TOURISM VICTORIA ANNUAL REPORT

CULTURAL DIVERSITY, WOMEN,
YOUTH & INDIGENOUS AFFAIRS
CULTURAL DIVERSITY
Tourism Victoria aims to ensure
that individuals from culturally and
linguistically diverse backgrounds have
equal access to programs, services and
initiatives. At the same time, Tourism
Victoria aims to utilise the culturally and
linguistically diverse features of Victorian
society to inform the development of
programs and external campaigns which
benefit Victorians across all regions.
In 2007–08 Tourism Victoria undertook
a number of activities that involved, or
were targeted towards, culturally and
linguistically diverse groups, including:
• screening Tourism Victoria
advertisements on SBS during
prime time in order to reach its
diverse audience
• providing assistance to regional
events that facilitate community
building and which directly and
indirectly benefit diverse ethnic and
cultural groups
• A majority of these events have
a multicultural focus. Events that
received support in 2007–08
included the Australian World Music
Expo, Carnivale Wodonga, National
Celtic Festival and Beethworth
Celtic Festival
• highlighting cultural diversity
in food and wine campaigns.
All of the above activities will continue
in 2008–09.
WOMEN
Tourism Victoria’s Board is 40 per
cent female, 60 per cent of Tourism
Victoria’s staff are female and women
are well represented in regional tourism
organisations.
Women are strongly represented in the
tourism industry and are increasingly
occupying a leadership role. There is
opportunity to further enhance the
role of women in future years.
YOUTH
Tourism is an industry dominated by
young people, particularly in areas
such as hospitality. One of the major
priorities in Respect: the Government’s
Vision for Young People is involving
young people in community building
activities. Tourism is one of the sectors
providing significant employment in
regional Victoria.
Specific initiatives undertaken in
2007–08 included:
• Tourism Victoria employs up to
seven students per year as part of a
40-week work experience program.
This will continue in 2008–09
• Tourism Victoria provides financial
support to Services Skills Victoria to
undertake The Developing Tourism
Business Leaders business skills
development program. Initiatives
in 2008–09 will focus on the
employment and retention of young
people in the industry, as well as a
two month placement with Tourism
Victoria.
• Sponsorship and support for the
Young Tourism Network.
INDIGENOUS AFFAIRS
Tourism Victoria continued its support
for Aboriginal tourism during 2007–08.
Other initiatives included:
• Tourism Victoria continued to
support Aboriginal tourism in
Victoria through Aboriginal Tourism
Victoria (ATV)
• Aboriginal Tourism Victoria, along
with four Aboriginal tourism
businesses, attended the Australian
Tourism Exchange (ATE) with
support from Tourism Victoria.
For the first time at ATE Tourism
Australia, in partnership with the
state tourism bodies, hosted an
interactive Aboriginal Australian
Showcase stand
• the National Indigenous Tourism
Product Manual was launched
in October 2007 and featured
20 businesses from Victoria. The
manual showcases export ready and
market ready businesses which are
Indigenous owned and/or operated
• a domestic media indigenous
familiarisation was hosted in
September 2007. Visiting six
Indigenous businesses from
Melbourne to the Great Ocean Road.
• aboriginal tourism experiences
are currently included in Tourism
Victoria’s International familiarisation
programs with approximately one
in every six tours including an
Aboriginal component
• as part of the Identities Filming
Project six short films featuring
indigenous people, plus welcome to
country footage with two traditional
owners from Melbourne, were
produced and can be viewed on
visitvictoria.com These films share
personal stories and insights of
Indigenous people and their connection
to country and local history
• Tourism Victoria continued to
convene an Aboriginal Tourism
Reference Group to provide advice
on Aboriginal tourism development.
ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
Tourism Victoria is part of the
Department of Innovation, Industry
and Regional Development. The
Department has reported on this
matter in its 2008–09 Annual Report.
64 LEGISLATIVE REQUIREMENTS