Green Triangle, Forestry

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN (15:30): I rise today to speak about a new and innovative program being launched today in the state's South-East relating to the forestry industry. It is a program that offers a pathway to a career in the forest and timber industries. These industries underpin many thousands of jobs in the Green Triangle region and are focused on achieving the world-class, sustainable growing of forests.

Of course, I used to work in this industry, so it is a particular passion for me. Unfortunately, because it is a sitting week, I am unable to attend the launch today in my capacity as shadow minister for forestry, but I think it is certainly worth speaking about today in parliament. Timber is the ultimate renewable. The ultimate renewable forest learning pathway and virtual reality tools are being launched at Mount Gambier High School today, which is a great example of industry and schools collaborating to deliver good outcomes for the state and, in particular, the South-East.

The project has been industry led and is specific to forestry in the Lower South-East, which is one of the region's largest employers. Over time, the forestry industry has suffered from a lack of suitably skilled employees in a number of sectors. Despite forestry being such a large employer in the region, many students have been largely unaware of the career opportunities available to them. The forestry and timber industries offer careers suited to a wide range of skill sets and aptitudes. This program seeks to make young people in the region aware and to broaden their knowledge of the jobs and careers available to them right in their backyard, without the need to leave the region to seek employment.

The Green Triangle Timber Industry Awards play one role in promoting the diversity of careers available. I pay tribute to those awards. They are coming up again in just a few short weeks' time. It is intended that this program will equip students to make a natural progression into traineeships and apprenticeships in the industry as they are much closer to being role-ready when they leave school.

Students who undertake the course will be introduced to a number of forestry concepts, including forest ecosystems, energy flows and regeneration cycles; wood science and research; social, environmental and economic values of forests; forest management practices across landscapes, including sustainability; carbon cycles; forest products and futures; and technological advances such as robotics, automation, GIS, LiDAR and drones.

These are just a few of the topics that students who undertake this course will be exposed to, and they will come out with enormous benefits. The program offers strengthened community, school and industry linkages, support for school linkages to the tertiary sector, enhanced VET in school opportunities and professional development and upskilling for teachers, as well as access to contemporary, industry-focused facilities and industry experts.

Of course, the program will offer accredited training while delivering industry-ready people and a clear pathway to the forest and timber industry. Students can start learning about the forestry industry in year 8 and go all the way through to year 12 so that, by the time they complete their studies in this specialised course, they will be ready to work in the forestry industry if they so choose and see the many advantages of doing so.

I would like to congratulate Mount Gambier High School on being the first school in the South-East to take up this course. I look forward to seeing this approach expanded and grown to allow more young people in the region the opportunity to access a direct pathway to a job in the forest and timber industries and the opportunity to undertake these industry-led courses in their schools.

I also congratulate Linda Cotterill from OneFortyOne Plantations who has been working on this collaboration between the industry and schools, delivering this great opportunity to showcase the power of partnerships. Linda, if I recall correctly, was the winner at last year's Green Triangle Timber Industry Awards in the category of outstanding female contribution to the timber industry. Clearly, her outstanding contribution is continuing and I wish her well, as well as this program.