Skills Strategy

What is the Mining Industry Skills Strategy?

Launched in December 2007 and developed in consultation with the national resources industry, the Skills Strategy identifies the current skills shortage shared nationally. 

Please click here to download your copy of the Skills Strategy

Methodology:
To ensure research validity, the Mining Industry Skills Strategy was researched nationally and verified via more than 300 one-on-one interviews with mining organisations.  The process was then audited and approved by BDO Kendalls.

Outcomes of the Strategy:
Two areas were identified as priorities for action:

• Workforce Planning: in an environment of intensifying skills shortages, it is imperative for the industry to invest in measures to recognise future skills needs and production requirements
• Workforce Development:  developing within the industry a training culture that is conducive to providing  employees with the skills they need to perform their work safely and productively

Each of the above areas was then divided into a series of goals.

To read more about why the industry needs a Skills Strategy, please click here. 

The Strategic Leaders Group was formed in June 2008 to lead the implementation of 6 priority goals identified by the group from the 14 goals within the strategy document as well as help improve the training culture within the sector. 

At the meeting held on 13 June 2008, the Strategic Leaders Group selected the companies who would be responsible for achieving the 6 key goals. 

The Strategic Leaders Group members have nominated themselves and others within their organisations that have the skills required to achieve the goal they are responsible for.  The Leaders Group is made up of:

• Representatives from industry organisations, working in high-level operational and organisational roles to ensure realistic views on training needs are included
• One representative from the Queensland Department of Mines and Energy
• One representative from SkillsTech Australia 

Please click here to see a list of the members of the Strategic Leaders Group.

Six Key Goals:
The Strategic Leaders Group act as stewards for the achievement of six key goals:

1. Creating Clear and Accessible Career Pathways – Mining Industry Skills Centre
   
2. Increase Apprentice Intake – Downer EDI Mining
   
3. Professional Roles – QLD Resources Council
   
4. Supervisor Training – Bowen Basin Skills Formation Strategy/Mining Industry Skills Centre
   
5. Return on Training Investment – Mining Industry Skills Centre
   
6. Alignment of Skills to New Technology – Mining Industry Skills Centre

The Mining Industry Skills Strategy has been presented and accepted by New South Wales, Northern Territory and Western Australian government agencies.

Why does the industry need a Skills Strategy?

• It is widely recognised that there is a critical skills shortage in the national resources industry, now and into the future.  It remains a shared view that this is due to:
  An aging workforce
  
• A ‘brain drain’ as Australian graduates take their skills overseas
  
• Increased production needs
  
• Changing dynamic of the skills needed as new technology is developed; and
  
• Compounded by a changing growth cycle – the industry traditionally had short growth cycles, but we are now experiencing a sustained growth cycle which dramatically impacts workforce planning

Research Projects

One of the strategies to reduce the skills shortage is to undertake a number of research projects.  The first one that is underway is the Attraction and Retention Project.

Career Pathways

The Mining Industry Skills Centre is working with the industry to present clear and defined career pathways for various job roles
More about Career Pathways

Bowen Basin Skills Formation Strategy

The Bowen Basin Skills Formation Strategy is an innovative project funded by the Department of Education and Training in order to address workforce planning and development issues faced by resource industries and communities within the area. The BBSFS contributes to four of the fourteen key goals of the Mining Industry Skills Strategy which continues to work towards developing a holistic approach for the resources industry whilst ensuring the timely development of a skilled and sustainable workforce that meets its needs.
More about Bowen Basin Skills Formation Strategy

Attraction and Retention Project

The project “Attract, Develop & Retain – Initiatives to Sustain a Competitive Workforce”, consists of two research papers that work towards ensuring the mining industry can attract and retain appropriate employees.
More about Attraction and Retention Project