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8 April 2020

CORONAVIRUS UPDATE

Last week, Tourism Australia released its ‘With Love From Aus’ video on social media. The short video is a heartfelt message to all Australians and the rest of the world that our beautiful country and its people will be ready to welcome visitors with open arms when the time is right. While there are many restrictions on travel and tourism right now, people’s appetite for travel hasn’t disappeared. We want everyone to keep dreaming about the unique experiences and beautiful places across Australia that will be waiting for them on the other side of the coronavirus pandemic.

Over the past week, we have seen further social distancing measures put in place and additional support announced by the . Of note, is the creation of the Jobs Hub website to help Australians find work as well as temporary changes to visa arrangements for working holiday makers and those on the Pacific Labour Scheme and Seasonal Worker Program. Key changes include exempting working holiday makers who work in agriculture or food processing from the six- month work limitation and extending visas for those on the Seasonal Worker Programme and the Pacific Labour Scheme. Read more here .

We are also continuing with our webinar series. Last week we were joined by more than 2,000 people for our second webinar with Australia’s Prime Minister, the Hon. MP, along with a panel of representatives from The Treasury, Australian Taxation Office and Services Australia.

Our third webinar will be held (tomorrow) this Thursday 9 April, from 11am to 12pm. I will be joined by Lucy Brogden AM, the Chair of the National Mental Health Commission and Harinder Sidhu, from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade who will give an update on the $1 billion fund announced by the Australian Government in support of the tourism sector. I will also be providing an update on Tourism Australia’s activity in China with our Regional General Manager of North Asia, Andrew Hogg. Register for the webinar here.

Take care and remember to stay home this Easter long weekend.

Phillipa Harrison

KOALAS RELEASED BACK INTO THE WILD

Three groups of koalas will be released back to their original habitats near Port Macquarie this week. There are 26 koalas in total, including seven joeys. Staff at the Port Macquarie Koala Hospital are hopeful that these koalas will go on to create new koala populations in the area. One of the koalas, four-year-old Anwen, was admitted into the Koala Hospital’s intensive care unit with badly burnt arms suffered after the January bushfires. After receiving a lot of love and care from the Koala Hospital, her wounds healed and she was moved to an external rehabilitation unit where she made a full recovery. Staff and volunteers at the Koala Hospital treated 49 injured koalas which were rescued from burnt areas in the Port Macquarie-Hastings region and beyond. The facility’s care and rehabilitation for koalas has also expanded to those coming from Taree, the Blue Mountains and Hawkesbury. Koalas from these regions have now been returned to their original ‘home’ areas for release.

CORONAVIRUS RESOURCES

There are a number of dedicated resources available for businesses to access during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic:

The Australia.gov.au site is regularly updated with the latest coronavirus news and advice from government agencies across Australia. The Business.gov.au site provides a summary and quick links to financial assistance, eligibility and timing for the new government support for Australian businesses. The National Bushfire Recovery Agency has created a set of factsheets that outline the combined Australian Government support available to those affected by bushfires, drought, flood and coronavirus. The Treasury had created a series of factsheets to provide information about the JobKeeper payment for employers, employees and other frequently asked questions. Viator is offering complimentary one-on-one 30-minute product optimising training sessions for tourism businesses. BBH Labs has published a guide with key principles, thinking and data points on marketing in the time of coronavirus.

TOURISM INDUSTRY ACTIVITY

A virtual tour of Australia Tourism Australia activity in Japan No matter where you are in the world, Australia’s virtual The Tourism Australia team in experiences are here to entertain Japan is a hosting a series of and inspire future travellers. Take webinars for Aussie Specialist a virtual tour through some of Agents throughout April. The Australia’s most prestigious art webinars provide State and galleries, experience the iconic Territory updates as well advice Australian outback through a lens, and training on self-drive itineraries or dance around your living room and special interest activities in with the live crescendo of the Australia. Over 250 participants Melbourne Symphony Orchestra in are expected to join the webinars, the background. Take a virtual zoo where they will have the tour or watch a live animal stream opportunity to participate in with Australia’s cutest residents quizzes and be in the running to from the comfort of your couch. win Australian made Jurlique hand products. Seppeltsfield winery to develop Prestigious restaurant group, ‘six star’ hotel in the Barossa Fink, supports local suppliers Valley The Fink restaurant group, which Plans for a new, A$50 million six- includes restaurants such as Quay, star luxury hotel and day spa Bennelong and OTTO, is at Seppeltsfield winery in the supporting small business during Barossa Valley have been lodged coronavirus. Fink sources its fresh with council. If successful, the 12- food from small family run storey ‘Oscar Seppeltsfield’ hotel businesses that offer an incredible will have around 70 rooms, range of restaurant quality including suites and penthouses, produce. While the restaurants in with a private balcony for every the Fink group are unable to cook room, with plans to open in 2022. for their customers directly, they The project is being funded and are supporting these suppliers, driven by a group of South who are doing it tough during Australian business leaders to coronavirus, by promoting them to attract new markets to the region their large customer base. and drive growth in domestic and Suppliers include Two Providores, international visitor economy, while Vic’s Meat, Victor Churchill, Pioik creating an additional 363 Bakery, Joto Fish, Simon Johnson construction jobs and 350 ongoing and Nicholas Seafood. jobs for the region once operational.

Gin Distillers

Australian distillers have been shifting their production focus from spirits, to hand sanitiser. Hand sanitiser, like many other household essentials, has been difficult to access over the past few months due to demand. So far, Manly Spirits Co and Archie Rose in and Adelaide’s Prohibition Liquor Co have each released their own lines of hand sanitisers, which are available to purchase online.

EASTER HOLIDAYS - STAY AT HOME ACTIVITIES

With the coronavirus pandemic prompting early school holidays, many families are wondering how to keep their children occupied and entertained. While heading to your favourite holiday spot might be off the cards for now, there are still many ways families can have an Australian adventure - with free art, games and educational experiences - all whilst staying at home.

Set their Australian spirit Find their inner artist with animal free with Sydney’s iconic Aussie artist Ken Done Taronga Zoo With little artists at home at the Raising a budding zoologist? moment, iconic Australian artist, Through accessible user-friendly Ken Done, is teaching kids about technology, Sydney’s Taronga Zoo art online with free downloadable is helping kids stay connected with resources for parents. Made for their online education programs. primary, high school and senior New to the program is a series of students, let their imagination and ‘Ask An Expert Webcasts’, with a creativity run free by introducing range of sessions available from them to Done’s bold and colourful April to June. This video Australiana art world. Younger conference series will connect students can have a go at T-shirt school students with Taronga’s design, while older kids can experts, where children will be able explore point of view, the use of to ask questions and receive first- different brushstrokes and critical hand information into what it takes thinking. Best known for his to work in a zoo. There’s also the colourful oil and acrylic paintings newly launched Taronga TV for depicting the Sydney Opera House your daily dose of animal antics. and the Great Barrier Reef, Ken Tune in daily for a packed Done’s free resources are schedule of fascinating keeper talks and shows, 24/7 live animal available for download on his streams and behind-the-scenes website. sneak peeks at what the animals (and the keepers) actually get up to when the zoo is closed.

DIY science classes with Say “ahoy” to your new matey: Questacon Australia’s Maritime Museum

Run a variety of experiments and Take an at-home voyage with the activities in your own home with Australian Maritime Museum with a guidance from the experts from vast amount of free online Canberra’s Questacon – resources for research fun. With Australia’s National Science and online games, activity sheets, Technology Centre. Specifically videos and print-out-and-make designed to support primary school templates, kids can play, create, teachers and guardians, and learn and discover with these fun created to inspire curiosity and and informative activities. There is questioning minds, there are 53 even a specially curated selection DIY science videos and a range of of exhibits available online, for kids home resources to choose from. to explore stories about significant With experiments such as how to events and people. Available on make salt crystals and slime, to the Maritime Museum website, how to bottle clouds, head to there's something for everyone, Questacon’s website or YouTube from the novice gardener, junior page for more crafty ideas. scientist to artsy artist-in-the- making!

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