2012 Welcome to the SkillsDMC (Resources and Infrastructure Industry Skills Council) website.

2011 started with natural disasters across the country. While impacting the resources and infrastructure sectors it is with pride that the industry can look back on its social response to communities affected by the disasters. Yet, despite the devastating effects of these natural disasters, there continues to be high growth experienced as a consequence of global demand for Australia’s resources.

Indications of the size of the growth of the resources and infrastructure industry was highlighted with the release of the Queensland Resources Council and the Chamber of Minerals and Energy Western Australia Growth Outlook reports which clearly signal substantial growth for at least the remainder of this decade. The flow on effects for the civil infrastructure, drilling and extractive industry sectors from the projected mining activity bodes well for Australia’s economic future. In order to maximise these opportunities however, the issues of skills and the availability of those skills at the time and place needed by industry must be met.

2011 was a watershed period with Industry and Government forming a partnership to pursue this goal through the announcement and implementation of the National Workforce Development Fund a, co-funded model with industry at the centre of the process. This initiative is the final part of the jigsaw that combines Industry’s specification of competence through the Resource and Infrastructure Training Package, and the application of the industry endorsed workforce planning and development tool, SkillsMaximiser™. Enterprises are now able to better determine and direct what skills are needed, where and when training should be delivered, what the content should be and what manner delivery should take.

Given this recent recognition of the role industry plays in determining and driving Australia’s workforce environment, it is important to ensure that the gains are not lost. It is critical that enterprises operating in our industry continue to take the lead in workforce planning and development with an ideal outcome being direct funding to enterprises on a recurrent rather than a program basis.

In closing, I would like to thank the SkillsDMC Board; Alternates; and members of the Sector Standing Committees, for their support and leadership. This is a critical time for the Resources and Infrastructure Industry. Ensuring Australians have access to skills development has never been more important for the sustainability of the Australian workforce and economy.

Finally, I would like to recognise all of our stakeholders, in particular the Australian Government and our Industry partners such as Industry Associations; subject matter experts; and SkillsDMC staff who provide invaluable contributions to our work.

Ray Barker, OAM
SkillsDMC
Chair