IPWEA NSW is recommending that the Australian Government play a role in incentivising Local Government to directly engage Cadet Engineers within Councils across Australia. The delivery and on-going stewardship of critical infrastructure will require qualified and skilled professional Engineers to ensure value for money.
IPWEA NSW undertook a skills audit across NSW Councils and collated data from recent membership surveys. The trend is very clear.
With 53% of Engineers responding now over 50 years of age, and a skills shortage already evident, it is clear Governments across all levels must act now to immediately incentivise investment in new skilled and qualified Engineers for the future. Only 53% of NSW Councils have a Cadet Engineering program. This is a self-fulfilling prophecy and unless addressed the skills shortage will develop into a crisis scenario.