Demand increases for skilled sustainability professionals

With reporting requirements driving a new era of corporate climate accountability for medium-sized businesses, demand for sustainability professionals in Australia is surging. Also, The World Economic Forum predicts global job growth of more than 25% for sustainability specialists by 2030.

TAFE NSW is building the next generation of job‑ready graduates equipped with the sustainability skills Australian businesses urgently need.

It’s expected that up to 5000 businesses will be required to produce climate-related financial disclosures under the new Australian Sustainability Reporting Standards (ASRS) by July 2027. However, more than 70,000 additional business are expected to be impacted, as suppliers will need to provide verified climate and emissions data.

In Australia, businesses that fail to meet the ASRS face fines of up to $15.65 million or 10% of turnover.

TAFE NSW’s Higher Education Diploma of Sustainable Practice is the only Australian educator accredited by the International Society of Sustainability Professionals (ISSP) and recently became the first TAFE in Australia to be awarded an International Green Gown Award for superior education quality and real-world impact.

Lorne Butt, Manager Sustainability for the Department of Customer Service and member of the Course Advisory Committee for the Diploma, said the reporting requirements are an opportunity which will impact different teams across organisations.

“Climate‑related disclosures are changing how businesses operate, how they tender and how they manage risk,” she said. “Demand for sustainability capability is only going to grow.”

For many students, like former chef David Burt, the TAFE NSW Diploma of Sustainable Practice has been life‑changing, allowing him to pursue his personal passion for sustainability and find a pathway into one of Australia’s fastest‑growing fields.

“I spent 21 years as a chef, but becoming a parent focused my existing passion for the environment and made me search for a meaningful career,” he said. “The Diploma gave me the confidence, skills and language to step into a sustainability role and make a real impact.”

The practical nature of the course, focusing on real projects, workplace application and direct access to expert mentors, helped him transition into a new career and assisted his organisation to understand the strategic value of sustainability.

Dr Alison Mitchell, one of the Diploma’s teaching team, said the implementation of ASRS is accelerating demand for graduates who understand both risk and opportunity in a low‑carbon economy.

“ASRS forces organisations to look further into the future,” she said. “This isn’t just compliance, it’s about businesses building resilience, competitiveness and long‑term viability.

“Whether you work in finance, procurement, communications, operations or frontline work, sustainability is becoming part of your job.”

For more information on the Diploma of Sustainable Practice, visit the TAFE NSW website.

Image credit: iStock.com/arthon meekodong