Engineering gap hinders our progress

Tasmania faces a crippling shortage of paraprofessionals, says Darren Beattie

TASMANIA needs more paraprofessionals — the world’s second fastest growing occupational group

Paraprofessionals possess an emerging new skill set across engineering disciples.

They work in many fields, including engineering. You can find them in sectors from advanced manufacturing to renewable energy. They are trained to assist professionals, but may not have a degree, and perform tasks that require significant knowledge, often working independently of professional supervision and with business savvy.

In Tasmania, Engineers Australia developed the Career Pathways — Paraprofessionals Report, in response to recommendations from the 2016-2019 Workforce Development Plan, funded by Skills Tasmania.

There are acute shortages of paraprofessional engineers across Australia, with insufficient graduates with paraprofessional qualifications to meet employer demand for people with technical skills.

We find there are people working at trade level engineering positions in Tasmania hoping to transition to higher capability roles. And there are employers looking to source and upskill staff.

The report also found the education sector was keen to understand the skills required by paraprofessional engineers.

This was recognised as a concern in Tasmania, with employers coveting vocationally skilled employees, yet facing a deficit of pathways for people to move into these roles. In civil construction alone, a predicted 200 para positions will be required to fulfil Tasmanian Infrastructure Pipeline Projects. One employer said it had 75 paraprofessional roles unable to be filled.

Setting aside the emerging politics of the Marinus Project, which will deliver a second interconnector to the mainland and unlock pumped hydro, we are going to need more paraprofessionals.

What is clear is that paraprofessionals are poorly serviced by the education and training sectors.

The report recommended: THE WORKFORCE Development Advisory Group must continue to support the education sector to increase paraprofessional-focused qualifications.

DEVELOP a funding proposal to Skills Tasmania for a pilot training program for employees transitioning into paraprofessional roles. ENGINEERS AUSTRALIA should consider development of member services using findings of this research.

The issue is not new. A 1992 Commonwealth report on Engineering said: “Widespread demand was evident for practically oriented paraprofessionals, equipped with the best possible knowledge of technology and its application to the workplace.”

Engineers Australia’s Careers Pathway project’s objectives are to:

DEVELOP understanding of the career options for trade level engineering positions in Tasmania to transition to higher capability roles. EMPLOYERS should identify workforce needs and understand the pathways for sourcing or upskilling staff. POTENTIAL and existing staff demonstrate pathways and opportunities. EDUCATION sector to understand the skills required by paraprofessional engineers.

Engineers Australia examined employer requirements in agriculture, civil work, construction, consulting, government, manufacturing, mining and energy, gas and water.

In other words, industries where engineering and paraprofessionals are critical to development.

As we emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic and rebuild the economy on the back of major infrastructure and other community-focused projects, it is patently obvious we need more people to fill paraprofessional roles.

Now is the time to upskill and re-skill to build a robust workforce for the future.