Regional Development Australia Sunshine Coast committee member John Sargent and Local Employment Coordinator Kris McCue from the Department of Education will feature in the line-up of Innovation Showcase Speakers at the Sustainable Economic Growth for Regional Australia (SEGRA) conference in Coffs Harbour, NSW from 16-18 October.
The presentation, co-authored by RDA Sunshine Coast CEO Russell Mason, will be on ‘Workforce Planning for Queensland’s Sunshine Coast and Moreton Bay Regions: developing strategies to meet future skills and labour needs’.
“This presentation focuses on developing an understanding of expected labour force developments for the two regions within the broader demographic and workforce trends expected across the State and Australia,” Mr McCue said.
It will draw on the research report by Deloitte Access Economics who undertook a detailed overview of the regions’ current workforce and their projected changes over the next 20 years.
Mr McCue said the project would generate discussion about a regional workforce strategy to inform and guide the development of education, training, labour market and skills programs to align with the regions’ skills and labour needs.
This year’s SEGRA conference focuses on accessing global opportunities in regional Australia and local engagement of communities as a strategy to drive regional economic development. Key elements include building regions that are passionate, driven and fighting for their regional vision.
Mr Sargent said the conference provided the opportunity to hear from nationally and internationally acclaimed speakers on issues of regional development in Australia, hear success stories by practitioners from regional Australia, influence the policy agenda, and hatch inspirational ideas for the local region.
SEGRA 2013 will be held from 16-18 October. It features a plenary program, conversation pits, spotlight sessions, innovation showcases, workshops and Community of Practice gatherings.
For more information and registration visit www.segra.com.au