Tourism Matters

Molly Dobbins: Connecting Classrooms to Tourism Careers

• Carmen Bold • Episode 26

Share episode

Use Left/Right to seek, Home/End to jump to start or end. Hold shift to jump forward or backward.

0:00 | 47:10

Episode Description

Join Carmen as she speaks with Molly Dobbins, Tourism and Hospitality Gateway to Industry Schools Program Coordinator at the Queensland Tourism Industry Council.

Molly is passionate about empowering the next generation of tourism and hospitality professionals by connecting students, educators and industry. In her role, she works closely with Queensland schools to help students better understand the breadth, depth and opportunity that exists across tourism, hospitality and events.

In this conversation, Carmen and Molly discuss how we can do a much better job of showing young people, and their parents, that tourism is a genuine, rewarding and long-term career path. They also explore the importance of getting students out of the classroom and into real tourism businesses, where they can see and experience the people, pathways and possibilities that exist across the industry.

Molly also shares her own tourism career journey, from studying tourism in high school to working with operators, writing award submissions, contracting with small tourism businesses and now advocating for the next generation through her work with QTIC.

What You’ll Take Away

  • Why tourism is often still seen as a “while you figure life out” job, rather than a long-term career pathway
  • How consistent language could help students, parents and educators better understand tourism career opportunities
  • Why hands-on industry experiences are so important for attracting young people into the sector
  • The role parents play in shaping young people’s perceptions of tourism and hospitality careers
  • How schools and industry can work together to build stronger career pipelines
  • Why attitude, curiosity and willingness to learn still matter so much to tourism operators
  • How foundational workplace skills, including communication, customer service and reliability, can be taught and developed
  • Why entrepreneurship should also be part of the tourism careers conversation

About Molly Dobbins

Molly Dobbins is the Tourism and Hospitality Gateway to Industry Schools Program Coordinator at the Queensland Tourism Industry Council.

Through her work, Molly helps connect Queensland schools with the tourism, hospitality and events industries, supporting students and educators to better understand the career pathways available across the sector.

Having studied tourism herself in high school before going on to complete a double degree in business management and international hotel and tourism management, Molly brings both personal experience and industry insight to her work. Her career has included roles with Tourism Tribe, Fun Over 50 Holidays, award writing, marketing support for small tourism businesses, and now workforce and education advocacy through QTIC.

Molly is passionate about helping young people see tourism as an industry full of purpose, people, passion and possibility.

Connect with Molly on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/molly-dobbins-125b86168/

Connect with Carmen on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carmen-bold/

Organisations Referenced

Episode Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Molly Dobbins
03:01 Molly’s journey into tourism education
05:52 Studying tourism and business during COVID-19
08:53 Building networks and saying yes to opportunities
12:00 Entering the industry during a challenging time
14:55 Entry-level roles and learning how tourism businesses operate
18:00 Molly’s current role connecting schools and industry
21:03 Barriers to young people seeing tourism as a career
22:40 The importance of engaging parents in tourism career conversations
24:29 Wages, awareness and other barriers to tourism careers
26:32 Why tourism needs more consistent career language
28:20 Showing the fun, purpose and possibility of tourism
30:35 Building stronger relationships between education and industry
32:30 Creating hands-on experiences for students
34:25 What operators are saying about young workers
36:50 Teaching foundational workplace skills
40:22 Encouraging entrepreneurship in tourism
42:40 Tourism, small business and the future of the industry

SPEAKER_01

Welcome friends to the Tourism Matters Podcast, where I, Carmen Bold, explore the people, careers, and businesses shaping the tourism industry today. In this week's episode, I have the great pleasure of sitting down with Molly Dobbins. Molly is dedicated to empowering the next generation of leaders and tourism professionals. She's passionate about supporting aspiring individuals as they begin their careers, providing guidance, encouragement, and opportunities for growth in an ever-evolving industry. Throughout her work, she's committed to helping build stronger communities and a brighter future for tourism by nurturing talents, ambitions, and potential of tomorrow's industry leaders. Folks, in this conversation, Molly and I talk about how we can do Folks, in this conversation, you'll hear Molly and I discuss how we can do a much better job of showing young people and their parents that tourism is a genuine, rewarding, and long-term career path. We also chat about the importance of getting students out of the classroom and into real tourism businesses where they can actually see and experience the people, pathways and possibilities that exist across the industry. Folks, please enjoy this episode and I'll see you at the end to give my two Bobs and my key takeaways. I just say um I really love your name, Molly Dobbins. It's such a great name. Does have a good ring to it, doesn't it? Really, really does, Molly Dobbins. I love it. Right, well, before we kick off into a bit of a conversation, I've got a couple of kind of get to know you questions. So me and my audience can familiarise ourselves with Molly Dobbins. I don't know if I'm gonna be able to say just Molly now through the I love it. You are from here forth known as Molly Dobbins and only Molly Dobbins. Perfect. The brand. Right. I'm not gonna do that. Molly. When you're traveling and you're on the airplane, where are you sitting? Aisle seat, window seat, or middle seat?

SPEAKER_03

You know, I love the window seat, but because I've got such broad shoulders, I sort of preferred the aisle. Um just to like get allow people to get in and out and not feel as squished.

SPEAKER_01

You're not getting hit by the cut on the way again.

SPEAKER_03

I mean either way, I'm getting hit either side with broad shoulders. Um, but no, I have a preference for the window. Um, but do you like the aisle just for that quick escape, especially if you're sitting at the front of the airplane?

SPEAKER_01

Okay, fair call. Mix it up a bit. All right, and tell me when you're on holiday and you're at the hotel buffet breakfast, where are you headed? What's going on your plate, Molly? Where do you go at the buffet? I want to know all the details.

SPEAKER_03

I'm a big, big fitness junkie, so I'd be ensuring there's protein carbs on the plate uh and all the healthy fats. So I'd probably go for bacon, eggs, bit of smashed avo and toast, uh, and fuel up for the day. Generally have a big breckie, skip the holiday lunch and then head for dinner.

SPEAKER_01

Oh, alright. All right, healthy Molly Dobbins. Yes. Yeah. You're not being tempted by a Danish or a breakfast donut.

SPEAKER_03

No, I try to save uh the the calories for the alcoholic beverages, I think. Oh yeah, okay, fair cool.

SPEAKER_01

So you've got bacon, eggs, smashed abo, and a margarita. Yeah, perfect. Okay. All right, well, thank you. I I do actually, oftentimes when I ask that question, I don't feel like I know the person any better by the time they get to the end of the answer. Yeah, just confusing. People do some wacky stuff at the buffet breakfast. Um, myself included. Um, so thank you. Right. I would like to go back to young Molly. Um Molly, where are you now and where did you grow up?

SPEAKER_03

Yeah, so I live in Brisbane still, always growing up north side Brisbane. Uh, born and bred parents grew up on the north side of Brisbane, so just naturally followed their footsteps. Um and yeah, today's Molly, of course, uh had the privilege of working as the tourism and hospitality gateway to industry schools program coordinator at the Queensland Tourism Industry Council. So if you told, you know, young Molly 10 years ago that she'd be here, um, it'd be a dream come true.

SPEAKER_01

Wow, okay. Well, let's talk about that. So uh going through high school, you studied tourism, am I remembering that correctly?

SPEAKER_03

Yeah, so in grade, yeah, so I had the funny, I think, I don't know, feel like some most students go through this. Um, but in year 10 did work experience as a physio. In my head, I thought Molly is going to be a physiotherapist. Didn't get the traineeship I wanted, so I was like, oh, what the hell I'll choose tourism. Uh and then I studied in grades 11 and 12 assert two in tourism, uh, which obviously was meant to be, uh, because not a day goes by. I don't regret doing that. I had the most fantastic tourism teacher that just lived and breathed tourism and just really embedded it in us. Um and so yeah, really got to learn that tourism was an industry which I think to this day isn't really talked about or advertised to students properly.

SPEAKER_01

Okay. And when you say, I just want to go a little bit deeper there. When you say what the hell, I'm just gonna do tourism, can you recall like I've spoken to another guest about this who did tourism in high school and and she was literally like my friend was doing it and it fit my timetable. Like it's fit, so that's why she did tourism. Can you remember like what was the what the hell I'm just gonna do tourism part?

SPEAKER_03

Yeah, I think it was my backup option if I didn't get this physio traineeship. Um, but I'd already, you know, I studied hard and the other subject areas. I sort of wanted to ensure I had that one subject area that I was passionate about and would enjoy. And to me, just tourism sounded fun. I didn't really know what it meant, what was involved, but I was like, oh, maybe this might be, you know, the easy class to have a bit of fun with. Um, but I did not know what it entailed. And that's, you know, that was the moment, you know, that has started this whole journey that I'm on.

SPEAKER_01

All right, thank you for uncovering that. Um, all right, let's talk about that journey then. So you finished high school, and then what um what did you go on to do after that, Mum?

SPEAKER_03

Yes, I did. Well, you got good grades, you got it at the time was the OP system. Um, so I could go to the universities I wanted and the courses. So I went on to study at the University of Queensland, uh double bachelor's degree in business management and international hotel and tourism management. Um, so I majored in business management and tourism management. So did that for four years. Um, and throughout that time, I did, you know, interning for tour companies. Um, but the more pivotal one was during that time it was COVID. Uh, so my I essentially did my whole university experience from home, attending classes from home. It wasn't till towards the end that I went to campus. Um, and I found the course really easy. So during studying that particular degree, I actually ended up getting a full-time job um for a company called Tourism Tribe. So did full-time work, full-time studied, and was truly immersed in the world of tourism, even though I was doing it online. Um because it was even a work from home job, too. So it was it was really interesting.

SPEAKER_01

I bet you've got a lot of pajamas and trackies and a lot of trackies. Just the casual bottom half. Um can I just so um regarding your studies, almost that entire degree from home. Yeah, it was crazy, yeah. And so how did that so one of the things that I always um promote if I'm speaking to a young person that's thinking, should I study, should I not? And they're not too sure. Well, one, I don't believe you have to study to start a career in the tourism industry. However, if you choose to, and I did, um one of the major benefits from my perspective is the networking opportunities and the opportunities to get out there and like volunteer for staff and just the industry connection, I guess, that a lot of the tertiary institutes have. Did you did you get still get those opportunities if the majority of your study was during COVID?

SPEAKER_03

A hundred percent. So I suppose a bit of a funny story within this. Um, so going back to high school for a minute, I when did the when I studied the tourism certificate, uh participate in the Queensland Tourism Industries Council Salute to Excellence Awards. Um, so with that, I was fortunate enough to win two years in a row. And really from those winnings, not not about just winning, but within attending those dinners and built a network up from there. Um, and from that, then those some of those relationships then fed into when I was at, you know, UQ and there was lots of networking events despite COVID, might have been online or when it was slowly back in person. So certainly engaged in all those opportunities. But one of the opportunities that I did tap into when at UQ was being able to be a student judge for the Queensland Tourism Awards. Um and that's where I then met Liz Ward, who is CEO and co-founder of Tourism Tribe.

SPEAKER_02

Got it.

SPEAKER_03

Um, so had I not, you know, been engaged at uni and gone to these networking events and you know, really said yes to opportunities, um, I certainly would have not gone down the network or had some of the jobs that I did.

SPEAKER_01

Listen to Molly, everybody. Listen to Molly. Be like Molly. Um get involved. So be like Molly, folks, be like Molly. Get out there and um get involved in things, even if it puts you outside of your comfort zone. And I might add, especially if it puts you outside of your comfort zone, because um we know that you know those connections, especially in our industry, are critical um for for opportunities and and career development. So hats off to you, Molly. Um all right, so four years at university.

SPEAKER_03

Yes, four years. Um yeah, it went by very quickly. Um but yeah, it was, you know, again coming from, you know, working in an industry that is consistently affected from the external challenges, you know, four years of doing it at home, um, and then slowly getting back into it. It was sort of like you were immersed in the world of how we combat as an industry, as a tourism industry, and the way, you know, we deal with external challenges and to experience that while working and studying across those four years was yeah, crazy.

SPEAKER_01

Molly, just on that then, um, and just completely just out of interest, but um was that did that filter into your studies? Was this were you was this being discussed while you were studying and kind of yeah, being pulled apart? Yeah.

SPEAKER_03

Yeah, 100%. I mean, I don't think not, you know, cover it and talk to it. Um, especially from a tourism and a business angle, you know, it didn't just affect our industries if it affected everyone. And you think, you know, for small, medium mum and dad tourism businesses, you looked at the larger impact. And my family has a small business itself that, you know, COVID especially affected, but then as a student, you know, and a worker that got to experience it, um, you know, everyone I think has their own individual experiences on it. Um, but it was certainly that moment, and I don't like this word, I feel like it's a swear word from COVID, but it was that era of resilience. But that's what our tourism is based on, and it was sort of like that test to, you know, how do you come back to this? How as an individual do you, you know, face up to the challenge? But then how can we provide solutions to the industry? Um, and look at it not only from a student perspective, but knowing that once you graduated from here, you were entering industry where you needed to be prepared for anything. Because we will hit from all angles to this day and we'll continue to forever.

SPEAKER_01

Yeah. Oh, what an interesting time. Okay, thank you. I think it's uh going into that. All right, so what so you're working and studying full-time and you complete your degree, and then what does Young Malie go off to do?

SPEAKER_03

Yeah, so graduated uh in 2024. Um, at the time I was then working for a company called Fun Over 50 Holidays. So I was doing tour admin and a bit of everything, getting some experience there. So still in tourism, working for an operator. Um, but from there it was really about understanding what challenge I wanted next. Um, and after graduating, I really identified that the love and passion that I have for the industry I want to share with everyone else. Um, so it was for me then about 12 to 18 months of finding, you know, the next job opportunity that could allow me to tap into that and advocate for the industry.

SPEAKER_01

Can we talk uh just a little bit about what that role was? Because it was obviously somewhat of an entry-level role. So um what was involved in your role with what was the organization called, sorry?

SPEAKER_03

Yeah, so fun over fifty holidays.

SPEAKER_01

Okay.

SPEAKER_03

And that was also a job, another connection I sort of had gone through from being in uni, but then participating in the Queensland Tourism Industry Council mentoring program. So that was that sort of entry-level job. Um, what I could bring to that role was my prior experience from working at Tourism Tribe around that digital marketing, you know, where was the opportunity for them to enhance that. Uh, but then I was also learning, it was a very much a role that, you know, there was the on-road crew and uh in the office crew. So I was in the office crew. Uh, and I was learning about, you know, putting an itinerary together, understanding the logistics of, you know, coordinating between different towns and trying to make, you know, timings right. Um, so there was so much I got to learn and witness from an entry-level perspective. Um, but for me, I was like, oh, I want to do something, be the advocate for industry. And so it was a good role to identify that I really respect the pivotal role and the operations that a small business operator goes to on a day-to-day basis. But that's when I really learned that I really want to be an advocate for the industry and helping small tourism businesses.

SPEAKER_01

Okay, cool. Yeah, that sounds like the type of role that would give you exposure to um some of the more intricate parts of the industry that um I think it's really, really great for anyone starting in the industry to work sort of so to have exposure to the operations of what a a a business operating in the tourism industry looks like and goes through and involves. Yeah. So um how long were you in that role for?

SPEAKER_03

Close to 12 months. Okay. Um so yeah, it was a great experience again. I got to also then be a part of their an award-winning Queensland tourism operator and recognized nationally as well. So I got to be a part of tourism awards writing that process. Wow. Uh so really got to absorb a lot within 12 months, which I was really fortunate to be a part of, um, especially with a small, small team as well.

SPEAKER_01

Yeah, awards submissions, that's a beast of its own. Yeah. Yeah, sure is. All right, so where did you head after that, Molly? What was the next opportunity that came your way?

SPEAKER_03

Yeah, so after uh wrapping up with Fun Over 50 holidays, I then uh went out on my own for a bit. So I did some contracting work, um, doing marketing like social media posts and strategy for small tourism business operators. Um, I also w worked on tourism awards writing as well and was really fortunate enough uh to sort of hit my first gold uh with Abbey Medieval Festival on both a state and national level. So really got to, you know, I love writing. Um, and then you match that with a passion for tourism operators. So I did a lot of yeah, contract writing um for the awards and working with operators. Uh, and then within that, that's where, you know, I spoke to before, I was looking for that next opportunity to connect uh with the next generation and be that advocate on for for the industry. So while I was doing my, you know, working for myself for a bit, then the role that I'm in now with QTIP popped up.

SPEAKER_01

Okay. All right, so talk to me about your current role because it's very interesting.

SPEAKER_03

Yeah, so I work uh yeah, as the Gateway to Industry Schools program coordinator, focusing on the tourism hospitality remit. Um, so this program is proudly funded uh by the Queensland government, so that it comes under the Department of Trade, Employment and Training. Uh, and it's a fantastic program that allows to work with Queensland schools that are delivering, you know, either the tourism hospitality events, commercial cookery certificates, or applied subjects, um, but really working with the schools closely to provide uh that connection to industry. So what I like to label as connecting classrooms uh to careers, and you know, providing students and teachers that opportunity to get out of the classroom into industry and showcase, you know, the connections and the network and the breadth and depth and diversity this industry has to offer and how we can support that pipeline for young people, you know, studying those certificates in school to continue that journey post-school. Uh so yeah, working with educators, students, industry, really, you know, connecting the the dots uh on that.

SPEAKER_01

There are a lot of dots to be connected.

SPEAKER_03

Yeah, especially in our industry when it's this big umbrella with so many, you know, avenues and opportunities. Um so it's it's an exciting role that brings a very big challenge when we look at workforce, especially.

SPEAKER_01

Yeah. All right. So um can we sort of take a little bit of a deep dive there? Because as we were briefly discussing before I hit record, you know, uh, this is um an issue that comes up um in so many conversations that I have with industry and operators um around what are the barriers between a young person um not sh not knowing what they want to do with their career and then um, you know, getting them to consider the tourism and travel industries as like a real and rewarding and viable career path. Can have you got any insights there on sort of what you're actually seeing in schools and in classrooms?

SPEAKER_03

Yeah, I mean, the where to start. Um it's there's so many barriers, but I think the core of the issue is how, you know, both sides of industry and the education system, what is there's no real toolkit or outline as to the language and how we're conveying tourism and hospitality and events as a as a career, as opposed to, you know, I think there's a big stigma that's seen on students and parents' behalf, that it's that industry or job you do while you're studying or while you're trying to figure life out, like they don't understand that there is longevity across the industry that but has both two sides of linear and nonlinear journeys. Um, so I think you know, it starts with that. What's the language? What are the conversations we're having in connecting industry and education to say to students, you know, have you considered, you know, if they love marketing, have you considered destination marketing for a tourism operator? Um, or you know, regional tourism operation? Have like hotels provide such linear journeys from entry-level jobs to working your way up. Uh, it's that conversation piece of how together do we solve and use come to terms with using the right terminology and the right idealization that this industry has so much to offer, and especially for young people.

SPEAKER_01

Yeah. As getting in front of parents as well. Um, you know, equally as important as students? Do you think?

SPEAKER_03

100%. That's, you know, coming through my delivery with working and getting into schools and then getting students even out of the classroom into industry. I find it's the parents we need a better connect with. How do we get in front of parents and have the conversation around, you know, tourism is just as important industry and provides many opportunities as, you know, your law or being a doctor or can you know trades? It provides just as much opportunity and pathways. It's not, it's not a bad industry to be a part of. It's so it's much greater than yourself. Um, so it's, I think you 100%. It's getting in front of the parents, and then how do we get parents and students together to convey this message that there's opportunity and pathways for them? And typically I would say, you know, most of the students pick tourism hospitality as a subject, either like I did, that it was, you know, just there, it sounds fun, or oh, it's on my line, I'll just pick that. Um, let's give it a little bit more purpose, let's give it a little bit more intention. You know, why are you choosing tourism or hospitality? Is this your supporting that doing the work in school that you just want to go and get a job straight away, or do you then want to take that on to delving into the industry a little bit more in university or tertiary studies? Um, so yeah, it's yeah, going greater. What are the resources?

SPEAKER_01

Yeah. Um, have you identified um what like what any of the barriers are? Like, is it salary expectations? You know, is it just purely that it students and parents don't know what that their a career even exists in tourism? Like, have you seen is there any sort of standouts for you?

SPEAKER_03

Some of the core barriers um and really clear examples are one, that general communication education piece to parents and students really understanding what tourism hospitality is. Two, it is the wages. Fortunately, I think you know, young people are in a certain mindset that, oh, I'm gonna go study this and then I'm gonna go straight into a manager's level and earn $100,000. Um, that's not the case in any industry. You've got to start and work your way up somewhere. And what I say to students when they go, Oh, but the wages aren't great in your industry, and I go, Well, once you find that thing you love about the industry and pursue it and you're really good at it, the money will come with it in time. It's like any other industry. Um so those are some of the the core, probably the two main barriers I identify um when talking to students.

SPEAKER_01

Yeah. Yeah, it's it's interesting. Oh, my mind could go in a hundred different directions there, but um I'm really interested in in because you've mentioned it a couple of times as we've spoken, is the language around tourism careers and kind of having a uniform language that um, you know, operators or industry can kind of refer to. Have you got anything further to sort of add to that? Um, because I hadn't thought about this at all before I spoke to you last week about the terminology and the language that we're using. Um have you got anything else to add to that?

SPEAKER_03

Yeah, I mean, you know, as an industry, I think we've all got the North Star, right? We need a workforce now for tomorrow, um, especially in Queensland, when we look to the Brisbane 2032 Olympics, uh, we're gonna need that workforce now, during and post. Um, so when I say, you know, the language and having this uniformed, you know, approach to how we're talking to young people about careers in in tourism, uh, I think, you know, what we need to come together with is identifying, you know, a little bit of a marketing toolkit that we can get across to all Queensland schools and maybe it's something, a concept that can go nationally to all states. I'm sure all states, not just Queensland, have the same problem and experience with how tourism is conveyed in the classroom and being spoken to about. So, what is like a marketing tool that we can come together and have a bit of a call to action, a campaign around it? Come join the crew. Uh, you know, there's opportunity for you at every every doorstep within our industry. And what's so beautiful about our industry that I think needs to be a part of this language is that we're an industry that there's not many barriers to entry. Uh, yes, there's more those niche jobs that might require a certificate or a university degree. Uh, but other than that, you know, you can start tomorrow in the industry. There's no waiting or holding off. It's an immediate start. So I think, you know, creating a unified toolkit that outlines, you know, using similar terminology and promo videos and photos, how we, you know, put spotlighting the industry in the classrooms.

SPEAKER_01

Yeah, and I think um I think sometimes we uh we're not the greatest at really showing um or illustrating like how fun our industry is. I should think of a better word than fun, but it is, it's fun. Like it doesn't matter what cog in the wheel you are, um, whether that be finance or HR or I don't know, people and culture or marketing. Like at the end of the day, the product is travel or experiences, and you know, sometimes once in a lifetime experiences, bucketless experiences for people. And um, just by nature of that being our product, like not every day is perfect and it's not all sunshine and rainbows, but even on the imperfect days, it's still the problems we're solving are still around travel and the opportunities that we have as an industry to do fun things and meet other great and fun people, um, is for me number one reason that I have been in the industry so long.

SPEAKER_03

Um yeah, I couldn't agree more. And I think as well, like it's such an industry that gives you purpose. Like, there's not many industries that you can turn up to work every day, and every day is a bit different. Like there's a new challenge in no matter what role you're in, whether you're in people and culture, you're in finance, or you're a tour guide. Like, no day's the same in tourism. And even in working in a bit of an like an office job, so to speak, no day is the same for me either. Uh, so it's people, it's purpose, and it's passion at the end of the day. And not many areas can cater to those three Ps.

SPEAKER_01

The three Ps definitely needs to go on the um shared language list. Fun and the three Ps. Molly's three Ps of tourism. Um in your role, do you have much exposure to like industry? So I know obviously you're spending a lot of time in schools and with educational institutes, but do you are you very industry-facing?

SPEAKER_03

Yes, very much so. Um, so when I first came into the role, I really saw an opportunity to, you know, the Gateway program has such potential to cater for this pipeline of getting young people into the industry and how we can support them at every point. Um, we're pretty lucky that there's, you know, I think a pro nearly a program for every sort of stage in someone's life in the tourism industry to support their growth both personally and professionally. Um so I came on board the Soul Gateway. I was a gateway student, you know, I went to a gateway school. I understood the, understand the value. Um, so for me, it was about, you know, how can we better build relationships with educators and students and industry? Um, so a lot of the delivery I've been doing over the last 10 months is getting students out of the classroom and into industry and on to that point working with industry to curate, you know, unique hands-on experiences that provide students exposure to all aspects of a tourism operation. Um, so for example, you know, the one of the first ones that I did was working with a fantastic business on the Gold Coast Paradise Resort Gold Coast. So they're a family-friendly water, you know, they've got a water park, a resort, and it's going beyond the site to us. So we took uh hospitality students there for a day immersion where we did a site tour, but then we did, you know, mop tail making, pizza making, bed making competition. Um surprising the boys were the best at that. Could have never picked that. Um, but it provided going more than just looking at a hotel. They got to understand that it's not just front desk or just not just concierge, there's marketing, there's finance, HR, the kitchen, food and bev, housekeeping. And through that, we ended up being able to place five students in a uh an apprenticeship or a traineeship. So when you look at, you know, those immersions and getting students out, you know, it's that spark and click to go, this sounds really fun.

SPEAKER_01

Oh wow, that's amazing. Apprenticeships or traineeships. I'm glad to hear that um that is a thing in Queensland because um I struggle to find them uh because I think that they are so invaluable. Um and such an amazing, probably I I can't think of a better way to get a lifelong sort of career buy-in from a young person or any person um that that wants to consider the tourism industry than to do a traineeship or an apprenticeship where you get to move, you know, throughout an organization and throughout their departments to experience all the facets of a tourism business. I'm very pleased to hear that that exists.

SPEAKER_03

Some I really encourage, you know, the students that I work with, you know, especially when talking to year 10 students when they're looking at, you know, what subjects or what do I want to do for 11 and 12? I'm like, you've got two, two or three years now to lock down and utilize the time while you're in school to do, you know, a certificate or a traineeship and start your career now. Why hold off till you finish year 12 when you can begin it tomorrow? Um so it's a fantastic opportunity.

SPEAKER_01

Yeah, it's yeah, that's fabulous. Um, I derailed us a little bit there. So um when you're out with operators, um what are you hearing from their side uh in terms of uh, you know, careers and and workforce and uh anything remotely associated?

SPEAKER_03

Yeah, I suppose when you're talking to operators and it's probably a very general stigma is around the younger generation, you know, you've got these, you know, social media phones, you know, there there probably is a bit of a work to be done with students around those foundational skills and customer service and being at work on time, time management, organization skills. So from a you know, young generation perspective, it's like, oh, if I'm gonna bring them on for work experience or a traineeship, like are they gonna turn up? Um, so for you know, operators, they're going, well, you know, especially the mum and dad businesses that might want to bring a small team on around building that legacy piece. Uh how, you know, how do we approach young people and embed skills um and bring them on to ensure that they have a good attitude and that they're representing the business and doing it just on a on the customer forefront. So, you know, in talking to industry, you know, the majority of the messaging is, you know, these young people are turning up with a good attitude. They've got, you know, passion and a willingness to learn. The skills and everything else can be taught with it on the job.

SPEAKER_02

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03

Um, so now it's, you know, our work to go, well, how do we, you know, work with young people to teach the foundational, the, the core skills to having a job and being responsible. Um, because, you know, operators would love to invest in traineeships and apprenticeships, uh, but it's just having that reassurance that, you know, are these young people committed? Are they there? And it's, you know, teaching these young adults of, you know, the day-to-day life of having a job and the realities. Um, so in in the school perspective, that's what we're hearing. But I think it goes across the board with, you know, whether they're students, job seekers, career changes, you know, our industry, like I said before, there's no barriers to entry. As long as you turn up with a good attitude, you're determined, uh, the skills and the learning can come with the jobs.

SPEAKER_01

Yeah. Yeah. And I think from um my experience talking to operators, I don't know if I've ever met one that has said to me, uh, I'm not prepared to train someone on the job if they have the right attitude. Obviously, role-dependent, some roles will require, you know, some particular skill set or experience. But by and large, um, you know, if someone has the right attitude, you're absolutely right. They can learn on the job the skills required. And in terms of what you're saying there about preparing young people for the workforce, um that that makes me feel pretty good. Because to me, that seems kind of like, and I might be wrong here, but I guess like low-hanging fruit, all young people, regardless of what industry, if you want to transition from being a student to an employee or even an entrepreneur and running your own business, those skills are across the board. So um that I I feel like that that's I was gonna say tacklable. Is that a word? We'll go with that. Tackleable.

SPEAKER_03

Yeah. And it's something when I work with industry to curate, you know, uh immersions for students, you know, we try to align the activities that it's complementing and touching on these foundational skills, you know, the importance of customer service, uh, you know, and then you know, unpacking that with tonality, body language. Um it is so important that we're not just exposing them to industry and roles, but understanding the core skills that are required on just a daily basis.

SPEAKER_01

And even I guess that um I guess lends itself to the point that um, you know, not not everyone will inherently just have those skills. I I think also business owners, employers, um maybe just need to appreciate that some people will require training. They need to learn those skills and learn why your tone or your body language or the um the experience that you provide the customer is critical to the doors being open again tomorrow and you continuing to have a job. And if you don't um necessarily have those skills as a 17 or an 18 or whatever age you are, um that's okay. We can help you. You you we can we can teach you. But I think also that underlying buy-in um into an understanding as to why the skills are important is um a critical piece.

SPEAKER_03

Percent. And I think, you know, as no matter what industry, like you've got to understand as an operator, as a business, like some of these kids aren't fortunate enough to be in a household where they're taught these skills. So there needs to be that little bit of understanding that, you know, bring them on and mentor them. Um, you know, they might be the unicorn that might be running your business one day. Uh so it's having that little bit of faith and on both sides, uh, that growth mindset and that openness to go, you know, this kid deserves a shot. Um, this industry is for them.

SPEAKER_01

And do you have any exposure than what you do in terms of, as we spoke about this when we chatted last week about entrepreneurship and business ownership or um the desire in for that in a young person? Is that anywhere in the realm of what you do?

SPEAKER_03

Yeah, it's something that is slowly progressing, um, but I would love to do more of. And I think, you know, you look at tourism operators, and the majority of these operators, they are entrepreneurs, they started purely out of passion, purely for something they love. Um, I would say, you know, yes, money and earning being a profitable bit profitable business is imperative uh to being open, but a lot of our tourism operators open because they have a love of people, they've got a passion for the industry, uh, and that's their purpose, their why for getting out of bed each day. And I think, you know, you look across the board, not just in as t from a tourism lens, uh, but you see a lot of young kids starting their own business, like as a bit of a side hustle, social media accounts, and that's certainly an aspect that is tourism. I think, you know, our industry is built on small and small and medium tourism operations. Um, so seeing, you know, young people and encouraging entrepreneurship and bringing new ideas to the table, we need that coming into the future. Um, so you know, how how do we start that conversation that entrepreneurship is also a pathway?

SPEAKER_01

Yeah, yeah, absolutely. And we definitely, you're right, we definitely do need um a continual pipeline of of entrepreneurs in the industry. And um yeah, I just think that uh I haven't come across any sort of real kind of dedication from any um national or state tourism organization in kind of um planting that seed of um, you know, owning or operating uh your own tourism business, um, which I think is a little bit of a gap. Um, because I mean there's all sorts of reasons, but you know, we've got an aging um population that not always has a plan for um the succession of their business, and you know that at some point that business may need to be sold if it's not going to be taken over. And who are we selling to? And who are the ones that are, you know, keeping up with the what the modern traveller needs and have their finger on the pulse, and anyway, I could go on forever.

SPEAKER_03

But um, yeah, I it's like, you know, I think you look from even an operator lens, and it's the same for any sort of small business in any other industry. It's you know, you're getting consistent emails from various bodies and around news, information, trends. It's where's that one and all source for entrepreneurs to go, well, this is the news, this is the trends, this is what we need to be doing. But then in bringing the younger generation is how can we bring it into more of a collaborative or in building that legacy, you know, on a high level, um, to then build that for small tourism businesses and small businesses in general. Yeah. Because otherwise we're gonna lose that. Um it is, yeah.

SPEAKER_01

And I've spoken about this before in other podcast episodes just about the ecosystem that is the tourism industry, and that we all need uh businesses of all shapes and sizes um to um, you know, create a destination that um tourists choose when they're got the entire world in front of them and they're spinning the globe and putting their finger on where are we going to go? Or, you know, why why choose Brisbane, why choose Margaret River, why choose Queenstown, you know, and it's that ecosystem of accessibility, accommodation, you know, hire cars, activities to do, you know, all of it, food and beverage, you know, that all has to come together to to make the system work.

SPEAKER_03

Yeah, 100%. It's you know, I always say, you know, tourism, you know, affects every industry, whether directly or indirectly, like in Queensland alone, the industry in both directly and indirectly supports 277,000 jobs. Yeah. Um, and we need more people, both, you know, from an indirect perspective, where either you're thinking about, you know, construction and building for the Olympics or ensuring that, you know, you look at the events sector generally, and that's in dire straits of needing people. Um so, you know, everyone's feeling it everywhere, but it's that conversation of, you know, how how do we have that opening for young people to also bring that entrepreneurship mindset to the table and bring their new ideas and don't hold back? How can we build that confidence piece as well?

SPEAKER_01

Yeah, yeah. I love it. I love everything you're doing, Molly Dobbins. I could sit here and talk to you for a very long time, but um, the listeners might get to be yelling for me to get off my soapbox. So I'm gonna get off my soapbox now. But um, before we wrap things up, do you have anything that you would like to say before we finish up, whether that's some wisdom from Molly or, you know, advice to your younger self or younger people, or you take the floor.

SPEAKER_03

Yeah, so I think, you know, it's such a privilege to work with the next generation of tourism hospitality professionals. Um, as someone that's in a very privileged position to, you know, consistently be learning the golden nuggets of the industry and the golden stories from seasoned professionals. Why just say to young people, say, or anyone, say yes to the opportunities that cross your desk. Uh, live life with no regrets. And this is an industry that welcomes, you know, failing. You're allowed to fail because how do you learn from your mistakes or learn where you want to go next and find your passion? Um, so just give it a go. I think that's, you know, this industry is based off giving it a go. Um, and that's the Aussie way as well.

SPEAKER_01

All right. Well, thank you so much. I will link to your LinkedIn in the show notes. If um anyone would like to connect with Molly, I'm sure she would love to hear from you. And um, once again, Molly, thank you for being here with me today. And thank you for everything you do. Thank you for your service to the tourism industry because um it's very, very important work.

SPEAKER_03

No, thank you so much for having me on.

SPEAKER_01

You're so welcome. Thanks, Molly.

SPEAKER_03

Thanks, Gam. Thanks.

SPEAKER_01

Huge thank you to Molly for sitting down and speaking with me on the podcast this week. Um that girl's got a bright future in front of her. I can see it she's doing such great work. And and thank you uh once again, Molly. I thought it was super interesting how Molly raised the point about the language that we use when we're talking about tourism careers. And as you heard me say, this is something that I hadn't really thought about before. Um, I guess if we want young people, parents, and educators to see tourism as the real long-term and rewarding career that it is, then uh I guess we probably need to be much more consistent and much more intentional in how we describe the opportunities and and label the opportunities available across the industry. So I shall take this fodder for thought with me into my future work. So thank you once again, Molly. Um, folks, if you enjoyed this episode, as always, please download, follow, share, like, all of the above. Love to connect with you on LinkedIn, or you can subscribe to my newsletter at my website, carmanbold.com. Uh, if you think you would be a great guest for the podcast or you know somebody that would, then please get in touch with me. And until next time, folks, let's all remember that tourism matters. I'll see you next week. Thanks for listening.