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MANY
Tasmanian businesses are still facing the challenges brought by digital transformation, even though the first wave of disruptive technologies enabled by the internet, cloud computing and sensors, gained prominence in many industries over a decade ago.
With much commentary about the impact of a second wave of disruption, characterised by machine learning, peer-to-peer networks and the Internet of Things, businesses and educators are asking themselves how they can best develop skills for future work.
The Committee for
Rebecca Kardos
Economic Development of Australia (CEDA) has had this topic in its sights, with the aim of examining the strategic directions and policy priorities for education and training in Tasmania. In particular, CEDA has encouraged broader discussion on developing opportunities for greater interaction and collaboration between the education and training sector and business and industry.
As a Tasmanian CEO, I see some wonderful opportunities for businesses to integrate ongoing training and education in to our workplaces to ensure our Tasmanian workforces are future ready.
Like the manufacturing, agriculture and automotive industries, the energy sector is rapidly changing. We know that we need to ensure we have people with the capabilities and mindset to adapt, but how we should go about achieving this is far less certain. I am strong believer that this is best achieved by investing in knowledge, skills and leadership across an entire business.
Deloitte’s Be BOLD Tasmania report notes that building workplace cultures where learning and re-skilling are embraced, not avoided, will be critical as technology changes both the types of jobs we do, as well as how we do them.
One suggested remedy is that we “bring work into schools and school into work”, to ensure education is meaningful and linked to the community, and those already through the education system can be upskilled or re-skilled.
I’m proud to say Aurora Energy has embraced this idea, taking a number of steps towards bringing work into schools and school into work.
In collaboration with TasTAFE, Aurora Energy has developed a Formal Qualifications Program – a training program that is practical and hands on, allowing staff to learn through real life scenarios which relate directly to their day-to-day work.
Through the program all Aurora Energy employees are offered the opportunity to gain a qualification in an area relevant to their work. To date, a third of Aurora Energy’s workforce have obtained a nationally recognised qualification through TasTAFE, with a further 35 registered for the program this year.
Normalising the idea that work and learning need not be separate is an investment in our employees to ensure that they can, not just be our workforce today, but can adapt to be our workforce in the future.
Our state has recently made some bold moves in the education space, including changes to the Education Act (2016), which will require that students must be in education
until they complete year 12, gain a Certificate III, or turn 17 (increasing to 18 by 2020).
While this may soon prove to be an important step toward better educational and employment outcomes for young Tasmanians, closing the gap between school and work is also about providing young people with opportunities to experience different types of work firsthand.
This is where business-led initiatives that bring school into work and provide students with opportunities to connect with local businesses offer a fabulous opportunity for students and their future employers.
Aurora Energy is also investing in this area, last year hosting a group of Grade 10 students from Montrose Bay High School through the Smith Family’s Work Inspiration program. The 14 students spent two days at Aurora Energy, broadening their perspectives and developing aspirations for life after school.
For these students, it was an opportunity to start conversations and get excited about a variety of different career opportunities – some of which they had not been exposed to before.
For Aurora Energy, the program provided a valuable opportunity to build and shape the students’ aspirations, as well as illuminate career pathways for our next generation of Tasmanian workers.
As a participant, I can testify that the opportunity to talk with students about their goals and ambitions, and provide advice on how they may accomplish them, was rewarding on a personal and professional level.
We live in a time of disruption and energy is just one of many sectors that will see disruptive trends change the jobs of the future and the skills our workers will need.
Bringing work into schools and school into work is one of many ways that Tasmanian businesses may choose to prepare for what will be a challenging time for employers and their employees.
In sharing some of Aurora Energy’s endeavours in the this space, I am hopeful I can encourage other Tasmanian businesses to consider not just how they can pivot with their existing workforce, but also to integrate how they can impart the new skills they need tomorrow in their workforce of today.