RDA Tasmania Regional Plan July 2017 – June 2019 Version 1 Approved 31 July 2017 Prepared for: RDA Tasmania Committee and Department of Infrastructure and Regional Development RDA Tasmania Regional Plan 2017 - 2019 Contents 1. Message from the RDA Chair .......................................................................................................... 7 2. Executive Summary ........................................................................................................................ 8 Purpose ............................................................................................................................................... 8 RDA Tasmania in 2016-2017 ............................................................................................................... 9 Key issues and strengths ..................................................................................................................... 9 Economy ......................................................................................................................................... 9 Population....................................................................................................................................... 9 Natural Assets ................................................................................................................................. 9 Tourism, Art and Culture .............................................................................................................. 10 Government Investment and Stimulus ......................................................................................... 10 Challenges ..................................................................................................................................... 10 Key message ...................................................................................................................................... 10 3. Vision for the region ..................................................................................................................... 11 4. Role of the RDA ............................................................................................................................. 12 5. Analysis of the region ................................................................................................................... 14 5.1 Human capital ........................................................................................................................... 14 Strengths and Opportunities ........................................................................................................ 14 Needs and Challenges ................................................................................................................... 14 5.2 Sustainable communities and population growth: ................................................................... 15 Strengths and Opportunities ........................................................................................................ 15 Needs and Challenges ................................................................................................................... 16 5.3 Access to international, national and regional markets: .......................................................... 16 Strengths and Opportunities ........................................................................................................ 16 Needs and Challenges ................................................................................................................... 17 5.4 Comparative advantage and business competitiveness ........................................................... 17 6. Regional priorities ......................................................................................................................... 20 7. Implementation of RDA priorities ................................................................................................ 22 7.1 Expand and grow economic activity in Tasmania ................................................................. 22 7.2 Increase collaboration and efficiencies between federal, state and local government; and between government and the private sector ................................................................................... 23 7.3 Improve educational attainment and employability skills .................................................... 24 2 RDA Tasmania Regional Plan 2017 - 2019 7.4 Address the needs of Tasmania’s changing demographic profile ......................................... 24 REGIONAL PROFILE ................................................................................................................................ 25 Comparative competitiveness of Tasmania’s North, North West and South ....................................... 26 1. Human capital ............................................................................................................................... 27 1.1 Why we need what we need from education ....................................................................... 27 1.2 Education in Tasmania .......................................................................................................... 28 1.2.1 Educational attainment ................................................................................................. 28 1.2.3 Tasmanian training and workforce development ............................................................... 31 1.3 Education profile of the workforce ....................................................................................... 32 1.2.1 Tertiary education and research ................................................................................... 33 1.2.2 Peter Underwood Centre for Educational Attainment ................................................. 34 1.4 Workforce challenges ............................................................................................................ 34 1.4.1 Unemployment .............................................................................................................. 34 1.4.3 Hours worked ............................................................................................................... 35 1.4.4 Participation rate ........................................................................................................... 35 1.4.5 Ageing workforce .......................................................................................................... 35 1.4.6 Literacy and numeracy .................................................................................................. 36 1.5 Workforce opportunities ....................................................................................................... 38 1.51 Tasmanian Skills Strategy .............................................................................................. 38 1.5.2 Changes in industry employment levels ........................................................................ 38 1.5.3 Skill shortages ................................................................................................................ 39 1.6 Tasmania's low economic productivity ................................................................................. 39 2. Sustainable communities and population growth: ...................................................................... 41 2.1 Economic ............................................................................................................................... 41 2.1.1 Socio economic profile .................................................................................................. 41 2.1.2 Changes in industry composition and challenges these present .................................. 44 2.1.3 Priorities and opportunities .......................................................................................... 45 2.2 Environment .......................................................................................................................... 46 2.2.1 Natural resource management (NRMs) ....................................................................... 47 2.2.2 Clean Energy .................................................................................................................. 48 2.2.3 Tasmanian biosecurity and wildlife ............................................................................... 48 2.2.4 Tasmania’s environmental future ................................................................................. 48 3 RDA Tasmania Regional Plan 2017 - 2019 2.3 Social...................................................................................................................................... 51 2.3.1 Urban growth pressures (including housing, land and water management issues) ..... 51 2.3.2 Cultural diversity ........................................................................................................... 52 2.3.3 Health and ageing .......................................................................................................... 52 2.3.4 Quality of life issues (including desirability to live in the region).................................. 54 2.4 Population ............................................................................................................................. 55 2.4.1 Population growth ......................................................................................................... 56 2.4.3 Demographic change ....................................................................................................