Engineers Australia marks International Youth Day

Engineers Australia marked International Youth Day on 12 August by recognising the importance of allowing young people to develop the engineering skills, knowledge and confidence needed to tackle the challenges that will shape Australia’s future.

This year’s theme, ‘Different Contexts, Common Aspirations’, highlights that while young people around the world experience different realities, they share many of the same ambitions, including to make meaningful change, build stronger communities and contribute to a better future.

Engineers Australia Chief Engineer Katherine Richards said engineering provides a powerful pathway for young people to make a difference on the issues that will define their future.

“Young people are highly motivated to address matters that impact them, whether that’s climate change, artificial intelligence or building more resilient communities,” she said. “Our responsibility is to ensure they understand that engineering is a profession that empowers them to develop the technologies, infrastructure and solutions needed to address these challenges.”

The development of a strong pipeline of skilled young engineers remains critical for Australia to meet its future engineering demands, with Engineers Australia forecasting that more than 150,000 engineers will be required over the next decade.

Compounding this, a recent Engineers Australia industry poll found many young professionals are concerned about finding early career opportunities, with 65% of respondents identifying it as the most significant issue facing young engineers. Of those surveyed, 17% cited a lack of mentoring support as the biggest challenge, while 9% pointed to evolving skills requirements and 7% identified building workplace confidence.

“At a time when Australia needs more engineers than ever, we cannot afford to lose talented young professionals because they lack pathways into the workforce or don’t have mentors to support them,” Richards said. “These engineers will be at the forefront of innovation as the next generation of Australian problem-solvers. But that can only happen if they are given the opportunities to gain experience, develop their skills and build confidence in themselves.”

Richards said it was also important for young engineers to remain motivated and connected to the profession while navigating the beginning of their careers.

“The early stages of a career can be challenging, but young engineers should remain confident in their skills because Australia will need their talent, creativity and contributions in the years ahead.”

Image credit: iStock.com/skynesher