Stakeholders from a broad range of industries including early childhood education, banking, employment and disability, health, food manufacturing and hospitality will attend the event to share their experiences.

Discussion will include job opportunities in the industries of the future, the skills that will be in demand and the challenges in attracting and retaining skilled workers.

The input from the roundtable will be used as a contribution to the national Jobs and Skills Summit held in Canberra on 1 and 2 September, bringing together unions, employers, civil society and governments, to address our shared economic challenges, including skills shortages.

Australia is experiencing one of the most severe labour shortages in the developed world.

The shortages are across industries that are vital to the health and wellbeing of Australians and our economy.

After nearly a decade of inaction under the previous government, made worse by the decision to abandon migrant workers during the pandemic lockdowns, it’s vital we get a better understanding of the skills we need now and in the future, to drive national skills policy.

The Albanese Government is taking immediate action to address the urgent skills crisis.

Quotes attributable to Minister for Skills and Training, Brendan O’Connor MP

“When Labor came to office we found a yawning skills gap which we need to address.

“Today’s roundtable in Bendigo will feed into the national Jobs and Skills Summit to be held in September, where we will bring people together from all backgrounds to find common ground and achieve real outcomes in this area.

“This roundtable is just the beginning of the conversation, as we work to deliver job opportunities and fix skill shortages in Bendigo and across Australia.

Quotes attributable to Federal Member for Bendigo Lisa Chesters:

 “It’s vital that industry leaders are able to share their ideas, difficulties and aspirations on how the Government can work with them to find solutions.

 “The Labor Government already has a plan to get wages moving and get more people into secure work. But we welcome any new proposals that could help us achieve those aims.

ENDS