Three major Professional Development initiatives have been implemented by the Railway Technical Society of Australasia (RTSA) to assist the railway industry to improve the standing of railway professionals and to help the railway industry to address the critical shortage of skilled work force. These interrelated initiatives are as follows:
- Short survey on professional development activities and skill shortages within the railway industry
- Series of Australia-wide symposiums on professional development involving a broad range of participants from the railway industry
- Industry-based Professional Development and Assessment Program (PDAP)
Short Survey on Professional Development Activities and Skills Shortages in the Railway Industry
The RTSA has developed a short survey on professional development activities to better understand the technologies and sub-specializations within the railway industry. This survey is expected to provide guidance to the RTSA with regards to its Continuing Professional Development (CPD) initiatives which are designed to facilitate the up-skilling of professionals in these technologies so that productivity improvements may be achieved in the future.
Series of Professional Development Symposiums
The RTSA has conducted a series of half day Symposiums on Professional Development to identify the characteristics of the various training and development programs currently offered within the Australian railway industry and to facilitate discussion designed to improve current training and development programs.
Professional Development Assessment Program (PDAP)
The RTSA, in collaboration with Engineers Australia, has developed a program that will assist young graduates within the railway industry to acquire practice competencies and to gain peer recognition.