It has been 12 months since the Tasmanian Engineering Profession Workforce Development Plan was published.

This publication has given Engineers Australia great insight into the challenges facing the Tasmanian industry now and into the future.  Of course, it is particularly timely given that engineering job vacancies have increased by 38.8 percent during the first nine months of 2017 – the highest experienced by any state or territory.

A significant amount of progress has been made against the recommendation of the report.  Only last week, the workforce development advisory group, led by Tim Gardner of Stornoway Construction and consisting of industry (Jacobs, Taswater, Elphinstone Group, Eaglecrest Technologies), education provider (TasTAFE, The University of Tasmania) and government (Department of Education, Skills Tasmania) representatives took time to review what has been achieved.

Importantly, the workforce development advisory group is the first time that key stakeholders of the Tasmanian engineering profession have come together.  Having high level representatives from TasTAFE, The University of Tasmania (including the new University College) and the Department of Education present and discuss workforce development issues directly with engineering employers has been of high value and has enabled a conversation that will ensure that complementarity between the different education system components is built into Engineers Australia’s workforce development initiatives.

Key outcomes of the workforce development plan as overseen by the advisory group over the past year include:

1. Identification of six key skills required for engineers working in a global supply chain and the inclusion of the Engineers Without Borders Challenge program by the University of Tasmania in its first-year design unit to give students exposure to increase cross-cultural awareness while developing skills in collaboration and cooperation.  This program has been mapped against the Stage 1 accreditation competencies to add greater value to universities.  A requirements brief has also been prepared for an e-portfolio that captures this information as well as mapping how this evidence against employer requirements.
2. A scoped project to be submitted for funding via Skills Tasmania to map the career pathway for a Tasmanian engineer, identify training gaps and develop an informative online tool to help employers and aspiring and practising engineers understand available options.
3. A gender equality in engineering strategy for Tasmania resulting in scholarships for female students entering the first year of an engineering qualification, and a scoped project to be submitted for funding addressing the gender equality in engineering in Tasmania. Unfortunately, the low female participation in engineering is exacerbated in Tasmania with only eight percent of engineers being female.
4. The scoping of an Australian School Based Apprenticeship pathway for civil (to university) and electrical power engineering.

Several of these outcomes have potential application across the organisation and are examples of best practice.  On reflection of the discussions, it was stated that the advisory group has already been effective in guiding TasTAFE strategy and has been influential in the workforce planning and development space in Tasmania and offers governance and credibility to industry engagement and related work being undertaken by Skills Tasmania.

Overall, the Advisory group considered that it has developed a clear direction and produced tangible and pragmatic outcomes.  It was agreed that the model offers a coordinated approach with informed evidence to engage with different parts of the education system.  The Advisory group will continue in 2018.