The first of several CareerStart campaigns to attract workers with industry recognised qualifications and appropriate technical skills coincides with last week’s announcement of a three year construction plan, which outlines the areas where construction is planned to commence by September 2018.
The campaign is part of nbn’s $40 million Industry Workforce Development Program, aimed at stimulating the employment of around an additional 4,500 skilled workers to construct, operate and maintain the nbn network as well as setting up and maintaining a national skills register.
The campaign aims to attract Expressions of Interest from around 2,000 candidates with minimal or no previous telco experience such as recent school leavers and, interested candidates need to have the ability to acquire a high level of technical skill and be able to meet the physical requirements of the roles.
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According to nbn CEO Bill Morrow, across the active workforce of Australia, the number of people who have the competency to be a Telecommunications Copper Cable Jointer or a Linesworker is well below what is needed to not only build the nbn network, but provide telecommunications services in the future.
Morrow said that to help close the gap, nbn is working with Service Delivery Partners on employment and training programs that lead to industry recognised qualifications. The first campaign will promote nbn’s up-skill training program and target Australians starting their careers who have a real interest in how technology is built.
According to Morrow, the CareerStart campaign will not only kick start many telco careers, but it will be a key plank in future-proofing the Australian telecommunications workforce.
“The nbn is Australia’s largest infrastructure project and it is absolutely vital that we have enough people to construct the network as we increase the pace of the rollout.
“At present a large proportion of the Australian telecommunication industry workforce are due to retire in around five years’ time.”
According to Morrow, without the CareerStart campaign, “we would be potentially staring down the barrel of a telecommunications skills shortage in Australia.”
“The CareerStart campaign will not only help find young people interested in developing the highly technical skills needed, but it will provide a path for them to undergo training and start a challenging and fulfilling telecommunications industry career.
“It will also provide a platform for young people already working in the industry to access further learning and development.”
Morrow said nbn was currently actively engaging with State and Territory Education, Skills and Workforce Development Departments about establishing collaborative partnerships and enlisting their support for the doubling of the workforce.
“I am pleased to report that nbn, our Service Delivery Partners, and all levels of Government understand that a recruitment and skilling drive of this scale requires team work and engagement to date has been fantastic.”
Along with today’s launch of CareerStart, Morrow also announced the successful panel of 10 nbn approved Training Providers who will deliver technical skills training to the external workforce across Australia.
The 10 nbn approved Training Providers are ASG Integracom Management Group (Ash Pty Ltd); Blue Sky Academy; Careers Australia Institute of Training; Celemetrix Professional Services Pty Ltd; Chisholm Institute; Federation Training; Holmesglen Institute of TAFE; JB Hunter Technology; Ramsden Telecommunications Training; and Programmed SKILLED Training Services.
Morrow said the training poviders will work collaboratively with nbn and its Service Delivery Partners to deliver training, with an emphasis on flexible learning models and approaches to best accommodate worker needs for skills and training.
Successful candidates will be employed by a Service Delivery Partner or sub-contractor, have access training paths that may lead to industry recognised Cert II or III Telecommunication qualifications, and be eligible to apply for federal, state and nbn subsidies.
Bill Morrow said that once the nbn network is completed, long-term opportunities will exist as the network moves into operation and maintenance, and it is anticipated that CareerStart participants would have an advantage in securing future Telco positions with their qualifications and practical on the job experience.
The CareerStart campaign is scheduled to run for three months across a mix of online media channels.
To find out more or register your interest in employment with nbn click here.
