On Monday 10th October Energy Skills Australia along with other industry stakeholders joined with The Hon. Brendan O’Connor MP – Minister for Training and Skills and the Hon. Member for Corangamite Libby Coker for the Corangamite Jobs and Skills Roundtable. A consultation leading into the employment white paper, which will provide a roadmap for Australia to build a bigger, better-trained and more skilled workforce.
Energy Skills Australia Executive Officer Mark Burgess addressed the roundtable, of the challenges presented to our industry and foremost to the electrotechnology and clean energy sector.
The Powering Australia Plan, led by the Albanese Government will create up to 600,000 jobs by 2030 and reduce carbon emissions by 43% within the same timeframe on a path to Net Zero by 2050. However the workforce challenges associated with the Powering Australia Agenda are also significant.
“Our sector is confronted by technological advancements, increased uptake of small and large-scale renewable energy generation, transmission and distribution networks with ageing infrastructure and the need to rewire the nation as we make progress towards an increasingly electrified nation.” said Mr Burgess.
We need to put industry bodies back in charge of their destiny. Whilst Employer Associations and Unions may not always agree on everything, when it comes to skills and training there is plenty of common ground and what is certain, is that industry must be at the centre of the plan.
“Working together collaboratively to ensure we can deliver outcomes and provide avenues for secure employment, including increased female and indigenous participation and those workers from traditional power generation communities on our way to a recharged economy.”
“Although the challenges seem daunting, the opportunities for workers and business in our industries as we transition to Net Zero are immense.” Said Mr Burgess.
To help achieve the Powering Australia Plan, Energy Skills Australia developed a preliminary paper leading into the Corangamite Jobs and Skills Roundtable with fifteen recommendations on how we can do better as we enter the clean energy revolution.
Energy Skills Australia is committed to supporting industry, business and workers as the nation continues the energy transition.