NSW Government has hosted the NSW 2030 Renewable Workforce Roundtable in the Hunter region, addressing challenges faced in the clean energy transition.
The roundtable continues the government’s commitment to ensuring the clean energy transition creates new local, secure jobs across both metropolitan and regional areas of the state.
Stakeholders from dozens of organisations joined NSW’s Energy Ministers Penny Sharpe and Skills, TAFE and Tertiary Education Steve Whan, along with NSW Jobs Advocate Minister Mark
Apthorpe, to discuss opportunities and strategies.
Groups represented included industry bodies, unions, educators, and government agencies.
Key advice from the roundtable discussions will contribute to the development of the NSW 2030 Renewable Workforce Plan. The event builds on work already underway by the NSW Jobs Advocate, who has delivered an initial report with six recommendations to assist with the successful delivery of the Electricity Infrastructure Roadmap.
According to the NSW Government, it is already taking action to create local renewable energy jobs and support industry transitions.
Its initiatives include a $275 million grant program for clean technology manufacturing, setting workforce requirements through a renewable energy sector plan, establishing coordination for First Nations employment pathways, funding local community employment initiatives, and introducing new TAFE courses focused on renewable skills.
Minister Sharpe said delivering the energy transition is a big challenge that comes with real opportunities for thousands of good, local and secure jobs.
“The NSW 2030 Renewable Workforce Roundtable brought together the brains and experience across the Hunter and beyond to help ensure the workforce plan for the Renewable Energy Zones will deliver skills, training and jobs across the state now and into the future,” she said.
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