Jobs and Skills Australia (JSA) and the National Skills Summit
The Albanese government’s first piece of legislation was the establishment of Jobs and Skills Australia a new independent agency responsible for providing advice to Government about current, future and emerging labour market trends and workforce skills and training needs. The JSA replaces the National Skills Commission and has a wider mandate. According to Minister O’Connor,
‘JSA will build on the work started by the National Skills Commission, but with a much broader remit to address issues in the skills and training sector, while forging closer partnerships with key stakeholders. It will also play an active role in workforce planning to look at future trends.’ (August 8th 2022).
An interim Director will be appointed to lead the agency whose emphasis will be on tripartite discussions between state and territory governments, industry, employers, unions and training providers. The National Skills Summit to be held in Canberra on September 1st and 2nd will begin this process and will be followed by consultation with the wider community over the following 12 months and the production of an employment white paper. An issues paper addressing the following topics has been produced for the summit.
- Addressing current skills and labour shortages and accurately anticipating long term skills requirements,
- Unemployment and underemployment,
- Productivity in the context of sustainable wages growth,
- discussions around the gig economy and job security,
- removing barriers to workforce participation particularly for disadvantaged Australians,
- addressing the gender pay and opportunity gap
- skills and labour needs for renewable energy, the digital and care economies and a revival of Australian manufacturing.
- improving and expediting migration settings.
- The balance of funding between private and public training providers
The following discussion papers have been published to support the summit;
- Statement of common interest. (ACTU, ACCI, AIG, BCA) The Australian Council of Trade Unions, Business Council of Australia, Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Australian Industry Group have produced a Statement of Common interest prior to the Jobs and Skills summit advocating for a strengthening of Australia's training sector through a range of measures to reduce barriers to access, increase foundational and digital capability and increase flexibility and diversity of learning models to enhance lifelong workforce development.
- Maintaining full employment and growing productivity (BCA) The Business Council of Australia have published a report advocating for the need to urgently address Australia's productivity concerns as a mechanism to maintain full employment.
- An Economy that works for people (ACTU) The ACTU argues that the objectives of full employment and sustainable wage growth are achievable and should be prioritised.
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CSIRO megatrends report
The Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) has published 'Our Future World' a once in 10 year report that describes seven global megatrends that will impact investment, strategy and policy decisions for government, business, not for profits and the broader Australian Community.
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Productivity commission: Australia's data and digital divide
The productivity commission has published Interim 2 report into a 5 year investigation into Australia's data and digital divide. The report looks at the role that digital programs, resources and applications can play in driving Australia's economic and social capital.
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New Report: Economic and social benefits of organised sport in Western Australia - $10.3 billion per year gross benefit
Whilst we can feel the benefits of participating in sport, SportWest in conjunction with ACIL ALLEN, have produced a report to quantify the social return on investment that occurs annually from organised sport in Western Australia.
Key findings were:
• $10.3 billion per annum in gross benefit
• $1.8 billion of that is attributed to mental health benefits
• with every $1 invested in organised sport it fosters more than $7 return of economic and social benefits
• organised sport provides 5,715 full time jobs for Western Australians
• equivalent of $852.8 million in volunteer hours are offered to organised sport
With around 700,000 participants in WA organised sport, participation also demonstrated beneficial skills such as resilience and youth life skills development.
If you are interested in finding out more about careers and employment in the sports industry please visit FutureNow's Sport and Recreation career profiles
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INDUSTRY NEWS
Supporting tourism, hospitality and events career pathways
FutureNow's Industry Development Manager Melissa Harkins for the Hospitality, Tourism, Travel and Events sectors assisted Tourism WA at the SkillsWest Careers and Employment Expo, at the Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre last week.
Tourism WA hosted the Tourism & Hospitality stand as part of the strategy to raise the profile of tourism and hospitality as a positive career choice and to create a sustainable future workforce for the industry.
Activation areas on the stand showcased some of the broad range of jobs and career opportunities in the industry.
Picture: SkillsWest Career and Employment Expo photobooth
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Regional consultation
FutureNow has consulted with key stakeholders in regional WA with recent visits to the Wheatbelt and South West.
Unique employment and education challenges are experienced regionally, as well as the exciting opportunities involving sport, recreation, tourism, hospitality and the arts.
FutureNow's Industry Development Manager for for the Tourism, Hospitality and Event sectors recently spent a week in the south west consulting with stakeholders in the region. Certainly, the biggest challenge facing these sectors is the shortage of workforce. The lack of long term affordable accommodation and support services such as child care is impacting the regions ability to attract workers. As a result, many operators are having to limit their hours operation and/or menu and service options.
If you would like to contribute to discussions, please contact FutureNow's Industry Development Managers:
Ann-Marie Ryan - Digital Technologies | Creative and Cultural Industries
Melissa Harkins - Hospitality, Events, Tourism and Fast Food
Kelly Perry - Sport, Fitness and Recreation | Racing and Equine
Picture: FutureNow's Industry Development Manager, Ann-Marie Ryan at the Bilya Koort Boodja Cultural Centre in Northam
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SportAUS and Australian Institute of Sport Scholarship: Women Leaders in Sport program
FutureNow's Industry Development Manager for Sport, Fitness and Recreation Kelly Perry won a scholarship for the Women Leaders in Sport program run by SportAUS and the Australian Institute of Sport and has spent the last 7 weeks developing her leadership skills alongside other sporting women leaders across the country.
Picture: FutureNow's Industry Development Manager, Kelly Perry during Karratha regional consultation
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