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The last 12 months has seen resources activity across Australia
truly elevate into a key role in the new global economic paradigm.
In this new age of prosperity, we are seeing unprecedented
international investment and Australian mining companies
striking multi-billion dollar deals with some of the largest
international conglomerates.
An ANZ Bank economic report forecasts the resources boom
could create up to 750,000 mining jobs and a further 2.25 million
jobs in associated industries by 2030.
Now is the time for us to develop a range of short, medium and
long-term strategies to realise this potential. This process includes
identifying current challenges and industry shortcomings and
discussing solutions to overcome these.
One of the crucial issues is easing the burden of the immediate
critical skills shortages being experienced in every resources sub-
sector. This serious labour shortage has moved beyond traditional
demand for professional occupations and now extends to demand
for tradespeople and semi-skilled workers.
Enhanced skill development and job readiness programs,
strengthened employment pathways into the resources sector,
improved productivity and competitiveness in the workplace, and
retaining the skills and knowledge for the prosperity of future
resource projects are vitally important.
Like the resource industry we represent, it is in this space
that AMMA is evolving rapidly and seeking new partnerships
and programs to extend our contribution to the sector far beyond
our traditional industrial relations and workforce services. We are
working on several industry initiatives to tackle skills shortages,
address labour supply issues and evolve Australia’s resource
industry into this exciting new age.
Women will play a key role in plugging skills gaps and
evolving the resources workforce into one of the most diverse and
dynamic in the world. Enhancing the attraction and retention of
women workers in the sector is a key objective of AMMA as we
continue rolling out the Australian Women in Resources Alliance
(AWRA) project.
Through our partnership with the Federal Government’s
Critical Skills Investment Fund, AMMA is also continuing to
provide industry with vocational, nationally recognised training
programs. It is imperative that industry and
government provide this type of support and training
to smaller companies that do not always have access
to this level of workforce skills development.
THE PEOPLE PUZZLE
meeting industry workforce demands
MINNA KNIGHT
DIRECTOR OF MEMBER SERVICES
AUSTRALIAN MINES AND METALS ASSOCIATION
The national resource industry’s peak employer group is ramping up
its industry initiatives as complex workforce challenges remain the
biggest obstacle in Australia’s mining sector. In this article Director of
Member Services,MinnaKnight, details how theAustralianMines and
Metals Association (AMMA) is working towards effective solutions.
KCGM IS ONE OF MANY RESOURCE EMPLOYERS CREATING
VAST OPPORTUNITIES FOR AUSTRALIAN WORKERS
ENGAGING WITH FEMALE WORKERS IS A KEY
RECRUITMENT STRATEGY AMONG TODAY’S MINERS
THE MINING SECTOR BOASTS INCREDIBLE EQUIPMENT
BUT REMAINS SHORT ON SKILLED OPERATORS
MINESITE 2011
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