Results from Public Consultation

1 Regional Plan (Update) 2016-2020 Results from Public Consultation 169 survey respondents: Which industry do you represent? Transport, logistics and warehousing 0.0% Tourism, accommodation and food services 11.8% Retail 2.4% Public services 8.3% Professional, scientific and technical services 14.8% Other 5.9% Not for profit 21.9% Media and telecommunications 1.8% Manufacturing 2.4% Health care, aged care and social assistance 8.3% Food growers and producers 4.1% Financial and insurance services 3.6% Electricity, gas, water and waste services 1.2% Education and training 8.9% Construction 0.6% Arts 4.1% 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% Which local government area do you live in? Outside the region 3.0% Coffs Harbour 35.5% Bellingen 8.3% Nambucca 13.6% Kempsey 14.8% Port Macquarie -… 18.9% Greater Taree 5.9% 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% 2 Careers advice linked to traineeships and apprenticeships Issue: Youth unemployment is high and large numbers of young people leave the region after high school seeking career opportunities, however, skills gaps currently exist in many fields suited to traineeships and apprenticeships. Target outcome: To foster employment and retention of more young people by providing careers advice on local industries with employment potential, linked with more available traineeships and apprenticeships. Key points: - Our region’s youth unemployment rate is 50% higher than the NSW state average. - There is a decline in the number of apprenticeships being offered in the region. - The current school based traineeship process is overly complicated for students, teachers and employers. - Skills gaps currently exist in many fields suited to traineeships and apprenticeships, including nursing, aged care, allied health, agriculture, auto-electrical and building trades. Policy considerations: - More funding for careers advice in high schools, linked with clear outcomes for supporting school based traineeships and graduate traineeships or apprenticeships. - Greater incentives for employers to offer traineeships and apprenticeships, particularly in areas of skills gaps, including: nursing, aged care, allied health, agriculture, auto-electrical and building trades. - Simplification and streamlining of the school based traineeship process to encourage more schools, students and employers to look at these traineeships as a viable opportunity. - School based traineeships need to provide students with the higher “Certificate III” qualification (the industry standard to work unsupervised) to reward the additional work experience of student trainees. 3 Survey results: Careers advice linked to traineeships and apprenticeships Priority issue 38% Significant issue 50% Minor issue 11% Not an issue 1% 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% Weighted ranking: 1 Chambers and industry groups also ranked this 1st Councils ranked this much lower at 10. Example comments: Priority issue - Coffs Harbour City Council This is possibly the most significant issue facing the region ... The priority should be to identify skills gaps in growing sectors and undertake a targeted approach to connect youth with pathways and career opportunities in these growth sectors. For example, the identified growth in health and aged care, and allied services... Perhaps additional resources to support career advice during school years could better inform youth about future sustainable employment opportunities in their region. Priority issue - Youth Directions The current systems (STS, DoE, AAN, RTO) which are involved in the establishment of school based traineeships make it an overly complex and therefore unappealing option for many employers. Subsidies to support the uptake of traineeships and apprenticeships is desperately needed to ensure youth employment growth and skills growth for our broader economy. Significant issue – Port Macquarie-Hastings Council Port Macquarie-Hastings is under represented in the 18-25 bracket in addition to the 26 to 35 bracket in comparison to Regional NSW. Incentives to address the age imbalance would be most welcome as would be the support for youth innovation. The growth in education options will continue to bring young people to the region. The challenge is to keep them here post graduation by providing employment opportunities and compelling lifestyle reasons to remain in the region. 4 Demand for health care, aged care and disability services Issue: An ageing population and a steady influx of baby boomers to the region has created a growing need for investment in health care infrastructure to support greater integration of health services and to attract skilled professional in health care, aged care and disability services. Target outcome: To provide appropriate and integrated services to the growing, ageing and disadvantaged population of the Mid North Coast and to provide more employment opportunities. Key points: - Health Care and Social Assistance (including aged care) is the region’s largest employment sector, accounting for one in every six jobs. - 21.6% of the region’s population is over 65 years of age. The NSW state average is 14.7%. Aged persons are high users of health care, allied health, mental health, aged care and disability services. - Between 2011 and 2031 the overall population of the Mid North Coast Local Health District is projected to increase by 17%, while the population aged 65 years and over is expected to increase by 75%. - The increasing demand for services has highlighted skills gaps in many of the health fields, particularly in allied health, specialised nursing and aged care. Needs for skilled workers in mental health (such as dementia care) and disability services are also expected to rise. - Aged care is the region’s fastest growing industry, with value added growth of 20.9% p.a. over the past 3 years. Priority infrastructure: - Upgrade of hospital infrastructure to cater for population demands. Examples: - The proposed major upgrade to Manning Base Hospital. - Expansion of the Inpatient Mental Health Unit and car park at Port Macquarie Base Hospital. - Upgrades to Wauchope District Memorial Hospital, Macksville Health Campus and Dorrigo Hospital. - Expansion of Coffs Harbour Base Hospital and car park. - Expansion of the Nambucca HealthOne primary and integrated care service and establishment of new HealthOne primary and integrated care services at Bowraville, Urunga, Camden Haven and Bonny Hills/Lake Cathie. - Health care, aged care and allied health training facilities. 5 - Infrastructure that improves the delivery of disability services and facilitates the training and employment of disabled persons. Survey results: Ageing population Priority issue 34% Significant issue 55% Minor issue 11% Not an issue 0% 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% Weighted ranking: 2 Example comments: Priority issue - Port Macquarie-Hastings Council As the largest employer in the region, the health and aged care industry is growing rapidly and this trend is predicted to continue. Demand for health and aged care workers will also grow proportionately and skill shortages are inevitable. The Port Macquarie hospital upgrade and the joint health precinct will put additional pressure on the need for an engaged, capable and employment ready skilled workforce. Priority issue – Manning Valley Business Chamber Aged care and disability care are massively under resourced now with even greater demands coming when NDIS is fully operational. Significant issue – Manning Valley Partnership Board The $120 Million upgrade of the Manning Base Hospital is a significant project for the provision of health services in the Manning Valley .The upgrade will encourage more medical professionals to relocate to Taree. 6 Access to higher education and training Issue: More higher education and training opportunities need to be available to regional towns and within close proximity to vulnerable youth and indigenous communities. Target outcome: To improve higher education and training participation rates in marginalised communities to provide for better employment outcomes. Key points: - There is a close correlation between the distance students must travel to access higher education and their participation in higher education. This is particularly true of Indigenous communities who often prefer to stay “on country”. - The region’s youth university participation rate (5.7%) is well behind the New South Wales rate (19.8%). - Conversely, the region’s TAFE participation rates have been historically strong, due in part to a broad presence of TAFE campuses throughout the region. Restructuring to TAFE and changes to fee structures may have a bearing on participation rates in future. Priority infrastructure: - University campuses in regional centres and satellite campuses or shared study centres in smaller towns and in close proximity to Indigenous communities. Example: Upgrade of Southern Cross University (Coffs Harbour) campus to include allied health education. - Specialist skills based training facilities catering to skills needs in regional areas, such as agriculture, construction, allied health and aged care. Example: Establish a centre for Agricultural Education and Research in the Manning Valley, linked with North Coast TAFE, University of New England and Charles Sturt University. Policy considerations: - Provide more public transport options to regional universities from neighbouring towns. Example: Public transport linking Kempsey to universities in neighbouring Port Macquarie. - Support for the availability of TAFE (or Registered Training Organisation) delivered courses

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