Submission to the Senate Education, Employment and Workplace Relations Committee – Inquiry Into the Effects of Climate Change on Training and Employment Needs

the built environment. The planned successor to this CRC – the Sustainable Built Environment Centre will further progress environmental sustainability for the built environment as the Centre’s future is confirmed in early 2009. We would like to thank the Senate Committee for the opportunity to make a submission to that Senate. The Inquiry focuses on the issue of developing Australia’s capacity in the area of climate change, with particular reference to: the ability of universities and other research and training institutions to meet current and future demand for climate change professionals; and measures to assist understanding of climate change in the Asia-Pacific region, including the provision of training and skills assistance. The chronic shortage of built environment industry workers – including professional, associate professional, and trades workers is a matter of ongoing concern for the built environment industry. The ongoing lack of skilled workers hampers the provision of infrastructure and building services generally and hinders the development of industry capability to improve the sustainability of cities and community infrastructure. Slow uptake of new technology which enhances the sustainability of the built environment is also adding to the resource shortage. We would like to provide two responses to the terms of reference of the committee: one more generally on the availability of skilled workers and a second more specific response from the CRC for Construction Innovation (hereafter referred to as Construction Innovation) and the future of research and training in this sector.