Jeremy Blockey, Blockey Consulting - Outcomes of the Cairns FIFO Project

Cairns FIFO Coordinator Project

To develop links between resources

projects in remote locations and

skilled workers, including local

unemployed job seekers

Jeremy Blockey, Cairns-based FIFO Coordinator

Outcomes of the Cairns FIFO Project A flight path to jobs

Presentation to Mining the Territory Conference, Darwin

12 September 2013

Cairns FIFO Project (Flight Plan)

• National Resources Sector Workforce Strategy

• DEEWR funded – SkillsDMC + Advance Cairns

• 2 year project – to August 2013

• Steering Committee – QRC, CMEWA, MCA-NT

Identify potential FIFO

workforce & pathways

Work with resource

companies, employment

agencies & RTOs

Link mining companies

with air services

Gather data on region’s

workforce demographic,

capacity & engagement Market the region to

resource companies &

personnel as a lifestyle

destination & point of hire

Conditions – 18+ Months Ago

• Resource exports tripling $60b$180b in past decade

• Commodity prices forecast above historic levels

• Construction/production expansion – 10,000s new jobs

• Skills shortages

Conditions – Today

Skills (Crew) Shortages • Pockets of opportunity (demand) – pockets of potential

(supply)

• Not about labour shortage – need skills

0 50,000 100,000 150,000 200,000 250,000

Cairns

Townsville

Fitzroy

Mackay

Darling Downs

Darwin

Pilbara

Population – Selected Regions (2011 Census)

Challenges – Turbulence

• Negativity towards FIFO

• Gravitational pull of southern capital cities

• Perception about Cairns

• Data scarcity

Targets – The Destinations

• QLD – north & central

• NT

• WA – northwest

• Construction

• Operational

International Mining (PNG) Routes

Northern Territory Routes

WA

NW Qld Routes

Central Qld

Cairns Connections

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

Employment in Mining ('000s)Far North

Original Employment Level Data Four Quarter Moving Average (year to)

Source: DEEWR, Regional Industry Employment Tool - Queensland

FIFO Demographics – Loadsheets

• Data scarcity

• Survey of existing FIFO workers through Cairns Airport

• Understand the existing FIFO Workforce

• Survey of potential FIFO workers – job-seekers

• Identify the strengths & capabilities of potential FIFO job-seekers

• Public information sessions

• Online survey of job-seekers

Survey of Existing FIFO Passengers

• 197 surveys

• Demographics:

• 99% male

• Average age 41.2 years

• 80% married or de facto

• 50% had dependent children

• 5% Indigenous

• Experience:

• 8 years in resource sector

• 5½ years doing FIFO

• 3 years in current job

Survey: Wanting to join FIFO Queue – Job-seekers

• 213 surveys – online

• Demographics:

• 75% male / 25% female

• 64% 40 years or older

• 11% Indigenous

• 65% married or de facto

• ⅓ had dependent children

• Years Experience:

• Half have 20+ years

• Quarter have 11-20 years

Survey: FIFO Job-seekers • Interest in FIFO:

• 75% would deploy anywhere

• +20% depending on factors

• Preference: FNQ/NWQ–CQ/NT–WA

• Adult apprenticeship suited:

• 44% experienced in trade area

Without formal qualification (partially completed

trade, been TA for 4+ years, aligned/OS/Defence

trade) – suited for NAP

Outcomes – the Landing

Residential, 1,800

FIFO, 2,605

FNQ Workforce In Mining

FIFO - w/in FNQ

FIFO - NWQ

FIFO - CQ

FIFO - NT

FIFO - WA

FIFO - PNG

Data: Cummings Economics, FIFO Workforce in the Cairns Region - June 2013

• FIFO Growth – 500 additional FIFO workers

• FIFO employment of 2,605 = $334 million wages

• BMA recruiting 250 FIFO workers for CQ coalmines

Future – Cairns Hub

• Cairns FIFO, Supply & Services Hub

• Advance Cairns with regional partners

• Targeted opportunities – eg NT

Conclusion – A FIFO Journey

• Capacity – population base to support resources growth

• Current under-employment / high unemployment

• Applicable skills & experience

• Job-seeker desire for resources sector/FIFO jobs

• Existing capability and hub for FIFO

• Leverage into other supply & servicing opportunities

Cairns FIFO & Supply Hub – Contact

• Jeremy Blockey, M: 0438 382 020

• E: jeremy@blockey.com.au

• W: www.blockey.com.au

• www.fifocairns.com.au