First Nations are a ready made workforce in regional and remote Australia where the majority of projects necessary for Australia’s clean energy transition will be placed.
Building longer-term employment and skills development — focusing on 'careers not jobs’ — is a primary pathway to meeting the clean energy workforce needs of the clean energy transition while building generational wealth for First Nations Australians.
We want to ensure that the range of current efforts in Australia, at regional, state/territory levels and by the Federal Government on developing the workforce for Australia’s transition to a clean energy economy includes:
- a strong focus on supporting the aspirations of First Nations workers to access quality jobs
- the right policy settings and proper funding for programs and services
- support for First Nations-controlled service providers
- clear pathways for quality jobs and careers for First Nations Australians into the clean energy sector.
We want to highlight approaches that work - particularly highlighting the success of First Nations community-controlled organisations and service delivery providers - and we want to see these services properly funded and supported so they can scale their impact.
The First Nations Clean Energy Network’s recent submission (August 2024) to the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water on its National Energy Workforce Strategy - Consultation Paper had a number of recommendations.
To shift the culture of industry and government towards a genuine commitment to enable First Nations people and communities to enter, partner and participate in the clean energy workforce, the Network recommends:
- establishing formal partnerships and shared decision-making between governments and First Nations communities and First Nations community-led service providers to co-design all employment initiatives to realise First Nations outcomes in the clean energy workforce
- incorporating First Nations employment and training targets into the Capacity Investment Scheme merit criteria (including the Australian Skills Guarantee) and ensuring compliance with those targets through appropriate enforcement measures
- clearly identifying clean energy career pathways for First Nations school students through by establishing First Nations-led outreach engagement via Regional University Study Hubs with First Nations students, and School to VET transitions: Traineeships and Apprenticeships
- funding an industry support program to develop a First Nations cadetship program with energy industry and professional associations and coordinate in partnership with First Nations groups transition pathways into pre-apprenticeships, apprenticeships and ongoing jobs in the solar and wind sector
- integrating First Nations employment and training targets and initiatives into housing retrofit, diesel replacement and microgrid programs
- supporting and building build the capacity of and appropriately fund First Nations organisations, networks, businesses, Group Training, and training providers to build awareness of and transition pathways into the clean energy sector including for existing workers shifting into renewable energy, school leavers, and those who are unemployed or not currently in the labour force entering the workforce.
- building cultural competence into the renewable energy sector by enhancing Reconciliation Action Plans and industry agreements to focus on setting aspirational targets (e.g material impact within a specific community, embedding a commitment to support these First Nations outcomes).
In identifying pathways forward in the National Energy Workforce Strategy, it is critical that First Nations Australians be equipped and enabled to lead the design of the workforce education and training system.
Building First Nations capacity for realising clean energy partnerships and supply chain opportunities to enable First Nations employment and training outcomes can further assist in meeting Australia’s clean energy workforce development needs.
Read our submission here