News
EBPPP: SkillsDMC Media release
Media Release | 6 April 2010
Resources and Infrastructure Industry takes bite our of $50 million Training Pie
Australia’s mining giants to lead the way for skills development
SkillsDMC, the resources and infrastructure National Industry Skills Council, has been granted $4.9 million to fund training places for existing workers, as part of the Federal Government’s Enterprise Based Productivity Places Program (EBPPP).
The news follows an announcement from the Minister for Education and Employment, Julia Gillard, committing $50 million to the EBPPP – doubling the expected $25 million investment.
Rio Tinto Iron Ore, BHP Billiton Mitsubishi Alliance, Xstrata Coal and Leighton Contractors are among 35 resources and infrastructure companies to benefit from the program.
SkillsDMC’s national network of industry skills advisors will work with enterprises to coordinate and deliver the training places.
Across all industries, the $50 million will fund over 11,000 new training places, affecting more than 2,350 businesses.
“Over 60 different operations across the resources and infrastructure industry that applied to participate in the EBPPP will receive training places,” says SkillsDMC CEO, Des Caulfield.
“It is excellent to see the funding will provide 1,500 training places to strengthen workforce capabilities and ensure this industry remains a positive contributor to the Australian economy,” he says.
The EBPPP is part of the larger Productivity Places Program (PPP) which commenced in 2009. SkillsDMC successfully piloted a final model of the EBPPP with an enterprise from each state and the Northern Territory last year.
Caulfield says initiatives focused on skills development, such as the EBPPP, will ensure enterprises remain productive and can sustain demand from overseas.
“Skills issues have again become critical for this industry as demand for resources; such as gas, coal, iron ore and gold; return to levels not seen since before the global financial crisis.
“With a number of new projects, such as Gorgon LNG, earmarked along the west and east coasts this year, now is the time to develop workforce capabilities to ensure the industry continues to thrive,” says Caulfield.
According to SkillsDMC, workforce development must be industry-demand driven and begin at the enterprise level to identify where and when specific skills are required.
“For too long the mining, drilling, quarrying and civil infrastructure sectors have been drawing from the same diminishing skills pool; leaving organisations on the back-foot.
“Having a snapshot of current workforce needs is critical to providing employers with an early warning system for pinpointing future skills investment. This is particularly true for specialised roles as an ageing workforce draws closer to retirement,” explains Caulfield.
In addition to the EBPPP, SkillsDMC is also represented on the National Resources Sector Employment Taskforce (NRSET). Established in November 2009, the taskforce will help secure up to 70,000 skilled workers across the resources and infrastructure industry.
SkillsDMC chairman, Ray Barker, sits on the taskforce alongside industry stakeholders, Federal and State Government representatives and Skills Australia.
One of the first projects the taskforce will consider is the Gorgon LNG project in Western Australia, which is expected to create approximately 10,000 direct and indirect jobs.
“With the demand for skilled labour expected to increase by 70 per cent over the next decade, the taskforce will consult with industry to develop a workforce plan to address continuing skills needs.
“Both the EBPPP and the taskforce are critical steps to providing a long-term solution to skills issues in Australia. Establishing a talent pipeline, supported by industry, will ensure enterprises have the capability to address skills issues now and in the future,” concludes Des Caulfield.
ENDS
*DEEWR, EBPPP Successful first round enterprises, http://www.deewr.gov.au/Skills/Programs/SkillTraining/ProductivityPlaces/ExistingWorkers/Pages/ForExistingWorkers.aspx
Frances Dwyer
IMPACT Communications
+61 2 9519 5411 / +61 402 382 447
frances@impactcommunications.com.au