Queensland Government injects $1.5m into new planning centre, Rail Skills Australasia, for the country's $17b rail sector
November 29, 2011
The Queensland Government has injected $1.5 million into a new planning centre, Rail Skills Australasia (RSA),
for the country’s $17 billion rail sector.
With a growing demand for skilled workers, Queensland Premier Anna Bligh says RSA’s role will be critical in providing for the industry’s training and education needs.
The Premier says the not-for-profit organisation will hit the ground running by conducting a rail skills audit throughout the sector and developing new initiatives such as mentoring and graduate programs.
“Queensland is the ideal location for the RSA, with the rail industry contributing more than $3 billion to the State economy and supporting more than 12,000 jobs,” Bligh says.
She says planning is needed now due to the increasing demand for transport and freight as a result of the mining boom.
“The RSA will map skill needs and work with all parties to ensure there are workers ready to step into required roles.”
Operating from its Brisbane base, the RSA will lead industry and government engagement on vocational education and training, higher education, specialised rail skills development, and industry attraction and retention strategies.
The membership-based RSA includes rail industry firms and peak sectoral bodies.