Alliances join forces to address workforce challenges

5 JULY 2023

The Mining and Automotive Skills Alliance (AUSMASA) is establishing Strategic Workforce Advisory Panels (SWAPs) after being officially announced in June as the Australian Government Jobs and Skills Council for the mining and automotive sectors.

Chief Executive Officer, Dr Gavin Lind, said the Minister for Skills and Training, the Hon Brendan O’Connor MP, had widely acknowledged the significant contributions of both sectors to Australia’s economic prosperity and that their occupations would help achieve net zero transformation.

“We will bring together employers and unions to work in partnership with governments and the education and training sectors to train, attract and retain workers in these critical industries,” Dr Lind said.

“As one of 10 Australian Government Jobs and Skills Councils (JSCs), we are part of the network of industry-owned and led organisations that will have a strong connection with Jobs and Skills Australia (JSA) to align workforce planning for the mining and automotive sectors.”

Dr Lind said AUSMASA would play a crucial part in the essential first step in determining job roles, skills need and education and training pathways, combining industry-specific intelligence with JSA’s forecasting and modelling.

“JSCs are crucial in making sure industry has the right workers and students are getting opportunities to get a decent, secure job, and have a fulfilling life,” he said.

“We are a leading national organisation that has been tackling skills shortages across Australia since our inception in 2020 as the Mining Skills Organisation Pilot, a project under the Minerals Council of Australia, which evolved into the Australian Minerals and Energy Skills Alliance (AUSMESA) before becoming the Mining and Automotive Skills Alliance (AUSMASA).”

Find out more about JSCs.