January 23, 2013

A five-month study surveying more than 700 fly-in fly-out workers in the Wide Bay Burnett has identified the challenges to expanding this sector of the local economy.

The survey was part of the “I’m 4 FIFO” campaign by Regional Development Australia Wide Bay Burnett (RDA WBB) designed to position the Wide Bay Burnett to accommodate FIFO operations to the resource sector.

The results were released today by RDA WBB.

The Workforce Mobility Study identified the need to:

  • Cultivate a stable, loyal and cohesive workforce in the Wide Bay Burnett to support the resource sector industry and reduce employee turnover;
  • Develop and implement policies and practices that support strong connected communities and provide a stable environment for families of workers;
  • Establish FIFO direct flight access from the Wide Bay Burnett to worksites supporting the health and safety of employees, particularly in relation to fatigue management, and safely returning them to their families in a timely manner after completing their work phase, thereby improving work/life balance;
  • Support the workforce to feel socially connected not only at work, but to remain socially connected with their workmates in the community in which they live.

“Establishing effective long-term solutions for WBB’s existing resource sector workforce will provide workers with a better work/life balance, allowing them to spend more time with family and friends, whilst addressing the key industry issues of safety, fatigue management and staff turnover,” RDA WBB Executive Officer Paul Massingham said.

The results of a second study, the Jobs and Skills Matching Study, were also released today.

This was the result of six months of research into the WBB’s jobseeker market in partnership with the region’s Job Services Australia (JSA) network and information provided by nearly 1000 WBB registered jobseekers.

It identified the key barriers and opportunities for the region’s unemployed and four key elements that would support employment opportunities:

  • Developing the supply of job-ready workers through skills and training development opportunities to meet projected growth;
  • Implementing a holistic approach to training, development and employment services programs to address cultural, social and other barriers;
  • Accessibility of current registered jobseeker information in a centralised data repository;
  • Facilitating the coordination of the numerous organisations participating in employment, training and support service activities across the Region.

“There is a valuable opportunity to help the Wide Bay Burnett reach its full and considerable potential,” Mr Massingham said.

“By magnifying the assets the Wide Bay Burnett has to offer we can enrich and broaden our community’s social and economic position.

“The opportunity at this time is to leverage from the high volume of employment that exists within the resource sector to underpin a more diverse and sustainable regional economy.

“Sustainable workforce solutions hinge on the ability of all interested parties being actively involved in the implementation of the recommendations outlined in this Workforce Mobility Study.

“It is critical for RDA WBB to work with and have the support of government and industry to develop policies and practices to overcome the crucial barriers to establishing commercially viable mobility solutions for the resource sector workers.

“These studies are not the solution to the region’s problems but establish a framework for a co-ordinated, regionwide approach to sustainable social and economic development.

“It demonstrates RDA WBB’s commitment to considering the needs and priorities of the region in its planning and prioritising.”