NRSET Recommendation 1: Promoting Workforce Planning and Sharing of Information

Recommendation 1.1 – Workforce impact statements, including sources of labour and training plans, for large projects

This initiative is being lead by theDepartment of Industry, Innovation, Science, Research and Tertiary Education (DIISRTE).

DIISRTE and the Queensland, Western Australian, South Australian and Northern Territory governments are currently working with industry on the development of a common template/best-practice guide for workforce impact statements for new projects. The template and processes will be piloted in 2012-13. The aim is to make practical workforce information on large resources projects available to inform industry, regional, state and national workforce planning and to assist the national training and education system to respond to labour and skills demands as they arise.

Resource companies, engineering procurement and construction organisations and supporting management providers, state and territory governments and the Australian Government will work together on the trial.

Consultation with industry and state and territory governments commenced early this year on the content and structure of a workforce planning template that can be used nationally to assist in articulating labour and skills needs across resource projects. Processes for submitting and updating information in the template will then be piloted with new project proposals in the participating states throughout 2012.  The results of the pilot will be evaluated to inform a national roll-out of a workforce planning framework for major projects.

Recommendation 1.2 – Regional workforce plans to manage the impacts of major resources projects

This initiative is being lead by theDepartment of Regional Australia, Regional Development and Local Government (DoRA) and the Western Australian Department of Training and Workforce Development (DTWD).

DoRA and DTWD are now liaising with states/territories to assist them to prepare Regional Workforce Development Plans that include strategies to manage the impacts of resources projects. These will be informed by the workforce impact statements at Recommendation 1.1 and annual updates at Recommendation 1.3, and will be integrated into Regional Development Australia plans, which will be published by July 2012.

Recommendation 1.3 – Skills Australia to report annually on the status of skills shortages in the resources sector

This initiative is being lead bySkills Australia.

Skills Australia will provide an annual report on the status of skills shortages in the resources sector to the Standing Council for Tertiary Education, Skills and Employment and the Standing Committee on Energy and Resources.The Resources Sector Skills Needs Research Steering Committee (chaired by Skills Australia and includes representatives of industry and the training sector) will provide guidance on the scope and research methodology used to identify skills shortages and undertake commissioned research. 

In July 2011, Skills Australia released its national interim report on the resources sector’s skills needs. This report is the first by Skills Australia in response to the Government’s request that, following on from the work of the National Resources Sector Employment Taskforce (NRSET), that Skills Australia prepare annual reports on the resources sector skill needs.  More details can be found here: http://www.skillsaustralia.gov.au/sector-specific-skill-needs/resource-sector-skills/interim-report/interim-report.html.

Recommendation 1.4 – High priority placed on training as a means of addressing skills needs

This initiative is being lead by theMinerals Council of Australia (MCA), Australian Petroleum Production Exploration Association (APPEA) and Australian Constructors Association (ACA).

Industry will maximise workforce development activity with a focus on closing resources sector skills gaps. Industry peak bodies will advocate for collection of reliable data on industry investment in training, work with CEOs to champion workforce development, and identify and promote aspirational statements that stakeholders agree to and can be measured against in future.

Recommendation 1.5 – Case management approach by state and territory governments to provide asingle point of contact for companies

This initiative is being lead by theSouth Australian Department of Further Education, Employment, Science and Technology (DFEEST).

State and territory governments are working collaboratively to share current practices and identify better practice planning and approvals approaches. Better practice case studies will be collected and published throughout 2012.  South Australia has already implemented a range of changes to simplify the approvals processes for new resource finds and projects.