Paul Harriss
A new forestry training facility in northern Tasmania is aimed at upskilling workers as the industry aims to increase production in coming years. Source: ABC News
The facility, under construction at Invermay, is set to open in Launceston in November and has been designed by the industry to attract new workers and align training programs with job opportunities.
Project manager Colin McCulloch said a particular focus will be on offering hands-on machinery training using simulator machines for new and existing workers.
He said this type of training is currently only delivered once workers arrive on site.
“And that’s an impediment to employment,” he said. “We’ve got a growth spurt coming; we’ve got plantation establishment quadrupling over the next two to three years and that obviously means [increasing] harvesting capacity.
“So where we fell off the cliff in 2008 to where we are now, we’ve got a fair gap to upskill and we’ve also got to convince people to employ.
“People will employ people with skills.”
The industry estimates there are 160 vacant jobs in the sector, with the figure expected to grow.
The State Government will contribute a $150,000 start-up grant towards the facility, which will be matched by industry.
Resources Minister Paul Harriss said the Government was keen to support growth.
“There is a real need to fill a skills gap in terms of training opportunities before people go into the forest,” he said. “It will be self funding, but the start-up funding from the Government is really important as the industry is now growing and expanding.”
Buildings, land and machinery for the centre will be provided by forestry companies, with the industry also prepared to foot the bill for ongoing operating costs.
Qualifications will be offered through partnerships with educational organisations.
Mr McCulloch said he would like to see the centre train 50 workers in its first six months.
“I don’t see that as unachievable, but I’m also not going to sit here and tell you that’s what we’re going to do,” he said. “We know there are jobs on the other side … we’re not making assumptions these things are real, these needs are real.”
