The Australian Government is supporting communities most likely to be affected by the closure of emissions-intensive industry. The Government will ensure that the people that have powered the nation for generations are not left behind in the transition.
Supporting workers, families and communities
The Government is investing in supports and services for workers, families, employers and communities to help them through Australia’s transition to net zero. The Net Zero Economy Agency and the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations are working with local people to develop supports and services that are in line with the needs of the community.
Every community will require a different approach to address their region’s unique barriers and to ensure people have access to the opportunities that arise as industries transition. This may include:
- Access to information about the net zero transition, the supports that are available and how to access them;
- Help to understand the value of their skills, gain new skills, or have their existing skills recognised through training opportunities and recognition of prior learning;
- Help for workers and communities members to find new work or make decisions about their career paths through career guidance;
- Access to job search assistance and matching, help with resume writing or interview preparation; and
- Wellbeing support and financial planning and advice.
The Government is consulting with regional communities on the best ways to help workers, families and communities in affected regions to navigate the changes in their local area and to take up new work and opportunities.
The Net Zero Jobs Plan will set out the Government’s vision of achieving a smooth workforce transition as Australia moves to a net zero economy. This will include through:
Regional Workforce Transition Officers
Regional Workforce Transition Officers are working closely with local people to help local business, industry and communities navigate and adjust to the transition to net zero in Central QLD, Gippsland VIC, the Hunter NSW, and South-West WA.
Energy Industry Jobs Plan
The Energy Industry Jobs Plan is part of the legislation to establish the Net Zero Economy Authority and will help people working in closing coal-fired and gas-fired power stations and their dependent employers (e.g. coal mines that are reliant on a closing power station) to access new employment through a redeployment process.
The Energy Industry Jobs Plan will ensure those workers are provided with the support they need to directly transition into a new job and will help employers in the region to identify and recruit skilled workers from closing facilities, keeping workers in those regions and reducing the impacts of closures on impacted communities.
Regional Workforce Transition Plans
The Regional Workforce Transition Plans will identify the employment and skills supports that are needed in each region and will be developed with workers, communities, unions, employers and state and local governments. The Regional Workforce Transition Plans will provide the support that people need and help communities know what is available and how and where to access it.
Transitioning Workforces
A fund to support transitioning workforce will help communities, business, industries, governments, and unions address local concerns or build local capability.
Consultation
The Government will continue to engage with people and businesses in regions on the best way to support communities to successfully navigate the opportunities arising from new clean energy industries and to develop more diverse regional economies.