Industry Skills and Workforce Development STEPHEN LONG Industry Skills and Workforce Manager
2016 was a busy year for the Work Force Development (WFD) team. Pete Handy and I have covered 41,000 kilometres in the WFD Corolla across all areas of Tasmania and have met with many members and non-members promoting programs, seeking information on areas of concern, and trying to work through many issues. As I reported in the last article, we have managed to get a great deal done. Not all of it has been well accepted as we are challenging the “norms” of some hospitality and training environments and much of it seeks to change practices and models that are not meeting the industry’s contemporary need. Let’s reflect on the WFD team, me, Pete and Ross – what do we bring to the table: Stephen Long, employed at THA for 2 and a quarter years (27 months) • After 40 odd years employed in the Public sector (but never a Public Servant), brings a strategic and high level focus into a position that needed to get the helicopter
view. • Many reviews have been undertaken and most say the same things – it’s about skills. It is, but it’s also about the people, and the number needed far exceeds the number available. • My focusses are: - on the future and the need to rebuild trust in the generations coming to our Industry. This means changes in the way we sell the industry and its careers and how we help develop the right students in schools to be suitable and ready for the industry. - on the present and fixing the Apprenticeship and Traineeship systems, yes fix the systemic problems, don’t just throw more money at support – it doesn’t work. - on making our managers understand the contemporary environment – strategies and practices from the 1990’s don’t work any more. Pete Handy, employed at THA for 18 months • Pete is:
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Hospitality Review
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