Northern Territory Report - April 2010

The Territory Branch, in collaboration with the Department of Education, Employment & Workplace Relations (DEEWR) and Darwin based Industry Solutions Australia (IS Australia), has started a Workforce Development Strategy looking forward to 2015.
The initial stages have started with the circulation of a survey for a 2010 Civil Construction Occupation Review. Not only CCFNT members and relevant Associates are included, but also the Extractive Industries Association and the NT Local Government Association; both affiliates of the branch and important stakeholders in our industry training and up-skilling agenda.
Information provided by the survey will be aggregated to ensure all respondent details remain confidential. And, this aggregated data will support analysis and reporting of civil construction industry requirements, identify priority areas for ongoing skills development: and, lastly, recommend target source pools of trainees and new entrants to the industry; including job seekers, school leavers, indigenous trainees and existing workers.
A number of Territory specific issues have influenced the construction of the survey.
Firstly, the region of operations for contractors has been defined as NT shire council boundaries, as distinct from traditionally, the NT administrative boundary split-up.
This facilitates a rational capture of regional and remote communities encompassed by the relatively new shires, and additionally provides a convenient geographical area wherein to aggregate forward works programs of the Northern Territory and local governments, upon which training and employment in civil construction will be largely reliant.
Secondly, in relation to quantifying current and future skills requirements, we have extended lists of ‘Occupations’ to include all activities involved in operating a civil construction business. For example: included are diesel fitters, administration and finance officers, quality control, environmental and OH&S officers, geologists and materials testing personnel, and professional engineers.
Thirdly, in identifying anticipated vacancies and the extent of skills shortages in the future, we have requested information in respect of vacancies current to July 2010, forecast vacancies into 2012 – an important period in which large scale gas hub infrastructure works are anticipated, and indentifies needs down the track in 2015.
Lastly, having committed to searching forward for data upon which to base a strategic workforce development approach for our industry, the question arises: how do companies project forward and on what future business and infrastructural contexts do they base their considerations on?
Accordingly, survey participants are asked to identify the most likely scenario facing their company and their fields of operations, viz;
•    Current arrangements and project list and existing levels of workforce and skills;
•    Current operations and project list, but a more skilled and developed workforce; and
•    Expanded operations and project list, with improved workforce mix and enhanced range and depth of skills and qualifications.
The final and essential ingredient for realistic assessments of future skills needs by companies, is the future levels of relevant project opportunities and government and private sector driven infrastructure development over the coming five years. This information will be presented to people participating in the survey, on regional or Territory wide basis as is required, and to best inform the difficult assessment of future business environments.
Assistance with the survey and member queries will be managed by David LeFrancois, Employment & Training Broker, Industry Solutions Australia, on 08 8941 0690 or 0429 054 820.