Industry pumps up job training
CIA VIC-led strategy to address skills shortage in RV manufacturing industryThe Caravan Industry Association Victoria (CIAV) has released a formal strategy to address problems that Victoria's 100-plus RV manufacturers are having in attracting and retaining skilled staff.
“The Association thought it pertinent to develop a Jobs, Careers & Training strategy that will further strengthen the Victorian Caravan and Camping Industry to attract, and retain a motivated, innovative and rewarded workforce,” said CIA VIC CEO, Rob Lucas.
Compiled by nem Australasia, which was also behind the comprehensive Industry Blueprint released in 2012, the latest 22-page document outlines a number of initiatives including the establishment of a Caravan Industry Skills Centre “where the next generation of employees for the Industry will be trained”.
The CIA VIC helped create the National Caravan Industry Training College back in 2015, which is now operating as a partnership with Melbourne Polytechnic.
According to the state association, the latest strategy document was developed in response to feedback from the Association’s members at an Industry Summit in 2017.
“Members at the Summit expressed concerns about attracting, retaining and training staff and the direct impact this was having on their businesses and the likely long-term impacts on industry growth for the State,” Lucas said.
According to the report Industry members currently have more than 300 vacancies for skilled workers, who are often more attracted to jobs in the booming mining and construction industries.
“Manufacturing is the bedrock of Victoria’s strength, accounting for 74 per cent of jobs in the component sector and in building motorhomes and traditional caravans,” he said.
“Even when we allow for Queensland’s strong position in manufacturing camper trailers, we still account for 64 per cent of all manufacturing jobs – a massive total of 4123 jobs.
“To put that in perspective, that’s more than the total manufacturing jobs at Toyota, Holden and Ford combined before they ceased manufacturing.
“Anyone who thinks manufacturing is dead in Australia should take heart from the caravan industry nationally, and especially the Victorian landscape.”
The report sets a number of ‘targets’ to be completed before the end of 2020, including a quarter of all RV manufacturing employees to have a formal qualification to Certificate 3 level, and a quarter of businesses to have achieved business management certification.
To read a copy of the report, click here.
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