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Rockhampton Regional Development Home Page From the Desk of the Chief Executive Welcome to 2010 and I trust everyone had a rewarding and safe Christmas and New Year break. One of the biggest challenges the region will need to confront is the imminent skills shortages that we will experience in the coming years. The building industry, resources sector and major project proponents are already talking about the difficulties in attracting skilled workers in the coming years. The effects on businesses of not being able to attract and retain skilled workers can be significant with lost productivity, reduced capabilities to secure contract work and risk of significant penalties for not meeting contract deadlines. Good workforce planning is critical in minimising the impacts of skills shortages and this is an area that RRD will be active in over 2010. Profiling the skills requirements will be one project that RRD will be undertaking so that the business community will have a greater understanding of what skills will be in short supply, education institutions can provide appropriate training and courses and skills attraction activities can be properly targeted. Over the coming months, RRD will be surveying the business community on their skill requirements to assist in developing the region’s work force profile. I would urge those businesses that receive the surveys to complete them. Surveys will be completed anonymously and results will be published in a collated form only. Until next time. Gary Kerr Chief Executive Rockhampton Regional Development back to top CQ Young Business Leaders Network
Following the successful luncheon with Kieran Perkins late last year, RRD has formally auspiced the CQ Young Business Leaders Network (CQYBN) to encourage the young business people in Central Queensland to aspire to great things. RRD’s role with the CQYBN is to support functions that provide networking opportunities with businesses in the region, facilitate mentoring opportunities and to provide opportunities for young business people to achieve excellence in their chosen field. The first function for 2010 will be a coffee morning at The Edge on Friday 5 February commencing at 7.30am. Barbara Miller, the Australian Institute of Management’s 2009 Queensland Young Manager of the Year will be there to network and talk about her achievements. Central Queensland Carbon Network They will identify opportunities to ensure continued economic growth while balancing environmental concerns in a precarious future. The desired outcomes are to understand how a lower carbon economy may affect, and provide opportunities, for the community and your business, and to develop a response to address future impacts on the region. It is also designed to facilitate links and partnerships to manage your carbon emissions. If you are interested in getting professional insights on this issue at a local level, please register your interest with Sharyn Lowth on 4927 0292. Eco-Biz Seminar Simple ways to do so will be demonstrated during the seminar for a variety of businesses.
Mark your diaries - February 17, 2010 - 5.30 – 7pm.
To receive an invitation, please register your interest with Kelly Wilson on 4927 0292.
back to top back to top Over the next two years, over $300m will be spent in Central Queensland. To help identify if the money is being spent wisely, we ask that you complete this survey regarding the Stimulus Packages. The survey can be completed online until the end of January. Also online is the January edition of the Central Queensland Major Projects Status Reports. To view the reports, click here.
Those who would like to attend are asked to register their interest with Toni Underwood on 4927 0111. Nominations are now open for the 2010 Queensland Training Awards, with winners being announced on Saturday 24 July.
There are 7 categories contested across six regional areas, with winners competing for the state title. Apprentices, trainees, vocational students, and school-based apprentices or trainees are all encouraged to nominate for the individual awards. Nominations close on Thursday 18 March 2010. For more information, download a brochure. 2010 CQUni Student Careers Fair The theme for this event is Communication, with speakers discussing Facebook and Twitter, as well as how to make a good first impression. The cost is $10 and includes nibbles and drinks from 5:30 – 7:00pm. To RSVP please contact Erin Porteous. back to top
The survey, released yesterday, canvassed employer sentiment for the period up to the end of March 2010. According to the firm, 39.9% of employers in the sector intend to increase their permanent staff levels over the coming quarter. This was an increase of 20.4 percentage points on the December 2009 quarter results, making it the largest quarterly increase in sentiment nationally, Hudson said. "A recovery in resources demand from China and a rebound in commodity prices have seen a strong return of confidence in the resources industry," the company said in a statement. "A range of mining and resource projects are now being fast tracked and many employers are having to ramp up workforce planning for the work ahead." Confidence in the Western Australian resources industry experienced a massive increase of 39.3 percentage points to reach 54.1%. According to Hudson, WA employers are now at their most confident in 12 months. "The resources sector is amongst the most confident industries in WA after having been the least confident last quarter," the firm said. "As more projects get signed off, skills shortages are expected to return in a number of key areas and WA will again have to make efforts to attract resources from other parts of Australia. "Senior engineers with over ten years' experience are in highest demand." "Operational employment capacities have returned to pre-economic downturn levels and the supply chain is under considerable pressure to meet demand," Hudson said. "Employment growth is expected to be driven by the expansion of existing facilities and the construction of new mines in Central Queensland, such as the proposed $7.5 billion China First Project. "The Queensland Resources Council is predicting the creation of about 50,000 jobs in Central Queensland over the next five to ten years." Confidence among employers in NSW's Hunter Valley and Central Coast regions was up 5.9 percentage points to 52.4%, building on the massive increase in the previous quarter.
"Sentiment is now extremely high and is at by far its highest level in the past 12 months," the firm said. "Port infrastructure expansion continues to boost confidence in the region, with coal exports expected to increase significantly over coming years."
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Rockhampton Regional Development Level 4, 130 Victoria Parade Rockhampton Q 4700 P: +61 7 4927 0292 F: +61 7 4927 0294 E: enquiries@rrdl.com.au Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation (DEEDI) PO Box 947 Rockhampton Q 4700 P: +61 7 4938 4572 F: +61 7 4938 4986
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| Our mailing address is: PO Box 1075 Rockhampton Queensland 4700 Our telephone: +61 7 4927 0292 Copyright (C) 2009 Rockhampton Regional Development - All rights reserved. |
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RRD has taken the plunge and moved into the world of Facebook. 