Prosper Partnerships Forum highlights workforce priorities for the future of primary industries

RDA Ipswich & West Moreton CEO Rees Banks has returned from the Prosper Partnerships Forum with valuable insights to share with the Springfield Regional Jobs Committee, following important discussions on the opportunities and challenges shaping the future of primary industries.

The forum provided a timely pulse check on key issues affecting the sector, including natural disasters, reducing red tape, biosecurity and workforce planning. These themes reinforced the growing need for a strong, skilled and agile workforce that can respond to change and support the long-term productivity, resilience and competitiveness of primary industries.

A strong future for the sector will depend on attracting more people into primary industries careers, strengthening workforce pipelines and ensuring workers have the in-demand skills needed to lift innovation, productivity and output. It also means supporting employers to adopt innovative and inclusive workforce practices that help attract, retain and develop talent over the long term.

As the sector continues to evolve, success will be reflected in a workforce that is more highly skilled, more digitally capable and better equipped to meet emerging industry needs. This includes improving workforce planning, strengthening career pathways from school through to vocational and tertiary education, and using better workforce data to drive smarter, evidence-based decision-making.

There is also significant opportunity to expand digital, data and AgTech capability across primary industries, helping to attract the next generation of workers and support the sector’s innovation agenda. Strong partnerships between industry, schools, training providers, universities and research organisations will be critical to building a future-ready workforce and ensuring primary industries remain resilient, productive and globally competitive.

This is particularly important for Greater Springfield. As a fast-growing urban centre located in close proximity to key agricultural regions including the Lockyer Valley and Somerset, Greater Springfield is well placed to play a role in strengthening awareness of and access to careers in primary industries. There is a real opportunity to better connect young people in our region with the wide range of jobs emerging across agriculture, AgTech, food production, logistics, environmental management and related industries. By broadening exposure to these career pathways and building stronger links between education, training and industry, Greater Springfield can help support regional workforce needs while opening the door to exciting and future-focused opportunities for the next generation.