Industry tackles workforce shortages head-on

RSA chief executive Paul Daly said the organisation had been launched in response to exponential growth in the industry that has seen rail face chronic skills shortages throughout the sector which are expected to continue well into the next five to 10 years.

According to Daly, the growth in the rail industry was being fuelled by a number of factors including population, public transport, mining and freight movements, and significant state and federal investment in rail.

“RSA will ensure the industry has a skilled and resilient workforce which is capable of sustaining the unparalleled level of growth of the rail industry, now and well into the future,” Daly said.

The organisation’s first priority would see RSA conduct a comprehensive industry-wide audit to identify projected skills deficits and develop a clear picture of the precise mix of skills rail would need in the coming years to ensure the industry could keep pace with the demands for a skilled a ready workforce, Daly said.

The RSA would also develop a national skilling strategy which would develop new initiatives such as mentoring and graduate programs to help fill workforce gaps and provide strong career paths into the rail industry, he added.

RSA would lead industry and government engagement on all aspects of vocational education and training, higher education, specialist rail skills development initiatives, industry attraction and retention strategies as well as workforce planning and compliance.

It would collaborate with other Centres of Excellence, Registered Training Organisations (RTOs), higher education institutions and government to avoid duplication of efforts and roles.

“Stakeholders from across all aspects of the industry including manufacturers, suppliers, unions, associations, RTOs and universities have provided support to develop an industry body focused solely on workforce needs,” Daly said.

“The result will be a more certain future for the rail industry as a whole, and the vital sectors of the Australian economy which rely on rail for their own success.”

The Queensland Government contributed $1.5m in seed funding to help kick start the RSA which would be based in Queensland.

For further information or to find out how you can be a part of RSA, please visit www.rsa.org.au