Bridging the gap—the oil and gas industry

Abstract

The oil and gas industry is prone to skills shortages resulting from financial cycles, as is the case with many other industry sectors. Bridging the gap in indigenous employment is in part a solution to this problem and in the Northern Territory this has become easier due to innovative developments and smart partnerships.

When smart partnerships are formed that involve like-minded organisations, successful employment outcomes are inevitable. Partnerships, involving APPEA, Industries Services Training Pty Ltd (IST), the Australian Government through the National Shills Shortage Strategy (NSSS), plus the Structured Training and Employment Program—Employment Related Services (STEP ERS), which are funded through the Department of Employment Education and Workplace Relations (DEEWR) and the Department of Education and Training (DET) in the Northern Territory, have provided funding for Indigenous pre—employment training programs that are leading to positive employment outcomes in the oil and gas Industry.

The model developed and implemented in the Northern Territory by IST ensures Indigenous employment outcomes follow the delivery of the Indigenous pre-employment training programs. Key factors include:

1. Indigenous mentors;

2. culturally appropriate trainers;

3. Monitoring employment activities; and,

4. Specialist project management from APPEA and IST.

Methodologies and strategies employed by various partners ensure employment outcomes through the cooperation of principal subcontractors who require staff and who can service contracts let by major APPEA members.

Of the 18 Indigenous and Torres Strait Islander participants who commenced the eight-week program in 2008, 16 graduates received their nationally recognised Statements of Attainment at the graduation ceremony held at the Darwin Convention Centre in October 2008. There were six female graduates of the program. Competencies included first aid, dogging, safe working at heights and OHS including risk and hazard analysis training.

You may ask yourself why these courses were so successful when many others have failed. The presentation will outline difficulties; successful methodologies and strategies used by IST to ensure employment outcomes are achieved. These strategies include full-time Indigenous mentors throughout the course plus culturally appropriate trainers, smart recruitment strategies, dedicated employment service brokers soliciting employment opportunities, industry site visits, industry guest speakers and the commitment of Governments and APPEA. As a result of the successes to date, the relevant government departments have committed to further courses throughout 2009.