This briefing is in relation to the Inquiry into Skills Shortages in Rural and Regional NSW

This apprise is in relation to the Inquiry into Skills Shortages in Rural and regional NSW. This w solelypaper pass on outline the troubles around the methods used by grooming organisations including TAFE to prize skill needs in rustic and regional NSW and their response. This paper result withal look into what the causes of these problems atomic number 18, who ar the stakeholders and how be they affected and recommendations on solutions. soilThe communities of rude and regional commonwealths recognise that the supply of competent tradespersons in their communities does non meet the current demand and that skill shortages are projected to increase.2In the background of the Riverina Institute Griffith is a medium sized campus that has demo authoritative and sustainable growth over the past five years. Over the past 6 years the campus has experienced a significant increase in facilities and a concomitant increase in full meter and part time teaching staff. To addre ss the growing demand for skilled and well happy staff in the region Griffith campus has consistently amended its course offerings and has, on many an(prenominal) occasions, provided extra courses to meet unexpected demand particularly in the trade welkins. This is a total example of how much tafe applicant meter are increasing in rural areas stock-still non all tafe facilities are able to have the funds to support these numbers much(prenominal) as the above example of Griffith campus.1Futher research in relation to concerns of skills shortages has demonstrated there is a great need to increase the amount of skilful tradespersons in the spring personnels. This also requires the improvement of retention rate during training to hack occupational wastage as measure up tradespersons leave the industry.There is a constitutional need to ensure that their entrust be jobs available in the area of where the training took place. This is to prevent skilled trades race leaving rur al areas for metropolis life.STAKEHOLDER ANALYSIS AND CURRENT SITUATIONIndividuals Without a strong working force the sparing of a rural community is bound to drop. More heap provide lose their jobs and families will have to move to find work.Regional Industries Many regional industries are desperate to expand, but are be hampered by a lack of skilled labour.Councils A current part can be seen Wagga Wagga NSW. 3This area is seen as an agricultural powerhouse creating up to $6.5 billion per year. But the hearing has demonstrated that the regions future growth may be confine by a shortage of workers.Stakeholders in the Riverina opine that a lack of affordable housing and limited training opportunities are significant barriers to the enlisting of workers in rural areas. 3For example one of the countrys largest sensationalistic meat processors, Bartter Enterprises, already employs more than 1,000 people across the region. The company hopes to increase production from 420,00 0 to 750,000 birds per week. But their human resources manager John Davis says that depends on macrocosm able to source workers.The Riverina wine industry has also experienced significant growth, along with it, an increased demand for workers. 3For example, 10 years ago Casella Wines utilize 14 people today however they have a men of 500.Paul Foley is the human resources manager for another of the regions major(ip) wineries, De Bortoli Wines. 3He says the winery will employ an extra 80 people for four months during vintage, but recruitment of those workers is a major problem. While the skill shortage is already first to bite, Leeton Shire Council is looking to the future.General manager of Leeton Shire Council Ray Pluis says local anaesthetic training opportunities are important for retaining young people in regional centers. This is the third public hearing held as part of this New southeast Wales parliamentary inquiry. The inquirys chairman, Labor MLC Tony Catanzeriti, is p laying down suggestions the withdrawal of state presidency services is partly to blame for the difficulties in attracting skilled workers to regional areas.CAUSES seek of deferences and hearings indicates many causes to skills shortages in rural areas. 4For example Peter Louis & Co submission highlights that withdrawal and reduction of services provided by government agencies and public corporations such as medical services, banking facilities and perspective offices has impacted on rural communities with people forced to relocate. This is a valid argument as people will would to live in areas that have necessities such as medical centers and post offices easily available. Not only will people leave an area to get closer to these facilities but also people will not even bother moving to a rural area if it is lacking(p) of such facilities.This also states that the campus of tafe in Illawarra confirmed that whilst TAFE provided many course not all of them were specific to the are a. 4Also the tafe kept no record of students who completed and whether they stayed or left the area. This causes the problem of not allowing statistics to be examined to get an accurate intellectual of the preparational needs in rural areas. This also is an extremely good point and the basis of a strange argument. How can the tafe possibly be to what extent its passing students are having on the rural community if they save no record of what the students achieve after accomplishing their education?5Mr Bill genus Sagittarius in his submission highlights two major causes of unskilled workers in rural areas. The first major cause is the distance that an scholar in the rural areas would have to travel to receive an education. The further the distance the more it will cost the apprentice to travel so therefore becomes another motivator to not bother receiving an education.7Transport has got to be one of the most major causes of skills shortages in rural areas the requirement for ap prentices to travel such large distances to get to college is a major problem. Many rural areas have a very limited access to frequent public captivate.Also transport subsidies are not available to young people if the vehicle they have access to is not in their name and even if they are entitled to it, the amount is pitifully inadequate.Public transport is a very important requirement as there are many dangers of country driving for young untested drivers with early starts, late finishes and long distances. 7These present very real occupational Health and Safety risks.5The second major cause is that once an apprentice receives the education they need they are then able to move to the urban center were they can make more money doing their job. This is a major inducing for skilled workers to leave the rural areas and therefore leaving many jobs in rural areas left open with nobody with the skills to work them. This effects many stakeholders. The owner of the line of products who had spent the last few years training the apprentice must now start the cycle again. The community also suffers as there is one less person providing a service. That is why the government must find efficient ways of keeping skilled workers in rural areas as they are fundamental to the survival of the community.Tafe teachers however in their submission do not believe that these are the major causes of skill shortages in rural areas. 7Their members point out that there are large shortages in areas where pay and conditions are poorest, eg a lot of qualified mechanics arent working in their trade areas, because they can earn more money driving a truck. It is therefore not just a matter of addressing skills shortages but also pay conditions and how vocations are perceived by the public. The issue of public perception of skilled trades people has not been communicate successfully by governments.RECOMMENDATIONSet forth are a number of recommendations as to the problemsCouncils in regional areas should encourage stay local and contract local businesses.The government should provide funding to provide a Rural Work Income Insurance policy to assist tradesmen in situations that they cannot work as are wee-weeing a new business. advertise major employers to establish 12 month contracts, particularly in rural areas. This will jock to increase not only employment but also the economy of the community. Contracts will keep people in the area and as the business grows more jobs become available. Which leads to people moving to the area specifically for work.Encourage training organizations like the Charles Sturt University and Tafes to develop seminars and spend time to educate businesses inwardly rural areas to adopt new business practices,Governments should make sure that rural areas have all the facilities required to encourage population growth in that area. Facilities such as medical centers, post offices and schools, should be located in all rural towns.Government sh ould place more funding into Traineeships. 1Traineeships are ideal for employers who have a specific need for one Trainee in a given area. Traineeships can be offered/conducted in a manakin of ways with the main option taken by employers being an On the Job Traineeship. By providing Funding to Tafe institutions and providing employer incentives to businesss that provide traineeships to unskilled workers will be a major step in reducing the current problem of unskilled workers.6Another recommendation would be the implementation of more courses done done distance correspondence. This allows students in rural areas to do courses from home. Thus distance would no longer be a barrier in the prevention of education for skilled workers.However for the on the job training the Government should divvy up funds to areas in desperate need to provide frequent transport to further encourage people to do studies.