Launch of the Manufacturing Industry Skills Alliance Workforce Plan 2025

I’m really pleased to be here today – not only to launch this new Workforce Plan, but also to recognise the work that the Manufacturing Alliance is doing to support the industry.

I’ve just come from a tour of the Factory of the Future here at the Hawthorn campus, where I met some of the students who demonstrate, I think, the incredible possibilities that facilities like this provide for education and training now and into the future.

It’s a challenge for all of us to encourage more students and apprentices to choose a career in the manufacturing industry – but if we put them in front of facilities like those here at Swinburne, it’s an easy message to sell!

We are here today to launch the Manufacturing Alliance’s 2025 Workforce Plan: Pathways to Transformation, a strong example of an industry-informed and industry-driven strategy, setting a clear vision for the way forward in a time where we are seeing considerable change.

At its core is recognition of the need to work together in approaching workforce planning – collaborating and growing our tripartite relationship between employers, unions and governments.

Like most sectors, Australian manufacturing continues to navigate challenges driven by global economic and geopolitical uncertainty.

I’m optimistic about our capacity to chart a way forward, however, because as I travel around the country, I see how workplaces are rising to the challenges – and making the most of the opportunities that come from this too.

This third iteration of Workforce Plan builds on ways to address the critical challenges facing the manufacturing sector.

It concentrates on five pillars:

• clean manufacturing, which prepares the workforce for sustainable manufacturing practices
• building skills for resource efficiency and the circular economy
• maintaining our competitive edge through advanced technology and a tech-savvy workforce.
• fostering our sovereign capability by focusing on a resilient and skilled workforce to build supply chain resilience.
• ensuring a strong skills system – a workforce that is resilient and adaptable, with an emphasis on the apprenticeship model.

These pillars are setting the direction for the industry – and importantly, in the context of the Productivity Roundtable later this month, they’re responsive to the wider challenges our Government and our country is grappling with as we work together to put Australia in the best possible position.

I am also pleased to see the growing connection between vocational education and training, and higher education.

This has benefits on all fronts: for students and apprentices seeking new opportunities, for employers looking to put themselves in the best position for their productivity and their staff, and for our economy.

Tertiary harmonisation is an opportunity to create deeper connections and greater collaboration between our VET and higher education sectors.

We’re on the right path: our Government is investing in establishing more nationally networked TAFE Centres of Excellence built on partnerships between TAFEs, universities and industry.

And through Free TAFE, we’re getting more apprentices into the workforce: a testament to our commitment to ensure every Australian has an opportunity for tertiary education, which leads to good, secure, well-paid jobs.

But there’s more to do, and this is very much a focus for me in this second term.

I look forward to continuing to work with the people in this room – and those in the manufacturing industry right across the country – to ensure we are building our skilled workforce, and playing our part in setting Australia up for the future.