The Victorian Government has released a guide to retool and upskill Gippsland’s existing and future energy workforce so they can take advantage of new opportunities in the renewable transition.
The Transition Opportunities: Coal to Offshore Wind guide, shows how workers in Gippsland’s coal power industry can play a significant role in Victoria’s new offshore wind sector. It follows the release of the Clean Economy Workforce Transition Framework for Gippsland project in January 2024.
Both reports were funded by the Victorian Government and delivered by Energy Australia, with TAFE Gippsland, Federation University, Atlas Professionals and Southerly Ten.
The report shows how more than half of the workers at Yallourn Power Station can transition to working in offshore wind, highlighting the similar skills and qualifications between industries. The report also outlines the training pathways required, many of which are available through TAFE Gippsland.
For example, a boilermaker could undertake short courses and certificates that take between two weeks and six months to qualify them as a near coastal engineer, maritime welder, construction welder or fabrication supervisor.
Similarly, a mechanical fitter could train to be a wind turbine technician, marine fitter, deck mechanic or cable technician. They could also upskill further to be a mechanical engineer through a diploma or graduate certificate provided through Victoria’s TAFE network.
These jobs are critical to the construction, operation and maintenance of Victoria’s offshore wind generation industry – which is key to meeting Victoria’s targets of at least 2GW of offshore wind energy generation by 2032, 4GW by 2035 and 9GW by 2040.
The Victorian Government is working with Energy Australia to ensure the managed transition of the Yallourn Power Station, including a $10 million worker support package to help workers and their families plan for their future.
The Federal Government has granted 12 offshore wind feasibility licenses in Gippsland. These projects could generate 25GW of electricity – more electricity than Victoria generated in 2023 – and create 15,000 jobs during construction and 7,500 ongoing positions. The expressions of interest for the first auction will open in late 2024.
The Victorian Energy Jobs Plan, to be released in 2025, is expected to further detail how the energy workforce will be developed to support the renewable energy transition.
EnergyAustralia Managing Director, Mark Collette, said, “We are privileged to have an incredibly talented team across our generation fleet, and we want our Yallourn team to be ready for their next careers following the closure in 2028. We’re supporting them with preparation, training, and planning for their futures. This partnership is an exciting opportunity to demonstrate that their skills can be transferred to other parts of the energy sector.”
Victorian Minister for Energy and Resources, Lily D’Ambrosio, said, “We’re taking workers with us through every step of the transition to net zero and these transferable skills and training opportunities are key to helping them prepare for the future.”
Victorian Minister for Skills and TAFE, Gayle Tierney, said, “Through our investments in skills and training across our TAFE system, we are delivering a successful, structured transition that ensures workers in traditional energy sectors can access decent jobs in new renewable energy industries.”
Member for Eastern Victoria, Harriet Shing, said, “Gippsland has always been critical to keeping the lights on across Victoria – and it will continue to be into the future while providing skilled jobs across the region.”
Member for Eastern Victoria, Tom McIntosh, said, “This report will help Gippslanders make the decision to continue their careers in new growth industry that’s in their region and help to support long term transition and development of local jobs.”
View the report here.
Featured image: fokke baarssen/Shutterstock.com.
