High demand, declining applications for environmental qualifications

Research by Dr Ian Thomas of RMIT University has shown that while the demand for environment professionals continues, there are fewer students entering universities to gain environmental qualifications.

“The next few years will provide a golden opportunity for people to do environmental programs and move into the profession,” said Dr Thomas. “The need for qualified people to fill these green-environment positions will increase, yet we will not have the people to fill them.”

RMIT environment lecturer Karl Shanley noted the presence of such positions in local councils, saying, “Over 90% of Victorian councils have more than one environment officer, while over 30% have more than five dedicated staff.”

Development and reporting on environment action plans, environmental strategies, policies and programs are the prime duties of these staff, but even so there are many environmental matters still to be covered by local government activities. Thus, there is a critical need to increase staff numbers and environmental legislation.

“We have a reasonable handle on some environmental problems, but there is always more to do,” said Michael Oke, coordinator environmental management at the City of Yarra. “In addition. local government has been a leader in sustainable development, so that means we have additional work that connects environment officers with the social, economic and planning parts of a council.”

More than 220 councils have developed climate change action plans targeting greenhouse gas emissions reductions in their town halls, public buildings, leisure centres, street lights and vehicle fleets. This means there is a growing demand for qualified environmental professionals to work in the range of environment and sustainability roles of local government.

“There are great employment opportunities for young people who are passionate about environment and sustainability and who have done a relevant environment program at university,” commented Oke.

But the reduced numbers of applications for environment programs means that there will be fewer people to fill these roles, whether they are in local or other levels of government, or in business or community organisations.

“It is certainly a good time to be thinking about doing an environment qualification at university,” said Dr Thomas. “By the time people finish there will be employment opportunities waiting for them. And they will be working in a profession where they can do something meaningful.”