Australia’s Rail Industry Unites to Tackle Workforce Challenges

Last week marked a significant milestone for Australia’s rail industry, with a series of events focused on workforce sustainability, flexibility, and future skills development.

Co-hosted by the Australasian Railway Association, the National Transport Commission, and the Champions of Change Coalition – Rail, the four-day program featured three separate events. These brought together HR professionals, industry leaders, and change-makers from across Australia and internationally.

Australia’s rail sector is facing a critical skills challenge. A significant portion of the workforce nearing retirement age, the urgency to act is clear. Forecasts indicate a projected workforce growth of 8.7% by 2034, driven by increasing demand across freight and passenger services.

Throughout the week, collaboration and harmonisation of rail standards emerged as central themes. No single organisation can solve these challenges alone, but together, the sector can drive meaningful change. As freight and passenger rail services expand, a highly skilled workforce will be essential to support national productivity and economic success.

The week began with the Frontline Flexibility Roundtable, where HR and People & Culture leaders from across the rail sector came together to explore how flexible work can be advanced in operational roles. The discussion highlighted the importance of leadership, technology, and cultural change in embedding flexibility consistently and effectively across the entire rail workforce.

A key focus of the roundtable was improving employment opportunities for Women in Rail (WIR). Inclusive shift planning and recruitment strategies were identified as critical enablers of progress. Encouragingly, the latest figures from the Rail Workforce Plan show that the proportion of female train and tram drivers has increased from 4% to 18%, demonstrating that collaboration and targeted initiatives are making a real impact. The challenge now is to maintain this momentum and continue driving meaningful change across the sector.

At the Australasian Railway Association’s People & Culture Conference, industry leaders and HR professionals came together to examine the future of workforce development in the rail sector. The discussions centred on strategic infrastructure investment, the integration of AI and digital technologies, and the growing need for upskilling and collaborative training programs. Delegates also explored the need for harmonisation across jurisdictions, evolving industrial relations frameworks, and the creation of inclusive, mentally healthy workplaces.

Carly Grigg, ISA’s Industry Engagement Manager for rail, was honoured to take part and present on the recently released 2025 Rail Workforce Plan and current projects, contributing to key HR topics shaping the future of the rail industry.

The week concluded with the National Transport Commission’s Future Rail Skills Forum. Paul Walsh, our CEO, who spoke about the Australian rail industry's skills challenges and the solutions we are implementing in partnership with industry, as covered in the 2025 Rail Workforce Plan. He also joined other international and local industry leaders to discuss how innovation in technology, training, and curriculum design is shaping the future rail workforce. The forum reinforced the need for a nationally aligned approach to workforce development, highlighting the growing importance of digital literacy, change management, and data analytics. 

The week served as a powerful exchange of ideas and collaboration across the rail sector. The industry must prioritise building a sustainable and skilled workforce. This will require coordinated efforts across employers, unions, regulators, governments, and training providers. Collaboration is not just beneficial, it is essential to ensure the rail sector remains productive, resilient, and future-ready. You can view our Workforce Plans here.

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We’re holding a national series of dedicated roundtables for both the Transport Supply Chain Industries and RTO stakeholders. These sessions are your opportunity to tell us about your current and emerging skill needs, the key blockages and bottlenecks you’re facing in building a skilled workforce, and the high-impact solutions that you would like to see put in place. See the full listings here.