As Australia’s focus shifts from major Transport projects to the burgeoning sectors of Renewable Energy and Water, we face a critical challenge: ensuring that the expertise and invaluable skills developed by professionals in the Transport sector are not lost but effectively transferred to these sectors that are innovating and growing.
With Federal and State Government investment in Transport projects winding down over the next decade, the expertise developed in managing complex, multidisciplinary projects is more vital than ever. Skills such as project management, systems integration and stakeholder engagement are for driving innovation and efficiency in Renewable Energy and Water initiatives as they are key components in delivering value-for-money, sustainable outcomes. With the wealth of knowledge coming out of the Transport sector, there must be a paradigm shift in how we view cross-industry migration so that the industry capitalises on this opportunity.
As an industry, we can all play a part in facilitating these transitions. Several strategies include:
- Tailoring recruitment: Amend recruitment parameters so that the focus is on the transferable skills that the candidate possesses instead of experience within the sector.
- Collaborative projects: Encourage joint projects that allow Transport engineers to work alongside professionals in the Renewable Energy and Water sectors, facilitating hands-on skill transfer.
- Certification programs: Develop certification paths that recognise and validate the transferable skills from Transport to other sectors.
- Industry partnerships: Form alliances between Transport, Renewable Energy and Water organisations to promote skill sharing and resource pooling.
- Internship opportunities: Create internship and work experience programs for Transport professionals to gain exposure to Renewable Energy and Water projects.
- Continuous Professional Development (CPD): Promote CPD opportunities that include modules on emerging technologies and practices relevant to Renewable Energy and Water sectors.
MCE has amassed a wealth of experience delivering critical infrastructure projects. We are focussed on supporting our clients to achieve best for project outcomes. For more info on how we can assist with your project, send us an email at info@mce-aus.com.
Author: Annabella Dao
