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Transport & Logistics Nov 29, 2024

Driving Solutions for the Future: ISA at the BIC National Conference

Last week, Camilla Elmes, Industry Engagement Manager for Transport and Logistics at Industry Skills Australia (ISA), attended the Bus Industry Confederation (BIC) National Conference, where she joined the Future Workforce panel session alongside Clea Smith from Tradeswomen Australia Group and Simon Hester from the Mining and Automotive Skills Alliance.

The panel highlighted critical workforce challenges facing the Passenger Transport sector, including:

  • Unrealistic contract service delivery requirements.
  • Increasing anti-social behaviour affecting frontline staff.
  • A lack of funding for training and development.
  • A driving workforce on the verge of a retirement cliff.

Camilla emphasised the importance of ISA’s 2024 Workforce Plans, which outline strategies to address these issues, including supporting the sector through skilled migration initiatives, targeted upskilling, and programs aimed at attracting underrepresented cohorts to build a more diverse workforce.

“There is no one-size-fits-all solution,” Camilla said. “Collaboration across sectors is crucial to addressing workforce challenges. We need to not only attract more people to passenger transport careers but also ensure they feel supported, valued, and invested in.”

The Conference also delved into:

  • How to position passenger transport as a career of choice.
  • Strategies for improving mental health and wellbeing support for customer-facing staff.
  • Ways to connect underrepresented groups to employment opportunities in the sector.

Camilla had the opportunity to meet with key stakeholders, including Tanya Smith from Transit Systems, a member of ISA’s Transport & Logistics Strategic Workforce Planning Committee. The event facilitated productive discussions on aligning workforce needs with solutions outlined in ISA’s Workforce Plans.

“The challenges faced by the Passenger Transport sector aren’t insurmountable. With the insights shared at events like this, combined with ISA’s data-driven Workforce Plans, we can create a thriving and sustainable workforce for the future,” Camilla added.

ISA extends its gratitude to the Bus Industry Confederation for the invitation to attend and contribute to shaping the future of passenger transport.

For more information on ISA’s 2024 Workforce Plans for Transport and Logistics, visit Industry Skills Australia website here.

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