Western Roads Federation – Do we need a Transport Workforce Strategy?

Ask the question what is the solution to the skills shortage facing the Transport Industry and see how many different answers you get.

Let me assure you that you will get a lot of different answers some brilliant, some good and some shall we say interesting.

Around Australia, the other transport associations are each undertaking great work to address the skills shortage. However, these great initiatives can be seen by Government as fragmented response by industry as each has a different focus.

Imagine you are the Federal or State Transport Minister, which solution to help the transport industry address the skills shortage do you fund and support?

My argument is that each of these programs are a piece of the solution jigsaw puzzle. The problem is that as an Industry we haven’t got a painted the picture of what the finished jigsaw looks like. The Aged Care Sector created such a coherent strategy which led to multi-million funding.

Below are some examples of the components of such a strategy and examples of work that some members are undertaking.

With near record levels of low unemployment and high skills shortages across the whole economy, we need to recognise that we are competing against every other sector.

Again, great work is being done by various associations and by some groups. However, it is often fragmented, and some successful efforts are not being recognised and shared nationally, such as programs engaging people from Schools, Migrant, Refugee, Women (including young Mums and Mature Age), Early Release Prisoners, Defence Veterans, Indigenous and Disability groups.

Can we fill the skills shortage from within Australia or do we need overseas migrants?

If so, how do we get it on Priority Migration Skills Occupation List?

Having generated interested, what are the training pathways to their career and employment in the industry? Note schedulers, compliance, operations staff etc.?

Warehousing one of the fastest growing segments in transport and logistics as global supply chains adapt to the new reality. SARTA has pushed to have 16 year old drive forklifts. Western Roads Federation and

others have forklift training embedded in HV Driver course.

Most state associations have a Driver training solution.

Both VTA and WRF have training programs based on teaching skills and competencies prior to being employed. QTA has a program providing enhanced training and experience to those Drivers who have licenses but are not employed in the industry. Other Transport Associations have variations.

Further adding to the mix is Austroad’s C-RIS paper on Driver Licensing and the recent announcement of a Driver Apprenticeship.

There has been concern regarding international drivers, should there be a training program before they can operate?

It should be noted that barriers to using International Drivers exist because the size of the Driver shortage cannot be accurately quantified nor the impact on the Australian Economy.

Some members report skills shortages in Operational or non-Driving jobs. AFRA run skills training for their members. QTA micro-credentialing courses that upskill members. WRFare working with TAFE on a joint industry course for Operations staff.

People in the road transport industry management generally rise to management levels based on hard won experience rather than formal education. This has served the industry well as fundamental change has been relatively incremental.

However, are we prepared to take advantage of potential fundamental changes in technology, social obligations and supply chains that are on the road ahead? Would industry specific formal education help?

National research we found has shown that up to 24% of people are considering leaving the industry (HHTS). With Australian Industry Standards citing that 20,000 people left transport industry during COVID-19.

Even if over-estimated, it’s a loss we cannot afford. Again, good work being done around Mental Health, Rest Areas etc. but what else should we be doing?

Finally, how do we tap into the knowledge of our experienced people so they can pass it on to the next generation? The ATA is doing good work on advocating to allow recently retired drivers to come back as driver mentors without losing part of their pension.

Western Roads Federation has been formed to give a strong unified voice for companies who use WA roads for commercial benefit. Western Roads Federation is a membership driven organisation. If you believe in the industry and what you do, then make sure your company is a member, and get involved. For a membership application form Email cam.dumesny@westernroads.com.au ◆ Phone 08 9365 7799 or 0481 064 371 180 Hay St, East Perth WA 6004