The Andrews Labor Government is laying the foundations for the future workforce of the State Electricity Commission to create thousands of jobs to deliver Victoria’s renewable energy future.

The State Electricity Commission (SEC) Energy Jobs and Skills Forum with be held on 29 June and bring together more than 200 experts and stakeholders to help shape Victoria’s renewables workforce, including Traditional Owner groups, employers, TAFEs, universities, technical schools, training providers, local government and unions.

The forum will help shape the Labor Government’s first-of-its-kind Victorian Energy Jobs Plan, ensuring Victoria’s workforce meets the needs of our energy transition and investments. The plan will prioritise practical actions to address gaps and workforce shortfalls, and position Victoria as a renewable energy workforce leader.

Achieving the Labor Government’s ambitious 95 per cent renewable energy target by 2035 will require a massive increase in energy and storage capacity, including major new wind and solar farms and small community and household renewables assets, such as solar and batteries.

The forum will discuss the challenges and opportunities of building the workforce needed for Victoria’s energy transition, and how the sector can work with government and the training system to attract, train and retain workers.

Victoria’s renewable energy targets and the SEC will support the creation of more than 59,000 jobs in building and operating energy assets to assist with the transition.

The Labor Government is investing an initial $1 billion towards delivering 4.5 gigawatts of power through new build renewable energy projects delivered by the SEC – the equivalent replacement capacity of coal-fired power station Loy Yang A, which is set to close in 2035.

The SEC Centre of Training Excellence will now undergo a business case following $5 million funding as part of the Victorian Budget 2023/24. The centre will coordinate and work with the Victorian Registration and Qualifications Authority to accredit courses in renewable energy.

The Labor Government’s energy and training package aims to deliver 6,000 apprentices, trainees and a pipeline of skilled renewable energy workers.

For more information, visit vic.gov.au/sec.

Quote attributable to Minister for the State Electricity Commission Lily D’Ambrosio

“The Energy Jobs and Skills Forum is a big step towards creating the workforce for the SEC and deliver our nation-leading targets of 95 per cent renewable energy by 2035 and net zero by 2045.”

Quote attributable to Minister for Skills and Training Gayle Tierney

“We’re training and upskilling the next generation of workers we will need to bring back the SEC and deliver even more renewable energy projects across the state.”