SEPTEMBER 2023 - NEWSLETTER30-Minute City public transport research released New research commissioned by RDA Illawarra revealed that fewer than 11 percent of Wollongong LGA addresses could access the Wollongong CBD by rail in 30 minutes. The situation is worse for Shellharbour residents with just 8 percent able to access Stockland Shellharbour by rail in the same time. Bus transport in both areas fared better with 46 percent of Wollongong residents able to reach the city within 30 minutes, while 64 percent of Shellharbour residents could reach their local primary centre within the same timeframe. Only 1.8% of the region’s commuters use public transport to get to work. Implementing an integrated service plan could deliver a 30-minute public transport commute for many more residents. RDA Illawarra's public transport research report by UOW's SMART Infrastructure Facility makes five recommendations:
Scenario modelling shows that introducing or modifying a couple of key routes could deliver a 30-minute journey to more than 13,000 additional addresses in Berkeley, West Dapto and Calderwood. First wave of skills demand research available now RDA Illawarra is undertaking a 2-year research project, which will identify skills demands and future opportunities in the Illawarra. Skill shortages are not a new dilemma, but the context of our environment has rapidly changed, especially with recent global impacts such as COVID-19, cost of living pressures and record levels of low unemployment (currently 2.8%). The research project will compile region-specific data and identify industry training, recruitment and migration strategies for the Illawarra that addresses the needs of regional employers and investors. This is crucial to ensure businesses can attract and retain the skilled staff necessary to their operations. Research from the first round of the survey with 185 employers shows 56 percent of Illawarra businesses rate the level of skills shortages as either high (31%) or extreme (25%) with Shellharbour employers rating the shortage more critical at 77 percent. Sixty percent of respondents perceive an acute shortage of skilled labour for the foreseeable future. On 11 August RDA Illawarra convened a Skills Forum which was attended by over 40 regional stakeholders. A presentation of the first wave of research is provided here. The Big 5 Questions + Group Actions from the Skills Forum can be accessed here. All Illawarra businesses are invited to take part in the next six-monthly survey in October, which takes less than 10 minutes to complete by either phone or on-line. Employers will be asked about the skills and occupations that are required for their business now, and into the future. Employers are urged to support this project and take the call from our research partners, EMRS, in the next three waves of research. Enquiries to: admin@rdaillawarra.com.au. Visa information sessions for employers and migrants On 29 August RDA Illawarra hosted two skilled migrant visa information sessions. The first brought employers together with representatives from the Department of Home Affairs and the Migration Institute of Australia who explained different visa options and the importance of understanding the visa process and obtaining expert advice. Skilled migrants with family and friends attended the second session that was focussed on settling into the region. Guest speakers from the Department of Home Affairs, the Migration Institute of Australia, Service NSW, Work + Stay and Illawarra Multicultural Services gave migrants information on the different visa options and a variety of services and support available to them. Following the session, migrants had the opportunity to meet the presenters and have their questions answered one on one. Thank you to our guest speakers for making this event possible. We look forward to working together and delivering future information sessions to further support skilled migration in the region. Enquiries to: migration@rdaillawarra.com.au. Renewable Energy in the Illawarra Forum RDA Illawarra CEO Debra Murphy was a panel member at the Environment Institute of Australia and New Zealand (EIANZ) Renewable Energy in the Illawarra Forum in August. BlueFloat Energy’s Head of Environment and Planning Deb Neumann provided an overview of the South Pacific Offshore Wind Project and highlighted the multi-jurisdictional approvals process the project will require. Hosted by Stantec, a global leader in sustainable design and engineering, the event brought environmental professionals from the across the region together to consult and discuss the renewable energy challenges and opportunities planned for the future. Illawarra Aboriginal Business Expo on 12 October October is Indigenous business month and to celebrate, Wollongong City Council is partnering with the Illawarra Indigenous Business Network to host the Illawarra Aboriginal Business Expo:
The expo will showcase a great range of Aboriginal businesses local to the Illawarra and Shoalhaven. If you have a Reconciliation Action Plan or are interested to learn more about local Aboriginal businesses and how to buy from them, come along to meet them. |