REGIONAL EDUCATION, SKILLS AND JOBS
PLAN
SOUTH AUSTRALIA – LIMESTONE COAST
2012 – 2014
JULY 2013
This plan was first published in July 2012. This is the July 2013 edition.
Details in this report are correct at time of drafting.
This report can be found at the Regional Education, Skills and Jobs webpage (www.deewr.gov.au/resj) or the
My Region website (www.myregion.gov.au).
For more information about this plan, please contact:
The Office of Regional Education, Skills and Jobs
GPO Box 9880
Canberra ACT 2601
Email: oresj@deewr.gov.au
ISBN:
978-0-642-78667-8 [PDF]
978-0-642-78668-5 [DOCX]
With the exception of the Commonwealth Coat of Arms and where otherwise noted all material presented in this
document is provided under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Australia licence
(http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/au/).
The details of the relevant licence conditions (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/au/legalcode) are
available on the Creative Commons website (accessible using the links provided) as is the full legal code for the
CC BY 3.0 AU licence.
The document must be attributed as the Regional Education, Skills and Jobs Plan 2012-14 – Limestone Coast.
Disclaimer about data used in this plan
Data used in the development of this plan comes from a variety of sources and was correct at time of drafting. This
document should not be used as a data source as data referred to may have been updated or reformulated since
the publication of the plan. Refer to primary sources for confirmation of data.
Regional Education, Skills and Jobs Plan – Limestone Coast 2
www.deewr.gov.au/resj
CONTENTS
Regional Education, Skills and Jobs Plans ................................................................................ 4
Strategies .................................................................................................................................................. 4
Community engagement........................................................................................................................... 4
Implementation ........................................................................................................................................ 4
Executive summary ................................................................................................................ 5
Characteristics of the region ................................................................................................... 7
Population ................................................................................................................................................. 7
Early childhood education and care .......................................................................................................... 8
School education ....................................................................................................................................... 8
Tertiary education and training ................................................................................................................ 9
Jobs, skills and workforce development ................................................................................................. 10
Other characteristics ............................................................................................................................... 12
Issues, goals and strategies ................................................................................................... 13
Issue 1
The quality of early childhood education and care in the Limestone Coast region. ............... 14
Issue 2
Education and transition outcomes for young people in the Limestone Coast region. .......... 15
Issue 3 Enrolment in and attainment of post-school tertiary education and training, particularly at
diploma level or higher. .......................................................................................................................... 16
Issue 4 Improve labour market participation and employment outcomes for disadvantaged groups
in the Limestone Coast region. ............................................................................................................... 18
Issue 5
Workforce development practices at employer, industry and community levels. ................. 19
Appendices .......................................................................................................................... 22
Appendix A — Stakeholders .................................................................................................................... 22
Appendix B — Existing related plans and strategies ............................................................................... 23
Abbreviations ....................................................................................................................... 27
REGIONAL EDUCATION, SKILLS AND JOBS PLANS
The Australian Government announced the Regional Education, Skills and Jobs Plans initiative in the
2011–12 Budget, as part of the Building Australia’s Future Workforce package. The initiative addresses
four key areas of the Australian Government’s productivity and social inclusion agendas: early childhood
education and care; Year 12 attainment; participation in vocational and higher education; and local job
opportunities.
The Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations (DEEWR) has deployed 34 Regional
Education, Skills and Jobs (RESJ) Coordinators to work with local stakeholders to develop Regional
Education, Skills and Jobs Plans for the 46 Regional Development Australia (RDA) areas that cover nonmetropolitan Australia.
The plans present locally identified opportunities and challenges and outline local strategies to improve
education, skills and jobs outcomes in regional Australia.
For more information, including the contact details of your local RESJ Coordinator, please refer to the
Regional Education, Skills and Jobs webpage at www.deewr.gov.au/resj.
Strategies
Each plan reflects community priorities and includes goals and local strategies to achieve the
community’s objectives, based on four key themes: early childhood education and care; school
education; tertiary education and training; and jobs, skills and workforce development.
The plans build on the range of services and programs already offered by DEEWR and the strategies draw
on the programs of other government agencies and the opportunities arising from major local projects.
Community engagement
The plans were developed by RESJ Coordinators with close community engagement and include views
from young people, parents, employers, educators, service providers, peak bodies, community leaders,
government organisations and agencies, and other interested individuals and organisations. The plans
draw strongly upon existing strategic plans in each region, including the local RDA regional plan.
DEEWR acknowledges the traditional owners of the Limestone Coast RDA region and their elders past
and present recognising their continuing connection to country. This plan strives to build and harness
mutually respectful relationships and reflect community priorities in education, skills and jobs
development for the region.
Implementation
The RESJ Coordinator, on behalf of DEEWR, will oversee the implementation of the strategies and
promote and coordinate linkages between the government agencies, providers and stakeholders
involved in this plan’s implementation.
Progress towards achieving the goals within each plan will be closely monitored, while stakeholders will
be kept informed through participation in plan strategies.
This edition incorporates strategies that respond to changes in local circumstances identified through
continuing community input or changing government priorities in regional Australia as well as access to
new data. The plans continue to be living and responsive documents that will be revisited throughout
their implementation to June 2014.
Regional Education, Skills and Jobs Plan – Limestone Coast 4
www.deewr.gov.au/resj
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The Limestone Coast region of South Australia is made up of a number of communities covered by seven
Local Government Areas: City of Mount Gambier, District Council of Grant, Wattle Range Council,
Naracoorte Lucindale Council, District Council of Tatiara, District Council of Kingston and District Council
of Robe.
The Limestone Coast is situated in the south-eastern corner of South Australia, with Victoria to the east,
coastline to the west and south and the Murraylands RDA region to the north. The City of Mount
Gambier lies midway between Adelaide and Melbourne, with a driving time of approximately 4.5 hours
to each capital.
The climate is temperate, with cool wet winters and mild to hot summers. Reliable rainfall across most of
the region, along with a water supply from underground aquifers, provides significant industry
opportunity. The region is predominantly serviced by road and air. Diverse primary production underpins
the economic base of the region. Forestry is a key industry in the region, with approximately 150,000
hectares of land under softwood and hardwood, which contributes to both direct and indirect
employment in agriculture, manufacturing, transport and retail. Cereal and horticulture crops, livestock
production (including dairying) occur throughout the region. The region has an extensive fishing and
aquaculture industry which includes export quality Southern Rock Lobster. The Limestone Coast is also
home to the world class wine producing regions of Coonawarra and Padthaway.
The region is famous for its beautiful Blue Lake, the world heritage listed Naracoorte Caves and
sinkholes, popular with cave divers from around the world. Robe, Kingston and Beachport are popular
seaside destinations over summer, with tourists travelling from interstate and overseas to visit.
Based on a comprehensive environmental scan and community consultation, the key education, skills
and jobs challenges identified for the region include:

the quality of early childhood education and care in the region

young people’s engagement in education and transition outcomes for young people in the
region, particularly Indigenous young people

levels of attainment of tertiary education and training, particularly at diploma level or higher

appropriately skilled and qualified workers to match both current and future industry needs

full participation in the labour market

workforce development practices at employer, industry and community levels.
Regional Education, Skills and Jobs Plan – Limestone Coast 5
www.deewr.gov.au/resj
The key goals of this Regional Education, Skills and Jobs (RESJ) Plan are to:

facilitate the effective implementation of the National Quality Framework for early childhood
education and care and strengthen workforce planning for the early childhood sector

improve education and transition outcomes for young people

improve enrolment in and attainment of tertiary education and training, particularly at diploma
level or higher

address tertiary education and training accessibility issues and the support available for new
students

improve employment outcomes and support in the Limestone Coast, including for the very longterm unemployed, Indigenous Australians, refugees and migrants and people with disability

develop sustainable workforce development practices aimed at attracting and retaining a skilled
workforce and to improve employer’s skills in workforce development.
The Limestone Coast has a RDA Committee with a broad plan that includes opportunities for education,
skills and employment. This Limestone Coast RESJ Plan complements the existing goals and strategies in
the RDA Plan.
Some outcomes achieved by the RESJ Coordinator working with local stakeholders include:

Facilitating an Early Childhood Education and Care Roundtable for the sector to identify and
address current and emerging workforce needs. Over 20 people attended from across the region
including child care directors and representatives from the education, tertiary and workforce
sectors. In follow up, the Community Services and Health Industry Skills Council and South
Australia’s Health and Community Services Skills Board conducted a workforce development
workshop promoting the use of their workforce development resources, the National Workforce
Development Fund and the Workplace Language and Literacy program to both the early
childhood and aged care sectors.

Linking RDA Limestone Coast with funding sources for the ‘Heading in the Right Direction’
initiative, a 20 week program for young refugee people delivered by the Career Development
Centre. The initiative will provide career guidance and employability skills to assist young
refugees secure their first part-time or casual job. Approximately 40 young people from Karen,
Congolese and Afghani backgrounds will benefit from the program.

Supporting the implementation of the ‘Geared 2 Drive’ program for young people, a volunteer
mentor-based learner driver program for young people offered by the District Council of Grant.
This program addresses the lack of suitable adult supervision available for young people to
obtain a full licence and will assist to address transport related barriers to education and
employment in the area. The initiative aims to attract a minimum of 10 mentors, who will be
working with 24 young people.
CHARACTERISTICS OF THE REGION
This section sets out the characteristics of the region identified through a comprehensive environmental
scan and local consultations. The information detailed in this section is not exhaustive of the
characteristics of the region, but provides an overview and insight to some of the challenges facing the
region.
To guide the RESJ Coordinator’s identification of issues and engagement with the community, various
data sets have supported the development of this plan. Data used in the development of this plan was
sourced from DEEWR, the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) and other relevant sources. Data referred
to may have been reformulated and was correct at time of drafting. Different data sets are refreshed at
different intervals, for example, unemployment rates are updated monthly for national and
state/territory figures and quarterly for regions.
Population
The ABS estimated resident population for the Limestone Coast RDA region in 2011 is 64,105,
approximately 3.9 per cent of the state’s population. Mount Gambier, located in the lower part of the
region, is South Australia’s second largest city, with around 40 per cent of the region’s total population.
Major towns in the region are, in order of population, Millicent, Naracoorte, Bordertown, Penola, Keith,
Kingston and Robe. The average rate of annual growth for the region between 2006 and 2011 is less than
the average rate of 0.8 per cent for South Australia over the same period.
According to ABS estimated resident population figures from 2011, the age profile of the Limestone
Coast is similar to that of the rest of South Australia. The most noticeable difference is in the 0 to 14 age
group; at 20 per cent, it is higher than the state average of 17.6 per cent. Statistically based population
projections for the region are conservative. Conversely, Mount Gambier in particular is well placed
strategically to support population growth, with the right infrastructure and investments in place.
According to the 2011 Census, approximately 1.7 per cent of the population in the region identified as
Indigenous on Census night —relatively low compared to other regional locations in South Australia.
Data from the same source indicates the average for South Australia is 1.9 per cent. Of note is their
young age profile, with well over half of this population aged 0 to 24 years. Local Indigenous community
members have observed a movement of families and individuals relocating to the region in recent times,
predominantly to Mount Gambier and Millicent.
A reasonably high proportion (86.1%) of Limestone Coast residents were born in Australia according to
the 2011 Census. Culturally and linguistically diverse communities, while small in number, are significant.
Since 2007, Mount Gambier has welcomed almost 400 directly settled refugees, predominantly from
Burma (Myanmar) and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Other recent migrants have relocated from
New Zealand, South Africa, the United Kingdom, China and the Philippines. Many of the refugees who
have settled in the region have language barriers, no Australian workplace experience and a lack of
understanding of Australian work culture, all of which have affected their ability to fully participate in the
local labour market.
Regional Education, Skills and Jobs Plan – Limestone Coast 7
www.deewr.gov.au/resj
For people with disability, Disability Employment Services providers cite continuing difficulties with
licence and transport access; and access to and appropriateness of vocational training as labour market
barriers for their client group.
In September 2012, 5.8 per cent of the working age population (15-64 years) in the Limestone Coast
were in receipt of income support, Newstart or Youth Allowance (other), which is comparable to the
state average of 5.6 per cent of the same population. Approximately 44 per cent of Limestone Coast
residents who were receiving income support during the same period had been doing so for over 24
months, a higher proportion than in Australia (38%). In June 2011, approximately 6.2 per cent of the
working age population in the Limestone Coast were in receipt of a Disability Support Pension which is
slightly lower that the 6.8 per cent rate for South Australia as a whole.
Early childhood education and care
The Australian Early Development Index (AEDI) measures young children’s development across five
domains: physical health and well-being, social competence, emotional maturity, school-based language
and cognitive skills, and general knowledge. 2009 AEDI data indicated that, at a national level
23.6 per cent of children were vulnerable on one or more domains and 11.8 per cent were vulnerable on
two or more domains. The AEDI found that in the local communities of Mount Gambier surrounds, Outer
Millicent and Penola and surrounds the proportion of vulnerable children was less than half the national
rate on both measures. However, in the communities of Bordertown and surrounds, Keith, Millicent and
Robe vulnerability rates were at or higher than the national averages on both measures.
Availability of permanent long day care and family day care places, particularly outside Mount Gambier
and Naracoorte, provides challenges for working parents. The innovative Child Care on Wheels model
that operates across Robe, Beachport and Kangaroo Inn is successful, but provides limited access to a
service. Out of school hours care and vacation care is available at most sites in the region with primary
enrolments. Anecdotally, the early childhood education and care sector in the region report difficulties in
attracting and retaining suitably qualified staff and in finding emergency replacement staff, particularly
in more isolated parts of the region.
School education
In 2011, the My School website recorded 11,695 full-time equivalent enrolments across the three sectors
of schooling in the Limestone Coast. Eighty per cent of these enrolments were in the government sector.
Of the 47 schools in the region in 2011, 21 recorded enrolments under 100. While providing
sustainability challenges, such small schools are vital to the wellbeing of the communities they support.
The 2011 Census records Year 12 attainment for the Limestone Coast population aged 15 to 64 years at
32.2 per cent, compared to 49.2 per cent for the Australian population of the same ages.
DEEWR’s School Business Community Partnership Broker, RDA Limestone Coast, has developed a
comprehensive environmental scan of education, training and employment in the region as it relates to
young people in the 15–24 cohort.
In summary, they identify that:

family and personal circumstances of some young people have meant they have disengaged, or
are at risk of disengagement, from education, training or employment and issues such as mental
health and homelessness are factors affecting the educational success of young people

secondary school age refugee people and their families will require specific interventions to
support career planning and work/life transitions in the Australian context

career development service provision in schools requires greater attention and better
resourcing.
The Partnership Broker Limestone Coast Environmental Scan—February 2012 also details programs and
initiatives available in the region to help young people maintain their connection with or re-engage with
education and training and improve Year 12 retention and attainment. These include the DEEWR Youth
Connections program being delivered by the Services to Youth Council, DEEWR Trade Training Centres, a
number of ongoing SA Department for Education and Child Development (DECD) initiatives such as Trade
Schools for the Future, Industry Skills Program, Apprenticeship Brokers and Innovative Community
Action Networks program. Independent learning centres and flexibly delivered South Australian
Certificate of Education programs are a feature in all government and non-government secondary
schools in the region.
Tertiary education and training
Residents in the Limestone Coast access tertiary education locally and externally. The main campus of
TAFE SA Regional is located in Mount Gambier and links to learning centres in Naracoorte, Bordertown
and Kingston. Some apprentices must travel outside the region for on-the-job training. A range of
registered training organisations are active in the region and there are currently three universities with a
presence in the region. The University of South Australia has offered four disciplines since 2006, with a
degree course in Primary Education to be launched in 2013. The Flinders University Rural Clinical School
coordinates a number of study programs for health professionals, including those studying medicine,
who wish to experience rural practice. Southern Cross University offers forestry studies and
environmental science.
The region has recognised and well-documented low levels of post-school educational attainment.
2011 Census data shows that in the 15 to 64 age group there is a significantly lower proportion of
individuals with a bachelor degree or higher than the Australian average, at 9.1 per cent compared to
21.0 per cent. However the region fares well at certificate level with 24.4 per cent of the working age
population compared to 19.1 per cent Australia wide. In the narrower 25–34 age cohort for the same
period, 15.1 per cent of individuals in the Limestone Coast region have a bachelor degree or higher,
while 33.9 per cent have a certificate level qualification. Evidence suggests that there is a correlation
between level of education and employment status. In the Limestone Coast, the unemployment rate for
those aged over 15 who completed a Certificate I or II was 11.8 per cent at the time of the 2011 Census.
However, for those over 15 who held a Certificate III or IV or a Bachelor degree, the unemployment rates
for each group at that time were significantly lower at 4.1 and 1.9 per cent, respectively.
There are a number of barriers that impact on the take-up of further education in the region. Availability
of specific courses, accessibility of options for people with learning difficulties, literacy and numeracy
levels, disability, access to technology and support for distance learning all provide challenges. The
community has for some time expressed concern about the personal and financial costs to young people
and their families when further education outside the region is the only option. Mount Gambier is one of
a number of regional cities in Australia that benefited from the Australian Government’s changes for
accessing independent Youth Allowance in January 2012 which allows regional students to access the
self-supporting independence conditions that previously applied only to students from Outer Regional
Australia, Remote Australia and Very Remote Australia.
Jobs, skills and workforce development
The unemployment rate for the Limestone Coast region in the September 2012 quarter was 4.4 per cent,
compared to 4.9 per cent in the September 2011 quarter. Table 1 shows a further breakdown of
unemployment rate to smaller areas within the region and shows the rates in September 2011 and
September 2012.
Table 1: Unemployment rates by Statistical Local Area
September 2011
September 2012
Unemployment rate (%)
Unemployment rate (%)
Grant (DC)
3.7
3.1
Kingston (DC)
3.2
3.5
Mount Gambier (C)
7.3
6.1
Naracoorte and Lucindale (DC)
3.1
3.6
Robe (DC)
3.2
3.1
Tatiara (DC)
2.4
2.1
Wattle Range East (DC)
4.1
4.0
Wattle Range West (DC)
5.1
4.7
Statistical Local Area
Source: DEEWR Small Area Labour Markets Australia, September 2012
C = Cities
DC= District Council
Table 1 shows considerable variation between individual Statistical Local Areas. Unemployment rates
have been steadily rising since 2008. Before this time, the region as a whole was characterised by low
unemployment, consistently lower than the state average, with many industry sectors experiencing both
skill shortages and recruitment difficulties.
In the wake of the global financial crisis, recent redundancies in the region and the uncertainty
surrounding the future of forestry (the South Australian Government sold three softwood harvest
rotations in August 2012), employers in the Limestone Coast are exercising a considerable degree of
caution with recruitment activities. In addition, RDA Limestone Coast’s Career Development Centre
recorded a noticeable decline of approximately 37 per cent in the number of print and online vacancies
advertised for the Limestone Coast between 2008 and 2012. In the four year period to June 2012, the
Career Development Centre reports that 13.7 per cent who seek a service from them are retrenched
workers.
In response to their announcement to sell three hardwood plantations, the South Australian
Government announced the South East Forestry Partnership Program assistance package in November
2012. This package is designed to encourage sustainability and growth in the forest industry in the wake
of the forward sale of plantation rotations and considerable structural adjustment in the sawmilling
sector. For successful grantees, the focus of this funding will be innovation, expansion and sustainable
employment.
Specific occupational shortages still exist across the region in medicine, health and allied health, selected
trades including chefs and specialist chefs, automotive (including heavy vehicle), engineering and metal
trades, child care and truck drivers. Historically employer take-up of apprenticeships and traineeships
has been high. As Table 2 shows, employment in the region is dominated by three sectors: agriculture,
forestry and fishing; manufacturing; and retail trade. The construction and health and community
services sectors also employ significant numbers.
Table 2: Industries by labour market share, Limestone Coast and South Australia
Labour market share –
Labour market share –
Limestone Coast (%)
South Australia (%)
Agriculture, forestry and fishing
16.8
3.9
Manufacturing
14.1
10.6
Retail trade
12.0
11.2
Health and community services
9.7
13.6
Construction
7.1
7.5
Accommodation and food services
6.6
6.2
Education and training
6.6
7.9
Transport and storage
4.0
4.1
Top eight industries by labour market share
Source: ABS 2011 Census of Population and Housing
According to the ABS Counts of Australian Businesses, June 2012, around 80 per cent of registered
businesses in the Limestone Coast are non-employing or defined as micro-businesses (employing up to
four people) and a further 16 per cent considered small businesses—with between four and
19 employees. These employers are a key group to engage in workforce development. This
characteristic, along with increasing casualisation of the work force and the contractual nature of much
of the work in the region, requires business to think differently about their people and workplaces and
for individuals to develop and refine their career management skills.
Other characteristics
The RDA Limestone Coast Regional Roadmap 2010-2015 and the Department of Planning and Local
Government’s Limestone Coast Regional Plan August 2011 provide significant commentary and data on
the challenges and potential for growth in the region. These include:

structural changes in agriculture—in particular the dairy, wine and forestry industries and change
in land use

infrastructure that accommodates the changing needs of industry—for example, air and road
transport and power

policy and structure around the management and use of water and other natural resources

continuous improvement of telecommunications infrastructure in the region

availability of housing across the region, particularly in Naracoorte and Bordertown

maintenance of and improvement in the availability of health services, including mental health
services, across the region

population sustainability.
In 2009, RDA Limestone Coast commissioned and published a major workforce study—Limestone Coast
Workforce: Analysis of supply, demand, emerging trends and opportunities and strategies for regional
workforce development. The report identified emerging industry areas in the region with potential for
future employment growth, including renewable energy and clean technologies, value adding in
agriculture and horticulture, targeted tourism initiatives, expansion of education services and developing
water management systems and expertise. As part of this research a small group of employers were
asked to self-assess their workforce development expertise and needs across key areas including
planning; attraction and retention; induction and training; and supporting employees in the workplace.
Responses were varied, with some businesses believing they were doing well, others acknowledging they
were not doing well and needed support, and others perceiving a low level of need to engage in
enterprise level workforce planning.
ISSUES, GOALS AND STRATEGIES
This section sets out the issues and goals identified through local consultation. It also details the specific
strategies that will help achieve the community’s objectives. The issues and strategies will be reviewed
and may be modified throughout the implementation of the plan to June 2014 to ensure they respond to
emerging issues and opportunities or changing community or government priorities in the Limestone
Coast RDA region.
The programs and stakeholders listed in the following tables are indicative only. Both may vary over time
and any listing does not guarantee either the availability of program funding or stakeholder involvement.
The four key themes of the Regional Education, Skills and Jobs Plans initiative are:

Early childhood education and care

School education

Tertiary education and training

Jobs, skills and workforce development
The numbering of each issue is for ease of reference only and does not indicate its priority within the
region. They are generally sequenced according to the life cycle of the four key themes listed above.
Regional Education, Skills and Jobs Plan – Limestone Coast 13
www.deewr.gov.au/resj
Issue 1
The quality of early childhood education and care in the
Limestone Coast region.
Goals:
Effective implementation of the Australian Government’s National Quality
Framework for Early Childhood Education and Care.
Strengthen workforce planning for the early childhood sector.
Theme(s):
Early childhood education and care; Tertiary education and training; Jobs, skills
and workforce development.
Strategies
Stakeholders
Programs







Support registered training organisations (RTOs) to
deliver flexible, timely education and training
services related to the National Quality Framework
for Early Childhood Education and Care.
Promote the uptake of the National Quality
Framework with child care, pre-schools and out of
school hours care services and work collaboratively
to address challenges and barriers to
implementation.
As part of the region’s workforce development
strategy, devise and implement a workforce
planning model for the early childhood education
and care sector in the region.








Centrelink
Department for
Education and Child
Development (SA)
Department of
Further Education,
Employment, Science
and Technology (SA)
Disability Employment
Services (DES)
providers
Early childhood
education and care
providers including
child care centres and
family day care
Job Services Australia
(JSA) providers
Limestone Coast Early
Childhood Network
RDA Limestone Coast
RTOs
TAFE SA




DES
Family Assistance
Office
JSA
National Workforce
Development Fund
Recognition of Prior
Learning Assessment
Grants
Skills for All (SA
Government)
Regional Education, Skills and Jobs Plan – Limestone Coast 14
www.deewr.gov.au/resj
Issue 2
Education and transition outcomes for young people in the
Limestone Coast region.
Goal:
Ensure young people who are exiting formal schooling are fully supported to
develop the skills, knowledge and attributes they need to manage their transition
to further education, training and employment.
Theme(s):
School education; Tertiary education and training; Jobs, skills and workforce
development.
Strategies
Stakeholders
Programs









Build strong relationships and networks with
schools and others who provide education and
transition services to young people, improving
connections where possible.
Regularly engage with School Business Community
Partnership Brokers, Youth Connections providers
and Innovative Community Action Network (ICAN)
service providers and assist them to address
barriers with their work with a view to improving
educational outcomes for young people in the
region.
Maintain membership of and contribute to the SA
Department for Education and Child Development
(DECD) ICAN management committee and program
across the region.
Examine the provision of career development
services in schools across the region to identify
areas for improvement.
Contribute to the Limestone Coast Careers Expo.
Collect, collate and analyse relevant retention and
destination data on Indigenous young people as
they transition from school.
Ensure Aboriginal Community Education Officers in
schools are empowered to provide information and
support relating to further education, employment
and careers for Indigenous young people.

















Aboriginal Community
Education Officers
Association of
Independent Schools
SA
Australian
Apprenticeship
Centres
Burrandies Aboriginal
Corporation
Career Development
Centre
Catholic Education SA
DECD (SA)
DECD industry skills
brokers and
apprenticeship
brokers
Disability Employment
Service (DES)
providers
GTE Australia
ICAN
Job Services Australia
(JSA) providers
Limestone Coast
Strategic Youth
Coalition
RDA Limestone Coast
Registered training
organisations
School Business
Community
Partnership Brokers
TAFE SA/
Youth Connections
providers





Australian
Apprenticeships
DES
JSA
Parental and
Community
Engagement (PaCE)
School Business
Community
Partnership Brokers
Youth Connections
Issue 3
Enrolment in and attainment of post-school tertiary education
and training, particularly at diploma level or higher.
Goal:
Increase tertiary education and training availability and accessibility.
Theme(s):
Tertiary education and training; Jobs, skills and workforce development.
Strategies
Stakeholders
Programs




Work collaboratively with tertiary providers to
address accessibility issues for students within the
region, including providing support to University of
South Australia’s ‘Regional Connections’ project
and the Burrandies Aboriginal Corporation’s
Industry and Indigenous Skill Centre program
initiative.
Connect tertiary providers to information and
intelligence relating to regional growth, industry
and workforce development and support them to
ensure training matches demand.



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




Department for
Education and Child
Development
Department of
Further Education,
Employment, Science
and Technology
Employers
Flinders University
Local government
Regional
Development
Australia (RDA)
Limestone Coast
Registered training
organisations
South East Local
Government
Association
Southern Cross
University
TAFE SA
University of South
Australia






Adult and Community
Education (SA
Government)
Education Investment
Fund - ‘Regional
Priorities’ program.
Higher Education
Participation and
Partnerships Program
Industry and
Indigenous Skill
Centre program.
Investing in
Experience: Skills
Recognition and
Training
Skills for All (SA
Government)
Skills in the
Workplace (SA
Government)
Goal:
Available and appropriate learning supports for new students and students
experiencing difficulties.
Theme(s):
Tertiary education and training; Jobs, skills and workforce development.
Strategies
Stakeholders
Programs




Identify the types of learning supports required by
tertiary students in the Limestone Coast
experiencing difficulties or likely to experience
difficulties and assess their availability and
effectiveness.
In conjunction with the Department of Further
Education, Employment, Science and Technology
(DFEEST), RDA Limestone Coast, TAFE SA and other
registered training organisations (RTOs), promote
the use of ‘Skills for All’ as a workforce
development and career development strategy.










Department for
Education and Child
Development (DECD)
DFEEST
Employers
Flinders University
Local government
RDA Limestone Coast
RTOs
South East Local
Government
Association (SELGA)
Southern Cross
University
TAFE SA
University of South
Australia


Higher Education
Participation and
Partnerships Program
Skills for All (SA
Government)
Skills in the
Workplace (SA
Government)
Goal:
Development of a lifelong learning culture in the Limestone Coast.
Theme(s):
Tertiary education and training; Jobs, skills and workforce development.
Strategies
Stakeholders
Programs









Adult and Community
Education (SA
Government)

Skills for All (SA
Government)
Support local councils to deliver on their strategies
to encourage and promote a lifelong learning
culture.




DECD
DFEEST
Employers
Flinders University
Local government
RDA Limestone Coast
South East Local
Government
Association
Southern Cross
University
TAFE SA
RTOs
University of South
Australia
Issue 4
Improve labour market participation and employment
outcomes for disadvantaged groups in the Limestone Coast
region.
Goal:
People in the Limestone Coast who experience difficulties gaining or maintaining
work are supported to overcome these difficulties.
Theme(s):
Tertiary education and training; Jobs, skills and workforce development.
Strategies
Stakeholders
Programs







Support refugees, people with disability and youth,
to improve their language, literacy and numeracy
skills in the employment and training context.
Work in partnership with the South East Local
Government Association (SELGA), TAFE SA and
other registered training organisations (RTOs), Job
Services Australia (JSA) and Disability Employment
Service (DES) and other community service
providers to address transport-related barriers that
impact on further education and employment for
young people, refugees and migrants and people
with disability.
Work collaboratively with the Limestone Coast
Migrant Resource Centre, JSA and other service
providers to develop and implement, or add value
to, initiatives that improve refugee labour market
outcomes.
Further explore successful strategies for Indigenous
people and mature workers to improve their
workforce participation.
Work collaboratively with the Department of
Further Education, Employment, Science and
Technology (DFEEST) Skills for All in Regions to
enable local service providers to access and deliver
targeted programs and support to those
disadvantaged in the labour market.



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





Burrandies Aboriginal
Corporation
Career Development
Centre
DES providers
DFEEST
Health service
providers
JSA providers
Limestone Coast
Migrant Resource
Centre
RDA Limestone Coast
RTOs
SELGA
TAFE SA










Adult Migrant English
Program
Australian
Apprenticeship
Adviser Program
Australian
Apprenticeships
DES
Indigenous
Employment Program
JSA
Skills for All (SA
Government)
Skills for Education
and Employment
(formerly known as
the Language,
Literacy and
Numeracy Program)
South Australia Works
Wage Connect
Workplace English
Language and Literacy
Issue 5
Workforce development practices at employer, industry and
community levels.
Goal:
Attract and retain a skilled workforce for the Limestone Coast.
Theme(s):
Tertiary education and training; Jobs, skills and workforce development.
Strategies
Stakeholders
Programs





Engage with Industry Skills Boards and Industry
Skills Councils to ensure the employment and
training needs of industry in the region are
represented.
Support RDA Limestone Coast to deliver on its
Workforce Development Plan. The plan includes
strategies to:
o develop and maintain systems to improve the
evidence base and application of workforce
information and labour market data in the
region
o assist industry and employers to develop
quality workforce development practices,
improve workplace people management
practices and acknowledge best practice
o support new and emerging industries in the
region to ensure a sustainable, joined-up
approach to economic development and job
creation is considered
o develop long-term industry-specific workforce
planning models for the region, initially in (1)
education and early childhood care (2) health
and community services (3) agriculture,
horticulture and forestry (4) tourism and (5)
natural resources and renewable energies.










Business associations
Career Development
Centre
Department of
Further Education,
Employment, Science
and Technology
Department of
Industry, Innovation,
Climate Change,
Science, Research and
Tertiary Education
Employers
Industry associations
Industry Skills Boards
Industry Skills
Councils
Local government
RDA Limestone Coast
South East Local
Government
Association
Workplace English
Language and Literacy
(WELL) brokers







AusIndustry, including
the South East South
Australia Innovation
and Investment Fund
Australian
Government Skills
Connect
Enterprise Connect
National Workforce
Development Fund
Skills for All (SA
Government)
Skills in the
Workplace (SA
Government)
Wage Connect
WELL
Goal:
Increase employers’ awareness of available business development programs and
support.
Theme(s):
Tertiary education and training; Jobs, skills and workforce development.
Strategies
Stakeholders
Programs






Develop a partnership approach with providers in
the region to deliver a more accessible message to
industry and employers about the availability of
programs and support for business development
and workforce sustainability.
Revisit and review population attraction and
retention initiatives in the region, in collaboration
with Regional Development Australia (RDA)
Limestone Coast and the South East Local
Government Association (SELGA) member councils.
Promote the Australian Government Skills Connect
suite of programs and workforce development
initiatives to local industry, industry groups and
employers.










Business associations
Career Development
Centre
Department of
Further Education,
Employment, Science
and Technology
Department of
Industry, Innovation,
Climate Change,
Science, Research and
Tertiary Education
Employers
Industry associations
Industry Skills Boards
Industry Skills
Councils
Local government
National Workforce
Development Fund
(NWDF) brokers
RDA Limestone Coast
SELGA
Workplace English
Language and Literacy
(WELL) brokers





Australian
Government Skills
Connect
Enterprise Connect
NWDF
Skills for All (SA
Government)
Skills in the
Workplace (SA
Government)
WELL
Goal:
Increased capacity of individuals to manage change in their working lives.
Theme(s):
Early childhood education and care; School education; Tertiary education and
training; Jobs, skills and workforce development.
Strategies
Stakeholders
Programs







Promote a good practice approach to structural
adjustment activities and redundancies in the
region, make connections for providers and
advocate for improved service provision.
Support Job Services Australia (JSA) and Disability
Employment Service (DES) providers’ engagement
with the Regional Development Australia (RDA)
Limestone Coast Career Development Centre as a
region wide initiative.













Business associations
Career Development
Centre
Department of
Further Education,
Employment, Science
and Technology
Department of
Industry, Innovation,
Climate Change,
Science, Research and
Tertiary Education
DES providers
Employers
Industry associations
Industry Skills Boards
Industry Skills
Councils
JSA providers
Local government
National Workforce
Development Fund
(NWDF) brokers
RDA Limestone Coast
South East Local
Government
Association (SELGA)
Workplace English
Language and Literacy
(WELL) brokers



DES
JSA
National Workforce
Development Fund
Skills for All (SA
Government)
Skills in the
Workplace (SA
Government)
WELL
APPENDICES
Appendix A — Stakeholders
Below is a list of organisations consulted during the development of this RESJ Plan, listed by sector.
Sector
Stakeholder
Local government
South East Local Government Association (SELGA), representing seven member
councils in the Limestone Coast region.
South Australian
Government
Department of Further Education, Employment, Science and Technology;
Department for Education and Child Development.
Australian government
Department of Industry, Innovation, Climate Change, Science, Research and
Tertiary Education; Department of Regional Australia, Local Government, Arts
and Sport.
Education
Department for Education and Child Development—including ICAN Program
Manager, Industry Skills Broker and Apprenticeship Brokers; Tenison Woods
College; St Martins Lutheran College.
Higher education
TAFE SA Regional – Limestone Coast; University of South Australia – Centre for
Regional Engagement, Mount Gambier; Logging Investigation and Training
Association Inc.
Youth
School Business Community Partnership Broker – RDA Limestone Coast.
Youth Connections provider – Services to Youth Council.
Employment
Job Prospects; Workskil Inc; Interwork; Campbell Page; Uniting Care Wesley
Port Adelaide; Group Training Employment; Limestone Coast Migrant Resource
Centre of SA.
Indigenous organisations
Burrandies Aboriginal Corporation; Pangula Mannamurna Inc.
Regional development
Regional Development Australia Limestone Coast.
Regional Education, Skills and Jobs Plan – Limestone Coast 22
www.deewr.gov.au/resj
Appendix B — Existing related plans and strategies
This section includes some of the related strategic plans in the region which have:

influenced the direction of this RESJ Plan

have complementary goals and strategies and/or

have significance in the region in relation to education, skills and jobs.
It provides an overview of how each strategy or plan has had an impact on this RESJ Plan and how it may
be utilised to maximise outcomes.
Plan or strategy
Impact on RESJ Plan
Regional Development Australia
(RDA) Limestone Coast
RDA Limestone Coast has
identified five key areas for priority
attention in the region. These are:
 Economic Development
 Infrastructure
 Population Growth, Skills,
Leadership Development
 Tourism, Lifestyle, Promotion
 Community Well being
How it can be
used/linked/expanded
The current RDA Limestone Coast
Regional Roadmap 2010-2015
(updated in August 2012) has a
dynamic vision for the region.
Whilst all key focus areas
contained in the Regional
Roadmap complement the RESJ
Plan’s strategy in the region, those
actions included under the key
issues of ‘Population, Skills and
Leadership Development and
Tourism, Lifestyle, Promotion’
have particular relevance.
The Regional Roadmap is revised
annually through a community
consultation process. The RESJ
Coordinator can value-add to this
process and work collaboratively
with RDA Limestone Coast in
addressing education, skills and
workforce development issues.
Regional Education, Skills and Jobs Plan – Limestone Coast 23
www.deewr.gov.au/resj
Plan or strategy
Impact on RESJ Plan
How it can be
used/linked/expanded
RDA Limestone Coast employs a
skills, career and workforce
development manager, who
administers a number of projects
and is responsible for managing
the Board’s Career Development
Centre. It also hosts the
Department of Further Education,
Employment, Science and
Technology (DFEEST) Regional
Coordinator position. From time to
time, RDA Limestone Coast
undertakes discrete projects
related to workforce development.
The Board’s Live Grow Achieve
initiative provides comprehensive
information about the Limestone
Coast as a region to live, work and
invest in and is targeted towards
people wishing to relocate for
work and/or to develop their
business in the region.
RDA Limestone Coast is currently
the provider of DEEWR’s School
Business Community Partnership
Broker program, the Department
of Industry, Innovation, Climate
Change, Science, Research and
Tertiary Education Apprenticeship
Advisor program and in 2012 were
recipients of DEEWR’s Youth
Development and Support
Program grant funding for a
project focussed on career
development for refugee young
people.
A number of local, state and
federal government officers deliver
regional programs and are colocated with RDA Limestone Coast
including South East Local
Government Association,
AusIndustry, Austrade, Active
After-school Communities, South
Australian Tourism Commission
Regional Tourism Manager,
Tourism Industry Development
Officer and the South East
Resource Information Centre.
How it can be
used/linked/expanded
Plan or strategy
Impact on RESJ Plan
Department of Planning and Local
Government – The Limestone
Coast Regional Plan
The plan was released in August
2011 and is designed to provide
direction and action for the
development of the region while
considering state-wide planning
aims and region-specific needs.
The Limestone Coast Regional Plan
is an important reference for the
RESJ initiative. The South
Australian Government has
developed the strategies in the
plan to accommodate an extra
22,000 people in the region over
the next 30 years. Many of the
aims of the plan will impact on
education, employment and
workforce development.
Department of Further Education,
Employment, Science and
Technology (DFEEST) – Skills for All
in the Regions – Limestone Coast
This DFEEST-funded program
specifically addresses issues and
challenges faced by disadvantaged,
unemployed and underemployed
jobseekers in the region. RDA
Limestone Coast coordinates
DFEEST grant money and delivers
programs through the Working
Regions Action Plan.
The RESJ Coordinator adds value to
the locally based DFEEST Regional
Coordinator and RDA Limestone
Coast’s Employment and Training
Programs Project Officer.
Local providers who deliver funded
projects provide access to
important networks, and their
ability to identify and develop
strategies to assisted
disadvantaged job seekers is
valuable.
DFEEST provides specific
education, training and labour
market data and interpretation of
the region’s workforce via its
Workforce Wizard.
Department of Further Education,
Employment, Science and
Technology – Skills for All and Skills
in the Workplace.
Commencing 1 July 2012, Skills For
All funds skills training
(qualifications and skills sets) up to
advanced diploma level for all
South Australians over the age of
16, including VET in South
Australian Certificate of Education
within school settings.
Skills for All and Skills in the
Workplace provide opportunities
for the state and federal
governments to work together to
deliver the best possible services.
Industry, employers and Job
Services Australia and Disability
Employment Service providers are
encouraged to work
collaboratively to develop tailored
responses to their training and
employment needs.
Skills in the Workplace is partially
funded skills training for industry
and is complementary to the
Australian Government’s National
Workforce Development Fund.
Plan or strategy
Impact on RESJ Plan
Government/Non-Government
schooling sectors
All Department for Education and
Child Development (DECD),
Catholic and independent schools
in the region provide support for
young people who are disengaged
or at risk of disengaging from
education.
How it can be
used/linked/expanded
DECD have a number of initiatives
that support young people to be
successful with their schooling. At
a regional level these include:
Innovative Community Action
Networks, the Industry Skills
Program, Apprenticeship Brokers
and two Independent Learning
Centres. DECD schools can choose
to enrol students as flexible
learning options students, allowing
a community partnership approach
to learning success for young
people.
DECD, Catholic and Independent
schools in the region provide
flexible learning programs for
young people at risk of disengaging
from education. Many of the
schools have independent learning
centres and all have strong links
with vocational education and
training and a focus on South
Australian Certificate of Education
completion.
This RESJ Plan has identified
working collaboratively or
partnering with existing programs
across the schooling sector as ways
to avoid duplication and get
targeted outcomes.
Local government strategic plans
Local councils in the region have
strategic plans that identify their
direction and vision. Councils in
the Limestone Coast have a focus
on economic and community
development and a strong desire
to make this region a great place
to live and work.
This RESJ Plan supports education,
employment, skills and learning
strategies identified by councils.
ABBREVIATIONS
Abbreviation
Full Term
ABS
Australian Bureau of Statistics
AEDI
Australian Early Development Index
DECD
Department for Education and Child Development (SA)
DEEWR
Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations
DES
Disability Employment Services
DFEEST
Department of Further Education, Employment, Science and Technology (SA)
ICAN
Innovative Community Action Networks
JSA
Job Services Australia
NWDF
National Workforce Development Fund
PaCE
Parental and Community Engagement
RDA
Regional Development Australia
RESJ
Regional Education, Skills and Jobs
RTO
Registered Training Organisation
SELGA
South East Local Government Association
VET
Vocational education and training
WELL
Workplace English Language and Literacy
Regional Education, Skills and Jobs Plan – Limestone Coast 27
www.deewr.gov.au/resj