Thousands of Sydneysiders are set to head to regional parts of New South Wales, but who will make their coffees and pour their beers?
Travel to regional areas from Greater Sydney will be allowed from the start of next month.
At the same time, new regulations will come into effect on November 1, meaning workers in non-essential sectors such as entertainment, hospitality and recreation must be fully vaccinated.
Jane Laverty, from the Northern Rivers branch of Business NSW, said some shops and venues had decided to temporarily close their doors to avoid having to manage the vaccination status of both employees and patrons.
Representatives from more than 20 licensed clubs between Tweed and Evans Head met this week to discuss the situation.
Phil Kelly, from the Kingscliff Bowling Club, said many venues were already short of staff.
"We now close early on a Sunday and Monday nights," he said.
"We don't offer any food services on a Sunday and Monday anymore until we can get some staffing levels up, and we don't open now until 11 o'clock."
Rob Smith, from the Twin Towns Services Club at Tweed Heads, said the venue would lose five staff when the new rules came into effect.
He said many workers in the region received an AstraZenca jab, and were now midway through the waiting period for a second dose.
"There's definitely a sting in the tail that is coming to us," Mr Smith said.
"The guys down around Ballina and Byron that are expecting a busy season are quite clear that they will not be able to cope, certainly between November 1 and December 1 when they get their people back."
School-leaver solution
Jane Laverty has urged local school-leavers who are keen to work in hospitality to register as part of a local summer jobs program.
"They don't have to worry about housing, which is one of the other challenges, they're possibly still at home with mum and dad," she said.
"But we really need it, our businesses will really need that support and staffing from November 1."
The Thankful4Farmers group has also launched its New GAP Year program, which encourages school-leavers to take up work in agriculture or hospitality.
The GAP stands for 'go and pick, and 'go and pour'.
Chief executive Kim McDonnell said the group was working with Training Services NSW to deliver free training courses for young people.
"Speaking with a lot of people in regional Australia, we recognise that there is a skilled labour shortage across multiple industries," she said.
"We are able to offer more than 3,000 skill-training courses to young Aussies who want to work in regional and rural NSW.
