REGIONAL TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES AT THE FOREFRONT FOR SCENIC RIM

Scenic Rim Regional Council has partnered with the Queensland Government to introduce a new Council officer charged specifically with helping local businesses to find, train and upskill the workers they need to prosper and grow.

Mitch Ryan recently joined Council's Economic Development team, based in Beaudesert, with a brief to focus on three of the Scenic Rim's biggest and fastest growing industries, agriculture/agri-business, health and allied services and hospitality and tourism, which collectively contribute more than $830 million to the regional economy.

The Queensland Government's Department of Employment, Small Business, Education and Training (DESBT) handpicked regional communities to be part of the program and Mitch is one of 18 specialist officers who have been funded by and appointed across Queensland as part of the $9 million Regional Skills Investment Strategy.

Mitch will drive the project in the Scenic Rim over the next two years. 

According to Scenic Rim Deputy Mayor Duncan McInnes, though only a couple of weeks into the job, Mitch has hit the ground running and already started to meet with a range of businesses in the three identified industry sectors.

"Over the coming weeks he will be out and about meeting with more and more of our local employers, building his understanding of their workforce challenges, exploring their skills gaps, identifying any barriers to training, helping connect them with the range of services and opportunities in the VET and training sector, as well as provide upskilling solutions for both the business owners and their employees," he said.

Mitch travelled to Brisbane recently to meet with other Regional Skills Investment Strategy officers from across Queensland and representatives from the Vocational Education and Training sector and Queensland Government. 

"It was a wonderful opportunity to meet my counterparts from across the State and hear how they have started tackling the challenge that I have been given, in their own regional areas," he said.

"We all have different priority industry sectors and different challenges, however the common thread for us all is that there is a wealth of opportunity in this area.  Many employers are simply not aware of all of the support programs, agencies and funding that is available out there to help them tackle these obstacles to growth.

"My job is to help them understand what is out there, to bridge the gaps, make the connections and ideally help them solve some of their workforce problems."

Any local employers or business people wishing to be a part of the program can contact Mr Ryan though Scenic Rim Regional Council's Economic Development team on 5540 5111.

This Regional Skills Investment Strategy project is proudly supported and funded by the Queensland Government.