Submission to the Jobs and Skills Roadmap for regional Australia

Regional Australia supports key industries such as agriculture, mining, manufacturing and renewable energy, which are crucial for the country’s food security, resource sector and energy production. However, regional Australia faces persistent challenges in education, workforce, digital connectivity and equitable access to employment opportunities. Key groups of people face barriers to training and workforce participation, including women, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and migrant workers. Strengthening education and training pathways, removing structural barriers and investing in programs that enable learning and workforce participation across marginalised groups can increase regional resilience and capability. Rapid technological, social and environmental change will shape the future of jobs in regional Australia, and science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) skills will be critical to transforming the regional workforce. 

Recommendations from ATSE’s submission 

1. Expand access to STEM education in regional Australia, with early exposure at school level and stronger promotion of pathways into clean energy and critical industries. 
2. Support critical STEM disciplines at regional universities by covering the full cost of STEM courses and increasing microcredential offerings. 
3. Expand programs that support women in regional Australia to access STEM education to increase representation in STEM disciplines, including engineering. 
4. Expand and support First Nations-led STEM education initiatives to improve participation and employment outcomes. 
5. Improve recognition of overseas qualifications and align skilled migrant assessments with local employer needs to reduce underemployment and support faster workforce integration in regional Australia. 
6. Support connectivity in rural, regional and remote areas, including through the Better Connectivity Plan for Regional and Rural Australia.