Conference Papers | 2009 Conference Papers

ONLINE LEARNING – THE FUTURE OF TRAINING IN THE WATER INDUSTRY IN QUEENSLAND

Helen Leeson, Faculty Manager, Wide Bay Institute of TAFE – TAFE Queensland
Graham Cole, Training Coordinator, Wide Bay Water Corporation

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Typically, the water industry consists of a geographically dispersed workforce that includes remote locations, workforce limitations and budget restrictions. This is partly why attracting and retaining staff has become such an issue for many water authorities. There are also public perceptions of the water industry that reflect old fashioned notions of the “Water Board” with its associated negative connotations- unskilled dirty, boring work with little chance of advancement and little prospect of a rewarding career.

Surveys of the water industry carried out during 2007 and 2008 show the problem will only get worse if the industry takes no action to address the root causes.