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Unpacking the green skills challenge

Dr Garry McDonaldNational Centre for Sustainability

Swinburne University of Technology

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Australia’s emissions trends, 1990 to 2020

-5%

-15%

-25%

+24%

350

400

450

500

550

600

650

700

750

1990 1995 2000 2005 2010 2015 2020

Mt C

O2-

e

Kyoto period

108% of 1990 level

2000 level

106% of 1990 level

emissions excluding deforestation and forestry % change on

2000 level

-160

-216

-272

Abatement challengein 2020 (Mt CO2-e)

Text lineDefinition

Skills for sustainability, also known as green skills, are the technical skills, knowledge, values and attitudes needed in the workforce to develop and support sustainable social, economic and environmental outcomes in business, industry and the community

Green Skills Agreement (GSA)

endorsed by COAG November 2009

Swinburne

Text lineWhich jobs need ‘skills for sustainability’?

Emerging ‘clean and

green’ jobs & industries

Existing jobs that provide

green outcomes

All other jobs (professions, trades and disciplines)

Swinburne

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Emerging ‘clean and

green’ jobs & industries

Swinburne

Examples include:

Electric & hybrid car design, manufacture and operation

Develop /assess / install low energy lighting

Carbon Farming

Wind, solar, geothermal energy

Water recycling

Which jobs need ‘skills for sustainability’?

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Existing jobs that provide

green outcomes

Swinburne

Examples include:

Sustainable landscape design

Building retrofits

Construction of 6&7 star buildings

HVAC – Install / upgrade/ maintain

Reforestation

Gas fired power station system operator

Which jobs need ‘skills for sustainability’?

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All other jobs (professions, trades and disciplines)

Swinburne

Sustainable, resource efficient practices in:

Hairdressing

Sport & recreation

Fine arts

Finance

Hospitality

Nursing

etc

Which jobs need ‘skills for sustainability’?

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Skills implications?

Swinburne

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Swinburne Swinburne

GSA – Revise Training Packages

Education (knowledge and skills) about sustainability

1. Green technical skills

2. Skills for sustainability “bolted on”

3. Skills for sustainability “embedded”

4. Qualifications in sustainability

Text line1. Green Technical skills

• Green Skills and Energy Efficiency Training Units (NSW Dept Education and Community)

https://www.training.nsw.gov.au/forms_documents/industry_programs/workforce_development/greenskills/bus_incent_units.pdf

• Energy and systems literacy?

Swinburne

Text line2. Skills for sustainability “bolted on”

Sustainable, resource efficient practices

Competency standards for sustainability

Participate in environmentally sustainable work practices (AQF II)

Implement & monitor environmentally sustainable work practices (AQF IV)

Develop workplace policy and procedures for sustainability (AQF V & VI)

Core in all MSA, CPSISC, EE-Oz qualifications

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Text line3. Skills for sustainability “embedded”

Swinburne

Analyse and apply sustainability skills to learning programs (TAESUS501A)

Text line4. Sustainability-focussed qualifications

Diploma of Sustainability (21645VIC)

Voc Graduate Certificate in Sustainability (21545VIC)

Diploma of Carbon Management (22059VIC)

Certificate IV, Diploma and Vocational Graduate Certificate in Sustainable Operations (MSA)

Certificate IV and Diploma Environmental Monitoring and Technology (MSA)

Vocational Graduate Certificate in Environmental Management (MSA)

Swinburne University of Technology, Melbourne Australia 13

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Swinburne

- Manufacturing Skills Australia (NEW) Sustainability site www.sustainabilityskills.net.au

- TAFE NSW (NEW) Sustainability Hub http://ecommunities.tafensw.edu.au/course/view.php?id=19

- Sustainability Resources for Learning & Teaching in Higher Education (ALTC) http://sustainability.edu.au/

- Sustainability Victoria – Resource Smart – Sust Courses http://www.resourcesmart.vic.gov.au/for_educators/trades_professions.html

- Go Green Sample Apprenticeship programs www.bsv.org.au/Careers/Go-Green/Go-Green-Resource

- AACC: The SEED (Sustainability Education and Economic Development) Centre http://theseedcenter.org/default.aspx

- AASHE: Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education. Equivalent to ACTS http://www.aashe.org/

Resources and support Swinburne

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Green skills Skills for sustainability

Job Done ?

Swinburne

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Swinburne

GSA: Upskilling VET practitioners

1. Sector-specific green competencies

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Emerging ‘clean and

green’ jobs & industries

Existing jobs that provide

green outcomes

All other jobs (professions, trades and disciplines)

Swinburne

GSA: Upskilling VET practitioners

The role of educators: mobilising skills into action

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Emerging ‘clean and

green’ jobs & industries

Existing jobs that provide

green outcomes

All other jobs (professions, trades and disciplines)

Swinburne

The role of educators: mobilising skills into action

Education for Sustainability

GSA: Upskilling VET practitioners

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Bendigo Advertiser

the skills, attitudes and values needed for:

• Envisaging a better future

• Systems thinking

• Problem solving

• Critical thinking and reflection

Education for sustainability Swinburne

Text lineProfessional Development for VET Practitioners

• TDC Professional Development Series “Integrating sustainability into teaching practice”

• NSW Sustainability workshops

• Voc Graduate Certificate in Education and Training for Sustainability (NCS Swinburne)

• Dip TAE10 Sustainability Skills Set

>Analyse and apply sustainability skills to learning programs (TAESUS501A)

>Identify and apply current sustainability education principles and practice to learning programs (TAESUS502A)

Swinburne

Text lineUnpacking the green skills challenge

Conclusions1. Green skills - embedded into training packages and

qualifications

2. Enormous challenges for the next 8 years

a) Equipping our teachers with:

• Technical green skills

• Capability in Education for Sustainability

b) Equipping our students with

• A commitment to act on knowledge

• Energy literacy

c) Training the existing workforce!

Swinburne

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Thank you

Garry McDonaldNational Centre for SustainabilitySwinburne University of Technology

gmcdonald@swin.edu.au

Ph 0419 521 238

Swinburne

Text line One perspective on green jobs

Low Carbon Growth PlanClimateWorks Australia

Swinburne

Text lineEducation about Sustainability

Emerging ‘clean and

green’ jobs & industries

Existing jobs that provide

green outcomes

All other jobs (professions, trades and disciplines)

Swinburne

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Low Carbon Growth Plan

From ClimateWorks Australia

Energy efficiency

Land management

Power generation

Swinburne

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Solar PV

Text line(national) Green Skills Agreement

Primary objectives:

1.  Develop national standards for skills for sustainability instruction

2.  Revise Training Packages to incorporate skills for sustainability

3.  Upskill VET teachers and instructors to deliver skills for sustainability; and

4.  Support vulnerable workers through the transition to a low carbon economy.

Swinburne

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Low Carbon Growth PlanLowest cost opportunities to reduce emissions by 249 Mt CO2e1

From ClimateWorks Australia

-250

-150

-50

50

150

Cost to SocietyA$/tCO2e

50 100 150 200 250 0

$$ 0

Mt CO2e

Swinburne

Text lineVoc Graduate Certificate in Education and Training for Sustainability

It’s changed the way I view my role as an educator… I’ve gained a new motivation in my working life. I now believe I can make a real difference to the way we equip students to face complex societal problems in moving to a more sustainable future. As a result I feel like there is a huge amount of good that can be done.

Miriam Downes

Swinburne

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National Centre for Sustainability

Who are we?

Established since 2003 as a Specialist Centre

A collaboration of 6 institutions including:

Challenger TAFE (WA)

South West TAFE Institute (Vic)

Sunraysia TAFE Institute (Vic)

Swinburne University of Technology (Vic)

Tropical North Queensland Institute of TAFE (Qld)

University of Ballarat (Vic)

Swinburne

Text lineAustralian policy drivers

Australian policy framework for carbon and energy

Kyoto and post-Kyoto emissions reductions targets

Emissions Trading Scheme – carbon pricing

Carbon Farming Initiative

Building standards (6 star homes, etc)

National Greenhouse and Energy Reporting System (NGERS)

Industry Energy Efficiency Programs (eg VEET)

Mandatory Energy Performance Standards (EEO)

Mandatory Disclosure (commercial & residential)

Enhanced Renewable Energy Target (MRET)

Clean Energy Initiative and Energy Technology Innovation Strategy

Feed-in-tariffs

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Text lineA sustainable living journey

Swinburne

Text lineThe legacy?

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