The Tasmanian Government has unveiled the HOSPO Health Leaders Program, an initiative designed to address chronic stress and workforce retention challenges plaguing the hospitality sector.
Tourism, Hospitality and Events Minister Jane Howlett joined Hospitality Tasmania to launch the leadership program, which builds on four years of preventative health and wellbeing work through the organisation’s HOSPO Health initiative.
“The HOSPO Health Leaders Program is a sure way to make real, long-term change for individual employees and for businesses in the sector, led by industry leaders, so that workers aren’t leaving hospitality due to stress and burnout,” Minister Howlett said at the launch.
The program represents an evolution of Hospitality Tasmania’s HOSPO Health framework, which has been delivering wellness initiatives since its inception. The new leaders program aims to embed sustainable health and wellbeing practices at the management level across the sector.
A total of 10 Tasmanian operators have been selected through an expression of interest process to pilot the program. The cohort spans large hotels, small taverns, regional properties and suburban pubs across the East Coast, West Coast, Launceston, Hobart and the state’s southern region.
“For four years now Hospitality Tasmania has been delivering the HOSPO Health program, a preventative health and wellbeing initiative that puts in place mechanisms to boost the industry for the long term,” Minister Howlett said. “Now, they are taking the program to the next level.”
The initiative comes as the hospitality industry nationwide continues to grapple with high turnover rates and staffing challenges, with workplace stress and burnout frequently cited as key factors driving workers to leave the sector.
Additional information about the program is available at hospohealth.com.au.
