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Video Transcript - Forestry Skills Shortage

VOICEOVER:
If you look beyond the trees, you‘ll see just how important the plantation forestry industry is to our daily lives

From timber for our houses and furniture, to paper for our schools and workplace, we use products from trees like these everyday.

And that’s why PIRSA Forestry is doing all it can to ensure South Australia’s forestry industry has enough skilled workers to keep the industry flourishing. 

EDUCATION OFFICER, MOIRA CLOSE:
There’s a recognised skills shortage down in the southeast part of the state, and with blue gum harvesting due to start this year, there’s going to be a rapid expansion needed in the forest industry workforce.

VOICEOVER:
Be it a professional forester, harvester operator, timber mill worker, or truck driver, the plantation forestry industry offers jobs for almost everyone.

Currently the forestry industry employs almost 13,000 people in South Australia alone.

And by working with the community PIRSA Forestry is raising awareness of the career opportunities available.

EDUCATION OFFICER, MOIRA CLOSE:
Well what we do is we help to make the community aware of the opportunities that are available in the forest industry and we talk with careers counsellors, we work with schools and teachers, as well as industry in government in raising the profile of forestry careers in the state.

VOICEOVER:
And the work doesn’t stop there. Forestry officers have been busy visiting local schools to promote the industry through its educational resource Forestry matters!

EDUCATION OFFICER, MOIRA CLOSE:
Forestry matters! is a forest education resource and it contains fact sheets, learning activities, forestry fun games and it’s aimed at Reception to year 10 level school students, and it’s for teachers and educators to teach their students more about forestry.