Yesterday, we reported about Lismore's position on the brink of the construction boom. The biggest asset to its success is people.  

If you are young, old, want to retrain, want to try something more outdoorsy, take on a challenge, then this might be the best opportunity to put that to the test in this region for a long time.

With every change, there is both difficulty and light. Lismore has experienced much difficulty in the time since the flood. Now is the time for accelerated regrowth and renewal. The preparation has taken place through detailed planning and design, and now the opportunities with work are about to flow.

Even if this work opportunity isn’t for yourself - if you have offspring that you would like to see live closer to you, or if you have a family member or friend trying to make ends meet, or if you know anyone that would like to have a go at living life in one of the most beautiful parts of the world, there is no time like the present to tempt them here.  

The NSW Reconstruction Authority, the RA, have done a lot of research on who we are and what we are capable of. They have found that there are demographics that have not traditionally been involved in the construction industry who may have overlooked it for various reasons as a career opportunity.

This week at RA's construction industry forum, we heard a lot of work is being done to guide people into these positions to see if they are a good fit.  

NSW Parliamentary Secretary for Disaster Recovery and Lismore MP Janelle Saffin is passionate about the opportunity for Lismore, the people here now, and what this could mean to our future.

“There are fantastic employment opportunities because the amount of work that has to be done will need more jobs. There'll be more positions and apprentices. 

“We heard a lot about apprentices. That was from the federal government agency. We've got the state government injecting a couple of 100 million into apprentices, trainees and cadetships with our local government. And I've encouraged every local government here to put in their bid for it, and I know what they're doing. So great opportunities.”

One comment from the 200-plus people in the room was about the forward-thinking when the flood happened. Here we are, almost three years on, and the work is only just starting to pick up. If people started their training back then, perhaps they would be in a really good place to get involved now.

Perhaps that time has not been wasted. Many people now have a taste of what it is to build or rebuild in their personal spaces and create something tangible. Something where they can see the results in a world of technology, where nano or invisible connectivity is key. 

The plans outlined at the forum include people training now for the future. The timelines for work indicate that there is time.

Katrina Luckie, the coordinator of the forum, spoke about the solution to the difficulties in finding good talent, “One of the big issues we've been hearing here in the region is actually that challenge of access to talent and access to people. 

“So starting to think about different sectors of this community who might work in your business is also a way to actually solving that.”

Traditionally, construction industries have a much larger, if not totally white, male employment rate. 

A study by McKinsey which looked at the performance of companies with diversity in their employees, discovered, “In the case of ethnic and cultural diversity, we found that companies in the top quartile outperformed those in the fourth by 36 per cent in terms of profitability in 2019.”

This figure was up from previous years. A diverse workforce produces better results.

Reaching out to the minorities in the industry - women, indigenous, young people and people undertaking instruction and learning skills allows a workforce to become more adaptable. It's people able to share knowledge to become a more cohesive workforce for better economic outcomes.

There are ample pathways and opportunities for people interested in training and joining the construction industry or looking for work.

Jobs Northern Rivers is a website where you can create a profile and look for opportunities in the whole Northern Rivers Region. That will include local government jobs at Lismore Council, contractors and sub-contractors looking for skilled workers and non-skilled labour.

Or you can speak to Sahba at the RA for further information on where to find resources for navigating a path to a new career.

If you are a young person and an apprenticeship is what you are after, there are unique opportunities available now.

Peter Skorupanovic, an Employment Facilitator at Workforce Australia, spoke about a program called the North Coast Youth Apprenticeship Path (NC YAP). Peter spoke of the concern about the dearth of tradespeople we are currently experiencing, a loss of at least 2000 tradespeople.

“There's a significant shortfall of skilled and qualified tradespeople to fulfil the volume of roles and work that's coming up in the pipeline.

The time for opportunity in apprenticeships is now, “We don't want to be having the conversations again in another 12 months.” 

Peter points out that this isn’t just about flood recovery; “it's the future development of the region too.”

A process of filters will be applied to applicants to ensure the successful apprentices are fully prepared to go the complete distance to tradesperson.

For more information on NC YAP, contact Peter at facilitator@northcoastljp.work or check out this QR Code:

Contact Sahba from the RA at futurebuildnr@reconstruction.nsw.gov.au

Find jobs through jobsnorthernrivers.com.au

The Mckinsey report on diversity.