The Federal Government’s plan to introduce training and migration reforms to tackle skills shortages in the resources sector has received a cautious, but positive welcome by industry groups.
The Federal Government’s plan to introduce training and migration reforms to tackle skills shortages in the resources sector has received a cautious, but positive welcome by industry groups.
The National Resources Sector Employment Taskforce’s 31 recommendations include an adult apprenticeship program, an indigenous employment strategy and opening a $200 million Critical Skills Investment Fund.
Minister for Skills, Jobs and Workplace Relations Senator Chris Evans said funding was being targeted at practical, industry-based solutions that were designed to deliver skilled workers.
“Existing resource sector employees and workers from across Australia will be recruited and on and off the job training will be provided so companies will benefit immediately from a boost to their workforces,” Senator Evans said.
Along with industry, the government will co-fund a $4 million Adult Apprenticeship Project that will give workers with existing skills the opportunity to obtain a full trade qualification. “Workers with real skills will be able to gain trade qualifications in up to 18 months and secure highly paid jobs in the sector,” Senator Evans said.
Australian Petroleum Production & Exploration Association chief executive Belinda Robinson welcomed the Adult Apprenticeship Project.
“It will enable experienced workers to achieve recognition of their existing skills and complete all the competencies needed to acquire a full trade qualification,” Ms Robinson said.
Badge Constructions WA state manager Robert Woodforde has already tackled skills shortages by employing mature-age apprentices.
“We agree with what the government is saying because many experienced workers have some transferable skills. That level of maturity means not only do they have the skills, they already have a reasonably good work ethic, plus they are keen to develop themselves further,” Mr Woodforde said.
Tyler Clark started his mature-age apprenticeship this year, after working for the company for almost four years.
Luke Calder and Cameron Girdwood completed their mature-age apprenticeships and are now the health, safety and environment and temporary site managers for the company.
Mr Woodforde said the company’s mature-age apprentices were on full rates of pay from the start but thinks that they were worth the extra expense.
“We can take 90 per cent of the people and train them up so they can do the job, but what we have more trouble doing is identifying or altering people’s attitudes. By having someone work for you, you can identify all that before you make a serious investment in them,” he said.
The government has called for expressions of interest for the Critical Skills Investment Fund, which provides $200 million in government co‑funding for industry partnerships to undertake projects that provide employment opportunities in critical industry sectors.
Minister for Resources and Energy Martin Ferguson said companies could apply for funding to improve the skills of existing workers, to train adult tradespeople as supervisors and to recruit unemployed job seekers.
“We estimate that the fund will help train 39,000 skilled workers over four years and target areas of critical need for the resources, construction, infrastructure and renewable energy sectors,” Mr Ferguson said.
Peter Brecht, president of the Australian Constructors Association agreed that the fund was an important initiative.
“It represents a real opportunity to test innovative training and employment programs,” Mr Brecht said.
Other recommendations include schemes that aim to increase the number of women and indigenous workers in the resources and construction sectors.
The Equal Opportunity for Women in the Workplace Agency and the Office for Women will work with industry and employees to retain more women in those sectors.
A memorandum of understanding between the government and the Minerals Council of Australia will underpin a new indigenous employment strategy for the Pilbara, where a regional coordinator and five local coordinators will be appointed to increase employment opportunities for indigenous people.
The government will also provide funding for a fly-in-fly-out coordinator in Cairns for two years, who will help connect skilled workers to resources sector employment opportunities across Australia.
Chamber of Minerals and Energy chief executive Reg Howard-Smith said this initiative should be rolled out into WA communities.
“We believe that, given the large FIFO workforce, the FIFO coordinator trial in Cairns, if successful could easily be replicated in towns such as Bunbury, Albany or Geraldton,” Mr Howard-Smith said.
The CME and ACA were pleased by the government’s support for the introduction of Enterprise Migration Agreements for large-scale resources projects, but emphasised the importance of long-term, flexible migration systems.
