WELDING SA
Overview
In April of 2008, the South Australian Government announced the construction of a Salt Water Reverse Osmosis desalination plant.
The design of the Adelaide Desalination Plant incorporates a specific minimum design life for components. The materials used throughout the plant for these components are chosen based on properties that will enable them to achieve this design life. The seawater reverse osmosis buildings are the heart of the Adelaide Desalination Plant and the choice of the correct stainless steel pipe and fittings along with the installation and maintenance is essential to the plant durability.
Further research into the Welding Industry within Australia identified a significant shortfall of First Class Welders required not only to complete and maintain the Desalination Project, but across the industry as a whole.
In fact, industry research predicts a shortfall in the supply of metal engineering workers with post-school qualifications of approximately 240,000 over the next ten years. The Manufacturing Industries Environment Scan 2009 (Manufacturing Skills Australia) reports that these predictions are of great concern to manufacturing industries around Australia, including those within South Australia.
Much of the evidence for skill shortages is anecdotal due to the significant diversity of skills and disciplines in the metal fabrication and engineering industry. This makes it exceptionally difficult to accurately gauge skills in demand, such as those for welders.
Locally, businesses within the metal and engineering industry report a veritable drought in the availability of skilled workers – with welders being sourced from far afield to satisfy project based work within the State.
Manufacturing Skills Australia reports that the efficient and strategic implementation of vocational level training and assessment is seen by manufacturing industries as critical to skilling this workforce.
SA Water Train and Retain Strategy
In response to the significant skills and labour shortfall in specialist metal fabrication and welding tradespeople that the Adelaide Desalination Plant Project is projected to encounter, SA Water and AdelaideAqua have collaborated to create The Welding Training and Testing Initiative (WTTI).
Through the Welding Training & Testing Initiative, SA Water and AdelaideAqua will upskill the local South Australian workforce by funding and project managing training and assessment from entry level welding qualifications through to specialised welding qualifications and/or certifications.
Training and education received will equip individuals with skill sets which will allow them to pursue a wide range of career pathways in South Australia and around the nation.
It is envisaged that the creation of this highly skilled welding workforce will benefit local industry for a generation beyond the plant’s projected completion date.
Skills, qualifications and certifications delivered, although primarily specific to the needs of the Desalination Plant, will be concentrated in an effort to be transferrable to other sectors specific to South Australia. These areas are:
- Wine Industry
- Dairy Industry
- Defence Industry
- Manufacturing Industry
- Glass Reinforced Polymer
Vocational Educational and Training Providers
AdelaideAqua has engaged two training providers; Australian Welding Solutions (AWS) and TAFE SA (Panorama Campus) to deliver training packages specific to welding qualifications and certifications.
The delivery scope of the training providers is:
- TAFE SA to deliver qualification of MEM30305 in both a total pathway structure from Pre-vocational to qualification level.
- AWS will deliver specialised welding certification and testing as per Australian Standards and the ADP Welding procedures.
AdelaideAqua (Adelaide Desalination Plant) in partnership with TAFE SA (Panorama Campus), Australian Welding Solutions (AWS), local council and local employers have banded together to facilitate the skills and training needs within the local community, to create a pool of highly skilled welders.
As part of SA Water and AdelaideAqua’s community and industry consultation, we welcome your constructive feedback to ensure that the Welding Training and Testing Initiative is a great success for all involved.
For more information
To be a part of this exciting opportunity, please fill out the Welding Application Form and return to the address at the bottom of the form.
For further information please contact AdelaideAqua via:
- Email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it providing your contact and address details.
- Telephone (08) 8329 0700 and ask to speak with the Welding Training Coordinator
For Frequently Asked Questions about the Welding Initiative, please click here