Spotlight on Regional Australia Ahead of Jobs and Skills Summit
Our Regional Workforce Program Manager, Richard Scollin, joined RDAs across the state in a webinar with the Minister for Regional Development, Local Government and Territories to highlight the workforce challenges in our region.
Minister for Regional Development, Local Government and Territories, Kristy McBain, is making sure the skills shortage affecting regional Australia is a key focus of the Australian Government’s upcoming Jobs and Skills Summit, 1-2 September 2022.
On Thursday, 18 August, 2022, she engaged with Regional Development Australia offices across South Australia to talk through the challenges regional industries are facing in attracting and retaining skilled workers.
“These roundtable discussions are an important part of making sure the voices of regional and rural communities and the local government sector are heard at the Summit.”
Hon Kristy McBain MP, Minister for Regional Development, Local Government and Territories
Representing RDA Adelaide Hills, Fleurieu and Kangaroo Island, was Richard Scollin, Regional Workforce Program Manager. He highlighted a number of issues in our region, including:
- The impact the shortage of affordable housing and accommodation for workers is having in relation to workforce issues;
- The need to encourage/incentivise developers to build affordable housing/workers accommodation;
- Encouraging groups of people who may not be currently engaged in the workforce to return to work, eg.:
- women looking to return to work
- the underemployed
- older Australians who are limited by how much they can earn before it impacts their pension entitlement.
- women looking to return to work
The Summit will inform the Employment White Paper, which will help shape the future of Australia’s labour market. The wider community will be able to make submissions over the next 12 months, and Regional Development Australia, Adelaide Hills, Fleurieu and Kangaroo Island will continue to advocate on behalf of employers and employees in our region.