A pilot program to assist those with an international engineering qualification to find a job in Australia is underway in the City of Shepparton.
Statistics show that 47 per cent of people living in Australia that have an international engineering qualification are ‘underemployed’.
The free program will be delivered by La Trobe University and supported by the Shepparton City Council and Committee for Greater Shepparton.
The six-week Preparation for Professional Employment (P4PE) Program Pilot will assist overseas-trained engineers to find work, while at the same time filling a critical skills gap in regional Victoria.
Participants will upskill in several key areas to improve their employment prospects, including Australian workplace culture and recruitment practices, quality assurance and compliance, and presentation and networking skills.
Greater Shepparton City Council Mayor, Cr Shane Sali, said Council understands how challenging it can be for regional employers to find engineers, which is why this program is so important.
“By supporting overseas trained professionals Greater Shepparton is strengthening and diversifying the local workforce, and creating new opportunities for culturally diverse communities to thrive.”
The six-week, part time program assists overseas-trained engineers to gain introductory Australian skills and knowledge, with the objective of enhancing participants’ employment prospects and matching employers with newly skilled labour.
Participants complete a series of subjects including an introduction to workplace culture, Australian recruitment practices, quality assurance and compliance in engineering, presenting for success and developing networking skills.
Professor of Practice (Engineering) at La Trobe University, Chris Stoltz, said having more overseas-qualified engineers working in Australia would ease the pressure on the industry.
“The latest figures from Engineers Australia show that the demand each year for engineering graduates in Australia is about 16,000 – but universities are only producing about 9,000 each year,” Professor Stoltz said.
“Yet 47 per cent of migrants actively seeking a job as an engineer are currently underemployed, often working in less skilled industries to get by – which is exactly what this program aims to address.”
The project is a partnership between La Trobe University, Greater Shepparton City Council, the Committee for Greater Shepparton and the Goulburn Valley Infrastructure Network.
The program is open for applications until Friday 19 September. Overseas trained engineers are invited to register here.
