Industry Skills Australia (ISA), the newly created Jobs and Skills Council for Australia's transport and logistics industries will officially launch in Hobart today.
ISA will be seeking to gather the perspectives of Tasmanian industry to inform the federal government's National Workforce Development Plan, which will be released next year.
Owned and led by industry, ISA's scope covers transport and logistics (road, rail, aviation and maritime), omnichannel logistics, and space transport industries. Its role is to bring together employers, unions, educators, and industry leaders to identify the skills needed by industry and to develop training solutions to meet those needs.
ISA chief executive Paul Walsh said launching in Hobart and listening to Tasmania was an important initial step.
"The job we have been given by the Australian Government is to design solutions in collaboration with industry to help develop an agile and highly-skilled supply chain workforce for the modern world. To succeed in our task we know we must understand the unique needs of industry in smaller states and regional areas," Mr Walsh said.
"Tasmanian industry is at the forefront of so many exciting aspects of this challenge, and we know it's vital to listen to industry about what possible solutions can be put in place to deal with skills bottlenecks and barriers. We also want to better understand some of the great examples of skills innovation and progression happening in Tasmania. We know great ideas can come from anyone and anywhere.
"This week in Hobart is an opportunity to gather industry intelligence so we can reliably represent the views and needs of Tasmanian industry back to the government and other key decision makers."
ISA will spend the coming months seeking to identify industry's current and emerging skills needs across the country. ISA will then build on that information to help create workforce development solutions including training products capable of building high-quality, world-class skills for new and existing workers.
Member for Lyons Brian Mitchell, who will attend the launch today, noted that ISA had important work ahead.
"I want to congratulate Industry Skills Australia for its establishment as the transport and logistics Jobs and Skills Council, which recognises the 30 plus years' of experience the organisation brings to the role," Mr Mitchell said.
"JSCs like Industry Skills Australia will have the privilege and responsibility to help shape and direct the skills sector, providing valuable leadership and advice in a time where we face severe skills shortages."
