Govt's $350k to research engineer stable

A federal government funding initiative whereby $350,000 will be used for two new research projects to boost the nation's engineering workforce has been welcomed by the nation's peak body for the engineering profession.

Engineers Australia welcomed the funding for urgent research that will underpin a range of initiatives to confront Australia's growing shortage of engineering professionals made by the Deputy Prime Minister, Julia Gillard this afternoon at Barrow Island.

Ms Gillard said the projects would be conducted by Australian National Engineering Taskforce (ANET) to assist both the education sector and the industry to combat engineering shortages.

The Australian National Engineering Taskforce is a partnership between the Association of Professional Engineers, Scientists and Managers Australia, Engineers Australia, Consult Australia, the Australian Council of Engineering Deans and the Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering.

The first project will study demand and supply of engineering skills while the second will research pathways for engineering education in the vocational education and training and university sectors.

Engineers Australia chief executive, Peter Taylor has been calling for more action to counter the inertia to increase the professional engineering skills base that is now looming as a huge constraint on further economic development of Australia.

"The requirements for engineering expertise are only set to increase as more key infrastructure, resource and nation building projects get underway," he said in a statement.

"The announcement by the Federal Government to provide funding through the Australian National Engineering Taskforce to get on with the job of compiling the facts to face-up to the increasingly dire outlook for building professional engineering skills capacity is most welcome.

"Engineers Australia's own research has pointed to a significant gap in the number of graduating engineers relative to the level needed for the current construction and other engineering activity being undertaken in the Australian economy.

"While migration programs and uncapped university places for engineering are part of the solution, longer-term strategies are needed to ensure that all school students gain a broad base in the enabling sciences to take-up the opportunity to become an engineer.

"The number of students studying advanced maths and science needs to be increased, particularly female students who are severely underrepresented compared to other professions.

"In joining with our four partner organisations through the Australian National Engineering Taskforce (ANET), and now with the strong backing for ANET by the Federal Government, there is some reassurance that actions will be fast-tracked to deliver the strong and extensive professional engineering skills base that Australia must have for the future."

Ms Gillard said the taskforce would build on recent increases in engineering university applications to help protect the industry from future skills shortages.

Another focus of the study will be the participation of women and students from low SES backgrounds, both of which are currently under-represented in the industry.

The taskforce will also look at ways to improve retention rates to provide more stability for employers within the sector.

The Commonwealth said the two projects will analyse supply and demand by key industries, detail issues hindering the industry and suggest changes for improved workforce development, identify and promote existing solutions that are working well, and identify policies for workforce development through education, professional development, HR management and migration.

The taskforce will carry out the research projects over the course of this year.

A report on the findings will be finalised by the end of 2010.

Full announcements below:

Engineers Australia Media Release
Tuesday 30 March 2010

Federal funding for facts on the engineering skills shortage

Engineers Australia, the peak body for the engineering profession, has welcomed today's announcement by the Deputy Prime Minister, the Hon Julia Gillard, of Federal Government funding for urgent research that will underpin a range of initiatives to confront Australia's growing shortage of engineering professionals.

The Chief Executive of Engineers Australia, Peter Taylor, said, "For many years Engineers Australia has been calling for more action to counter the inertia to increase the professional engineering skills base that is now looming as a huge constraint on further economic development of Australia.

"The requirements for engineering expertise are only set to increase as more key infrastructure, resource and nation building projects get underway.

"The announcement by the Federal Government to provide funding through the Australian National Engineering Taskforce to get on with the job of compiling the facts to face-up to the increasingly dire outlook for building professional engineering skills capacity is most welcome.

"Engineers Australia's own research has pointed to a significant gap in the number of graduating engineers relative to the level needed for the current construction and other engineering activity being undertaken in the Australian economy.

"While migration programs and uncapped university places for engineering are part of the solution, longer-term strategies are needed to ensure that all school students gain a broad base in the enabling sciences to take-up the opportunity to become an engineer.

"The number of students studying advanced maths and science needs to be increased, particularly female students who are severely underrepresented compared to other professions.

"In joining with our four partner organisations through the Australian National Engineering Taskforce (ANET), and now with the strong backing for ANET by the Federal Government, there is some reassurance that actions will be fast-tracked to deliver the strong and extensive professional engineering skills base that Australia must have for the future," Peter Taylor concluded.

Further Information: John Bright - 0407 234 490 / jbright@engineersaustralia.org.au Engineers Australia is the common name of the Institution of Engineers, Australia with a membership 90,000.

Julia Gillard Media Release

30 March 2010

Government commits $350 000 for Australian National Engineering Taskforce

Minister for Education and Employment, Julia Gillard, today announced the Australian Government would provide $350 000 for two new research projects to boost the nation's engineering workforce.

Ms Gillard said the projects would be conducted by Australian National Engineering Taskforce (ANET) to assist both the education sector and the industry to combat engineering shortages.

The first project will study demand and supply of engineering skills while the second will research pathways for engineering education in the vocational education and training and university sectors.

Ms Gillard made the announcement following a tour of the Gorgon Plant on Barrow Island, the second-largest natural gas project in Australia's history and modern-day equivalent to the Snowy Mountains Hydro-Electric Scheme.

The Australian Government recognises the vital role of engineering in innovation, productivity and the capacity of industry.

Ms Gillard said the taskforce would build on recent increases in engineering university applications to help protect the industry from future skills shortages.

Another focus of the study will be the participation of women and students from low SES backgrounds, both of which are currently under-represented in the industry.

The taskforce will also look at ways to improve retention rates to provide more stability for employers within the sector.

The two projects will:

* analyse supply and demand by key industries;
* detail issues hindering the industry and suggest changes for improved workforce development;
* identify and promote existing solutions that are working well, and
* identify policies for workforce development through education, professional development, HR management and migration.

The taskforce will carry out the research projects over the course of this year. A report on the findings will be finalised by the end of 2010.

The Australian National Engineering Taskforce is a partnership between the Association of Professional Engineers, Scientists and Managers Australia, Engineers Australia, Consult Australia, the Australian Council of Engineering Deans and the Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering.