On Tuesday 12th December, Cameron Baker, the SA Skills Commissioner travelled to Port Augusta to meet with key stakeholders within the Upper Spencer Gulf to:
- provide insight and an understanding of the roles and priorities of the South Australian Skills Commission into 2024 and beyond
- gain an understanding of ways the Commissioner could work with the USG community to realise the opportunities presented via upcoming major projects, as well as ensuring that ongoing and current workforce and skills needs in key industries are able to be met in the region
- discuss regional skills concerns, priorities and proposed solutions.
Representatives from Local Government, Regional Development Australia, Uni Hub Spencer Gulf, Career Employment Group and the Local Jobs Program met with the Commissioner and discussed the importance of regional engagement, equity in the distribution of skills investment to regional communities, improving access to training, and locally-driven solutions designed to meet the needs of our community and industry.
RDAEP is a member of the Upper Spencer Gulf Strategic Workforce Advisory Group (SWAG).
This visit was arranged as an action following the inaugural Upper Spencer Gulf Workforce Summit held in Port Augusta in August 2023.
Follow up meetings with the Commissioner will be held in Whyalla and Port Lincoln in early 2024.
Stakeholders meeting with the Skills Commissioner included Port Augusta Mayor, Linley Shine; RDAEP CEO Ryan Viney; RDAFN CEO Claire Wiseman; RDAYMN CEO Daniel Wilson; Local Jobs First Employment Facilitators Andrea Broadfoot, Lisa Brock and Jack Ritchie; UniHub Spencer Gulf CEO, Anita Kuss; UniHub SG Port Augusta site Manager, Shannon Pillion; RM Consultancy and Training, Mandy Jordan; CEG SA Training Manager, Robin Odea; RDAFN Economic Development Manager, Andrew Padgett; RDAEP staff, Tamsin Scholz and Richard Horgan.