The Directory contains regional tourism information, detailed RACQ maps, main Queensland themed routes and trip distances and lots of travelling tips.

You can pick up a free copy at:

* Caravan Parks – Queensland
* Caravan Parks – Northern NSW
* Tourist Information Centres
* Caravan, RV & Camping Outlets

OR

information and park listings can be downloaded and printed direct from the website.
site.

If you are unable to obtain a copy, you can call 07 3862 1833 and a copy will be posted out.

I wonder if other states are providing this sort of info? Seems like a good idea.