Q&A: SKILLS SHORTAGES AND EMPLOYMENT

ties to work together in an ongoing relationship to examine and agree on regional priorities and emerging opportunities, and on a broad plan for using and adapting state and federal government initiatives within our region, including housing.

We would examine strategies to support apprentices and trainees, both young and older, to complete certification through such strategies as: financial rewards for progress towards completion, on-the-job training, and recognition of present skill level and previous experience.

Universities and other training sectors deserve and will be given separate consideration by me in a future announcement.

Alex Rubin (Nationals)

Our region has critical workforce shortages across healthcare, education, emergency services, and the agricultural sector. The Nationals and Coalition government have already invested in upgrading hospitals, schools and service centres, with promises of more to come.

The gap is getting skilled staff, but there are no quick fixes; professional qualifications take time to train and develop. The Nationals get this, having committed to increasing both our healthcare and permanent teacher numbers in NSW by more than 20,000 positions.

I believe the solution is to incentivise “Growing Our Own” professionals and tradespersons in regional areas through programs in schools, TAFE and tertiary education that motivate people to work and stay regional.

These programs include removing

HECS debts, free TAFE training options and family support packages. We need to subsidise career development for keystone professionals and trades that enable regional growth. We must move away from a reliance on importing or paying massive costs for fly-in fly-out specialists. Better recognition for professionals with regional experience, increasing on-job training time for trades and healthcare workers, because not everything needs to be learnt in a lecture theatre or classroom.

We need to break the barriers to acknowledging TAFE courses as satisfying equivalent university learning outcomes. Retaining skilled workers with better options for career progression and support packages that enable families to transition to a new home and regional life.

Small businesses are the engine room of the Australian economy. There is so much potential, so much opportunity, we need to empower small business to start-up and expand. There are no quick fixes, but we can build the Northern Rivers to become a future-ready regional hub where people want to come to work and live. We need leadership that will commit to investment in regional NSW, I will fight for this!

Adam Guise (Greens)

Apprenticeships and upskilling existing workers is essential to addressing the skills shortage. The Greens have long called for the proper funding of public schools and TAFE to ensure that every child and adult has the opportunity to receive a quality education and continue onto voca- tional training and university studies.

University and TAFE should be free so that students aren’t saddled with crippling debt while at the same time juggling housing costs. This will attract more people into training to fill the skills shortages we have.

Inclusiveness and diversity in the workplace is important to workers, particularly to attract older people, parents and migrant workers. In order to encourage more parents back into the workforce, the Greens would provide free childcare. Childcare should be recognised as an essential service available to anyone who needs it, not just those who can afford it.

We need to ensure we get more people into caring jobs, like health, teaching and aged care. Better pay and conditions are essential to retaining workers in these important services.

Since the flood, the ability for workers to find affordable accommodation in the towns they work in has worsened. It’s essential that we have the housing needed to attract workers to our region.

The Greens would reform the cooked housing system, to ensure housing is a human right, rather than a commodity to profit from. We will regulate short-term rentals to ensure there are affordable rentals available to people wanting to live in the town they’re working in.

We would strengthen renters’ rights, by capping rent rises, ending no-grounds evictions and boosting funding to tenants’ advocacy services. We would build more social, public and affordable housing to ensure essential workers have safe homes.

Reader’s request regarding political signage

Emma K, last name withheld, would like to kindly ask that NSW election candidates please refrain from placing campaign advertisements on trees across the Tweed Shire.

“A friendly reminder for the trees,” she said.

“Please don’t nail your political paraphernalia to the trees. It causes them harm, thank you.”

Geoff has secured for Tweed apprentices the same $250 travel card the Liberals and Nationals have delivered for Tweed seniors.

He is pictured here with construction apprentices Ollie & Bailey at the Kingscliff TAFE, for which he is also delivering a $32.7 million upgrade. Visit service.nsw.gov.au for more information. Claim your fair share today.

Just Vote