Are you anticipating a career move or working to move up to management? Growing within an organisation and seeking new roles equates to building relevant expertise. This positions you for success and job security.
Upskilling doesn’t just benefit you, however. Employers can also be advantaged by onboarding professionals that demonstrate a commitment to lifelong learning and self-development. Employing skilled professionals ensures productivity and fosters innovation within a company.
However, regional workers often face unique challenges on their growth journey. They struggle to find viable education or training opportunities within their local area, mainly because remote locations offer limited access to courses. Institutes cannot sustainably operate in these areas, given the higher running costs and low student numbers. Coupled with frequent connectivity issues and limited career role models, there is an increasing number of issues to tackle, which adds to the upskilling challenge.
There are, however, workarounds available to help you get the assistance you need. Here are a few different strategies that support regional workers in upskilling sustainably.
Utilise digital learning channels
With the boom in online education, regional workers across Australia can easily find online courses that can help them in elevating their CVs. Top universities and industry leaders can provide industry-specific courses, or even Masters programs like MBAs and other advanced degrees for supporting regional workers in qualifying for more managerial roles. For instance, leading from the front and transitioning into specialised project management roles can be seamlessly achieved through a Masters of Project Management online.
But there’s more on offer than just postgraduate degrees online as well. If you’re short on time outside of work and family commitments, you can also consider microcredentials. These are study modules targeted to improve specialised skills through focused learning.
Another interesting online option to explore is Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs). These are easily accessible courses aimed at teaching skills interactively. Video lectures, quizzes, and community forums provide learning flexibility. You can connect with individuals to discuss problems or find more resources to learn further.
Train within your industry
In some highly specialised fields like IT and cyber security, employers may actually allocate a budget for on-the-job training and upskilling for their staff. This is because it’s in their best interests as well to ensure that their digital-ready staff actually stay digital-ready – and continuous learning is the key to this.
Some employers and skill providers like TAFEs and Learn Locals provide tailored accredited courses and apprenticeships. Talented individuals are matched to local industry needs to quickly upskill or reskill workers.
There are also plenty of professional mentorship and shadow opportunities available to professionals that simply ask. In these arrangements, you can expect to be paired up with adept leaders who can guide and help adapt to new technologies or workplaces. Exemplary role models can provide a sense of purpose and direction for trainees.
Similarly, if you’re looking to take on additional responsibilities but don’t know where to start, consider moving between roles within your current organisation. This will give a feel of new responsibilities and find areas that need improvement.
Here in Central Queensland, we see the public and private sector regularly teaming up to support job growth. ‘Future of Work’ is one such endeavour aiming to help rural communities move ahead. They remove barriers to education and provide funding to deserving candidates. Advanced Apprenticeship Programs pay students to undertake on-the-job assignments, strengthening the regional workforce pipeline. Look out for remote training hubs set up by local companies. They recruit through mobile units to deliver on-site practical instruction to locals.
Leverage government-funded support
Speaking of government placement programs, the Federal Government is constantly working towards removing regional disparities across virtually all Australian states, including here in Queensland. These initiatives aim to end discrepancies in employment, education and economic growth.
Funding allocations focus on training workers in high-growth sectors. Healthcare, construction, agriculture, and manufacturing are the top priority industries for funding at the moment. Having skilled talent provides incentives for better investment. This helps with job creation, economic diversification and innovation.
For professionals looking to leverage government-funded support in their job search, explore the various government initiatives available in your locality. Specialised units like Regional Workforce Transition Officers (RWTOs) help businesses and workers in regional areas transition to a net-zero economy.
Youth living in regional areas can also make use of Industry Training Hubs that connect young people with local offers, career guidance, and industry experience, to combat youth unemployment. Career Transition Assistance (CTA) supports digital training in the older demographic in regional areas.
Prioritise in-demand skills for the digital age
Though charting an upskilling pathway may seem hard at first, the best piece of advice that most career strategists have to offer is to simply start small. Fit in small learning windows in your daily schedule, if you don’t have the time to commit to a long-term program.
Professionals are also encouraged to focus on value addition (i.e. jobs that are most in-demand in your region). Sectors such as healthcare, social assistance, manufacturing and fabrication and education are amongst the most common industries experiencing worker shortages in regional areas.
Keep in mind too that in the face of digital transformation initiatives, professionals that have upskilled to gain digital skills are also likely to be worth their weight in gold. Building up knowledge in high-value areas like AI and business automation can help ensure your CV is ‘futureproof’.
Gaining new skills not only helps achieve personal career goals but also contributes to local economic development. Creating a strong talent pipeline reduces the need to hire from outside the region. This self-sufficiency is naturally key for building up Australia’s regions and cultivating stronger regional economies.
Tailor your career pathway with these upskilling strategies
For Australia, it’s home-grown talent that will drive our regional economies forward. Local professionals investing in their own learning will indirectly help with community development as workers are better equipped to fill gaps as they arise. By investing in local talent, regional businesses can also become staples within their local economy, creating jobs and stimulating trade that sustains whole communities.
As Australia’s regional populations also continue to grow, new opportunities are emerging in technology, manufacturing, healthcare, and business. And now with the coming of the digital age, this is the ideal time for skilled professionals to launch or further their careers.
