Submission to skills for Victoria’s growing economy

The Minerals Council of Australia (MCA) Victoria Division welcomes the opportunity to make a submission to the review into Victoria’s post-secondary education and training system.

Education and skills are a key policy priority for the resources sector. The Victorian mining industry supports over 88,000 jobs1. This figure continues to grow and includes mining equipment, technology and services reliant on mining.

Mining is a sophisticated and technologically advanced industry that requires a highly skilled and adaptable workforce. A flexible, high quality and responsive training and workforce development system is required to build the minerals workforce of the future.

The future minerals workforce will be more diverse and digitally connected. New capabilities are required to meet workplace changes and it is increasingly necessary to enhance the skills of the existing workforce. Accredited training needs to be responsive to industry needs and the broader education and training landscape should be flexible, varied and sustainable.

The new capabilities and skills require adjustments to the VET landscape. This includes acquisition of broad ranging skills and competencies using both accredited and non-accredited training.

Like many regional industries, mining faces labour pool shortages for trades roles and other skilled workers. There is a lack of vocational education and training (VET) options in parts of regional Victoria where demand for mining jobs is expected to grow. Regional delivery options from trades to mining courses are required to ensure that people living in regional Victoria have the opportunity to gain the skills needed for local industry.

A significant number of reviews, strategies and reports are underway or have been completed in recent years across the education and training policy landscape. Understanding and responding to the challenges identified through these reviews and implementing the associated program and policy recommendations will have economic and social benefits in both the state and national context.

As part of the Australian Government’s Delivering Skills for Today and Tomorrow, the MCA is coordinating the Mining Skills Organisation Pilot (MSOP) on behalf of employers and in conjunction with broader industry. The MCA will be working with key players in the national VET governance structures to advise on and obtain agreement to changes that improve the quality and the extent of training for the sector.

Through MSOP, the mining industry will have the flexibility to develop and test innovative forecasting methods, training offerings and options across the skills pipeline to achieve the responsive pathways and skills acquisition required in the immediate and post COVID-19 employment landscape.

Read the full submission here: