Enrolment shortfall could lead to future civil engineering skills shortage in SA

TAFE SA has joined forces with Consult Australia, the peak body for consulting companies in the built environment sector, to encourage more young South Australians to study civil engineering.

Consult Australia is predicting that South Australia could face a skills shortage in five years because many in the sector have gone interstate or overseas to find work and not enough people are entering the industry.

Economic pressures have led many employers in the sector to reduce their current workforce, in turn reducing the state’s civil engineering skills base.

Consult Australia is warning that it could be difficult to find the necessary local skills when the state’s economy turns a corner unless more people are encouraged to enter the industry.

TAFE SA supports Consult Australia’s drive to build the state’s civil engineering skills base and is using its success stories to highlight the opportunities for graduates.

TAFE SA Principal Lecturer, Civil and Mechanical Engineering, Lance Rosser said there will be plenty of opportunities within the industry in the future.

“TAFE SA has strong track record of developing the foundation skills required of civil engineers and providing a pathway for graduates into employment and university,” said Mr Rosser.

“Many TAFE SA graduates take up entry level positions as draftspeople and build their skills in the industry and undertake further study to eventually take up senior positions within the public and private sectors.

The skills developed during the Diploma of Engineering – Technical include the ability to operate a Computer Aided Drafting system (CAD), interpret technical data, complete calculations relevant to engineering, prepare drawings and specifications, design civil and mechanical engineering applications, cost estimate projects, develop quality systems, coordinate projects and write technical reports.

TAFE SA Engineering graduate Ankit Sondhi credits TAFE SA with turning his career around after completing the Diploma and Advanced Diploma in Engineering Design.

Ankit, now a Technical Officer with the Department of Planning, Transport and Infrastructure (DPTI), is using his TAFE SA qualifications to undertake a Bachelor of Engineering.

TAFE SA lecturers are all fully experienced, knowledgeable and they teach in a practical style unlike universities that focus mainly on theory, said Ankit.

“Toward the end of my studies the lecturers helped me to gain part-time employment in the engineering industry.

“After completing my studies, the skills and knowledge I gained enabled me to transpose my knowledge into practice and I was able to transition easily into a full-time position.

“I started my career in the private sector as a draftsman before working my way up to Project Management and moving to DPTI in late 2012.

“I’d encourage anyone in a similar position to me to enter the industry and kick start their career with a TAFE SA Engineering course.”

Semester 2 Applications are now open across TAFE SA including the Diploma of Engineering – Technical, which will be based at the new $38.3 million Mining, Engineering and Transport Centre (METC).

For more information https://www.tafesa.edu.au/courses/engineering-transport/engineering-design-drafting