Connecting with Western Australia’s manufacturing landscape

The Manufacturing Industry Skills Alliance team had a productive visit to Western Australia (WA) last month to meet with key government and industry stakeholders across various industries, including South Metro TAFE, the Department of Training and Workforce Development, Utilities, Engineering, Electrical and Automotive Training Council Inc (UEEA), the Resources Industry Training Council and the Office of the Hon Simone McGurk, Minister for Training and Workforce Development; Water; Industrial Relations.

One highlight of the visit was touring The Perth Mint. The team learnt about the Perth Mint’s Disability and Inclusion program which supports meaningful employment for people of various abilities and went behind the scenes to look at the process of precious metal production which results in gold bullion.

They also visited CIVMEC, home to the largest steel fabrication facility in Australia. CIVMEC is an Australian company which supports the Energy, Resources, Infrastructure, Marine and Defence sectors.

During the visit, it became evident the challenge that the industry faces in WA. While engineering and manufacturing trades are more visible compared to the East Coast, there is stronger competition with the mining sector for skilled workers.

To ensure that WA is not over reliant on mining, the government has an economic diversification strategy in place which includes the expansion of the manufacturing sector and investing in new and emerging industries.

The Manufacturing Alliance is currently planning visits to a range of stakeholders across Australia to better understand the unique workforce challenges of different regions and states and territories.  These visits will help us ensure that the voices of a larger range of the manufacturing sector are incorporated into the work we do, including our workforce plans and various training package and workforce projects.