The agreement maps out how students – from preschool to high school – will acquire the skills needed to become planners, surveyors, architects, property valuers, conveyancers and designers – professions critical to addressing South Australia's housing crisis.
As demand for these skills soars across the country, the Malinauskas Labor Government is acting to ensure students can study in their home state and secure local jobs.
The Department for Education will work with State Government built environment professionals to build on relevant curriculum like geography, history, and design and technology, along with exploring additional ways for students to obtain first-hand industry experience.
Key focuses of the new partnership will include:
- Developing student understanding of built environment career opportunities and tertiary education requirements
- Increasing access to high-quality built environment-based teaching and learning activities and resources
- Establishing work experience, professional engagement and trainee programs
- Improving learning environments in schools and preschools by collaborating on well-designed, inclusive education infrastructure
Recently upgraded public schools that received State Government design advice include Adelaide Botanic High School, Adelaide High School, Aldinga High School, Angle Vale High School and Seaton High School.
The Malinauskas Government's industry body group – set up to bring together key stakeholders to build study pathways and tackle the skills shortage – will collaborate on the agreement to further inform the work carried out, which will include Government-led research and school workshops to guide implementation.
Since its establishment, the industry group's advocacy has resulted in Flinders University introducing a new Bachelor of Surveying from next year, as well as TAFE SA expanding its tertiary options with a new planning diploma amid strong demand.
These initiatives coincide with fast-tracking the release of residential land across SA, which will rely on planners and surveyors, to deliver more than 25,000 new homes.
As put by Blair Boyer
We want to have a coordinated approach to develop high-quality education for South Australian students in public schools that draws upon and makes great use of the built environment and the expertise we have in the public sector.
It also aims to build stronger, tangible career opportunities for students that showcases the amazing pathways they could have in this field well into the future.
As put by Nick Champion
We know the demand for skills and knowledge in built environment industries is rapidly increasing amidst the national housing crisis.
This agreement will lay the foundations for young South Australians to take up these professions to shape future communities and support sustainable growth.
We want graduates to work here on the vast housing pipeline we are rolling out across the State.
As put by Surveyor-General of SA Bradley Slape
This partnership will immerse students into the world of the built environment professions, providing real world applications to their learnings.
It will promote an awareness of the professions that may lead to tertiary educated graduates and assist in addressing the skill shortages across our industries.
As put by South Australian Government Architect Kirsteen Mackay
This new partnership will inspire students to explore careers in the built environment and shape the next generation of architects, planners, surveyors, property valuers, conveyancers and designers.
Learning more about the places, structures and systems that determine the shape of our built environment will help build students' understanding of, and investment in, a sustainable and resilient built environment.
