CALL FOR SKILLS TO BACK TECH SECTOR
AS contracts steadily roll in at a Tasmanian robotics operation – with talk of expansion – the business is faced with the challenge of finding skilled workers.
Fulcrum Robotics had just one employee in 2014, but since then its workforce has grown.
Owner Mike Larkin said it has quickly become recognised for the technology it manufactures.
“The business was small but now it’s gotten a lot bigger, based on a lot of national and local interest,” Mr Larkin said.
“We noticed a big increase when we brought online the drone services and also brought online the sediment extraction works.”
It was recently contracted for underwater survey and sonar works needed by a Sydney company.
“No one else could do that nationally,” Mr Larkin said.
It’s also attracted contacts in Tasmania. “We’re getting involved in surveying shipwrecks along the coastline of Tassie … to capture the heritage values of those vessels that are long lost,” Mr Larkin said.
Science and Technology Minister Madeleine Ogilvie said Tasmania’s technology sector was growing rapidly.
“Our tech sector is incredible and growing – it currently employs about 9000 people, we know that’s going
to grow to 12,900 over the next few years,” Ms Ogilvie said.
But as Tasmanian tech businesses boost their brands, it’s uncertain whether they’ll have the workforce to support their growth.
Mr Larkin said finding skilled
workers was a challenge. “The sector needs to support the skills that back the technology,” he said.
“It’s quite challenging to find someone who understands infrastructure, understands the environment, can operate a large
drone. [We need] vocational pathways to bring people into this sector that have marine science experience, have engineering experience, have trades experience, all converged to deliver a robotic technology to a customer.”
He hoped new courses would result in a stronger workforce.
“There’s a focus on expanding access to skills so TasTAFE has released more courses around the engineering pathways that support our business,” Mr Larkin said.