Australia is transitioning to net zero emissions, creating new opportunities for workers, industries and communities across the country. The Australian Government is committed to ensuring this transition is fair, inclusive and locally driven, particularly for workers and regions most affected by the energy transition.
Priority regions for workforce transition
The transition to net zero will reshape parts of the Australian labour market over time, creating new opportunities in areas such as clean energy, construction and manufacturing. At the same time some workers, communities and regions may experience disruption as industries change. Targeted support will be important in regions facing greater impacts, to help people access new opportunities and navigate change as their local economies transition.
The Australian Government is supporting regions most affected and recognises that:
- workers should be supported to find secure, well-paid work
- communities should have a strong voice in shaping their economic future
- transitions should be planned, not sudden or unmanaged.
Workforce transition support is being prioritised in four priority regions:
- the Hunter, New South Wales
- Gippsland, Victoria
- South-West Western Australia
- Central Queensland.
Supporting workers families and communities in priority regions
Targeted, place based initiatives are being developed in priority regions reflecting local labour market conditions, industry structures, and community needs. Lessons from these regions will inform broader workforce transition approaches across Australia.
Worker Transition Advisory Groups
Worker Transition Advisory Groups bring together local stakeholders – including unions, employers, community organisations, education and training providers and governments – in a structured forum to identify priorities, share insights and coordinate responses. They will ensure that workforce supports are co-designed, locally informed and aligned to community needs.
There are Worker Transition Advisory Groups in:
- the Hunter, New South Wales
- Gippsland, Victoria.
Members of the Worker Transition Advisory Groups and broader community can bring forward ideas for discussion. The department is currently considering Worker Transition Advisory Group approaches for other priority regions.
Please contact the local Regional Workforce Transition Officer if you have ideas for potential priorities to support workforce transitions.
Regional Workforce Transition Plans
Regional Workforce Transition Plans will identify the employment and skills supports that are needed in each priority region. They will be developed in partnership with unions, employers, communities and state and local governments.
Regional Workforce Transition Plans will underpin the support that people need, making it easier to understand what assistance is available, and how and where to access it.
Regional Workforce Transition Plans will be reviewed and updated over time, in consultation with Workforce Transition Advisory Groups, ensuring they remain responsive to emerging regional priorities.
Transitioning Workforce Fund
This fund will help communities, business, industries, governments and unions to address local concerns and build local capability in priority regions. The fund is intended to be flexible and responsive, and to support a range of workforce transition initiatives to help workers and communities adapt to change.
If you have ideas for potential priorities to support workforce transition in your community, please contact the local Regional Workforce Transition Officer.
Regional Workforce Transition Officers
Regional Workforce Transition Officers (RWTOs) provide local support on the ground in each priority region to:
- help business, workers and communities to navigate the transition to net zero
- work with local employers, unions and education and training providers
- link emerging industries and the workforce to job opportunities
- work with local, state and Australian Government agencies, providing insights and intelligence from the region and advice about local employment and workforce opportunities.
If you have an initiative or know of a workforce opportunity, RWTOs can either help directly or connect you with people that can.
Energy Industry Jobs Plan
Administered by the Net Zero Economy Authority, the Energy Industry Jobs Plan will help people working in closing coal-fired and gas-fired power stations and dependent employers to access new employment through a redeployment process. It will help ensure those workers are provided with the support they need and will help employers to identify and recruit skilled workers from closing facilities.
To find out more, visit the Net Zero Economy Authority website.
First Nations Engagement
The department has partnered with Ninti One to create resources designed to help employers and education and training providers to build cultural safety and engage First Nations communities to work together in the energy transition. To access the resources, visit First Nations Engagement in the Transition to Net Zero.