Jobs and Skills Summit a great success

Greater South East Melbourne is delighted to have welcomed more than 200 leaders from across politics, industry, government, education and the community to the GSEM Jobs and Skills Summit.

Held at Bunjill Place, Narre Warren on Friday 3 May 2024, the Summit was a buzz of excitement, ideas sharing and succeeded in its aims to drive awareness of much-needed employment growth in the southeast region, and how that can be achieved.

The Summit is part of a longer-term strategy to encourage coordinated investment by government, industry and the education sector in the jobs and skills that the region needs now and into the future.

The Summit was addressed by a host of experts (view the full program here) as well as Minister Natalie Hutchins; Jodie Belyea MP, Member for Dunkley, representing Minister Brendan O’Connor (read her full address here); and Mr John Pesutto, Leader of the Opposition in Victoria.

A panel moderated by the ABC’s Michael Rowland was highly successful.

Panellists – Simon McKeon AO, GSEM Chair and Monash University Chancellor; Emma Dawson, Executive Director, Per Capita; and Honi Walker – CEO, South East Melbourne Manufacturers Alliance (SEMMA) – discussed how the southeast can be innovative and capitalise on the emerging opportunities like the transition to net zero economy.

The outcomes from the Summit will become a regional roadmap, that will form the basis of future advocacy and provide a clear vision for what GSEM and the region will seeking from governments and other key stakeholders.

The Greater South East Melbourne Jobs and Skills Roadmap will be launched in Parliament House, Canberra, on 26 June 2024 to ensure the Federal Government and Opposition are aware of the needs of the region.

The key message is that our region already represents a quarter of Melbourne’s' employment and with more than two million expected to call the region home in a decade, now is the time to start investing in job creation, skills, infrastructure and community. 

Background to GSEM

Greater South East Melbourne is the fastest-growing region in Australia’s fastest-growing city.

The population is set to grow from 1.5 million to two million over the next decade.

To accommodate this level of growth and to cater for the needs of workers and employers, the region needs well-planned investment by government, industry and the education sector.

GSEM research has found an urgent need for investment in jobs and skills.

The future prosperity of the region’s residents depends on a skilled and adaptive workforce that is future focussed and responsive to the changing nature of work.

The GSEM-commissioned report – Greater South East Melbourne Skills and Employment Analysis by SGS Economics and Planning – found that the southeast:

·      has significantly higher long-term unemployment than the Melbourne average

·      concerning rates of female unemployment

·      declining workforces in the region’s top two industries

·      a high proportion of workers who are significantly overqualified for their jobs, and

·      lower rates of education.

Training designed to provide the skills of the future is crucial for the prosperity of the region and its residents.

Increased workforce participation and access to relevant skills across the GSEM region will increase productivity, as well as address problems associated with social disadvantage.

The Jobs and Skills Summit brought together community, education, government and industry leaders to discuss practical actions we can take to address the challenges the region is facing, and improve the ways we collaborate to achieve results across our communities.  

The Summit is the initiative of a working group that includes representatives from: 

·      State government (Victorian Skills Authority, Dept of Jobs, Skills, Industry and Regions, Dept of Education 

·      Federal government (Workforce Australia) 

·      Local government (eight local councils) 

·      Education providers (Chisholm Institute, Federation University, Monash University, LLENs) 

·      Community leaders (Women’s Health in the South East) 

·      Industry representatives (South East Melbourne Manufacturers Alliance)