RACHAEL HERRAMAN
A recent study by the foundation of young Australians, the new work order, has found that many existing jobs and careers currently available in Australia are at risk of automation in the next 10-15 years which will dramatically affect the younger generation.
The foundation predicts that sixty per cent of university students and seventy per cent of tafe students are studying for occupations that will not exist in the future.
FYA CEO, Jan Owen said, Australia needs to put an emphasis on growing digital and literacy skills, however currently this is not happening fast enough.
“Unfortunately, our national curriculum is stuck in the past- with the current recommendation that teaching in digital skills not commence until year 9. This is despite the international evidence that says we must go early”, Ms Owen said.
Ms Owen believes that education needs to include accurate training for the jobs and skills that will exist in the future and that this training should commence in primary school.
“If we equip our young people with the right set of skills, a thirst for innovation, and the ability to collaborate, we can ensure they take our nation’s economy in a positive direction,” she said.
Kyle Mims, 21, is in his second year of a communications degree at the Queensland University of Technology and finds this information frustrating.
“Its really frustrating because you could spend four years of your life working hard towards something for nothing,” Mr Mims said.
Primary school teacher, Gina McFadden said that technology is currently used throughout learning in the classroom.
“Technology is an integral part of the school syllabus and digital technology is used in all key learning areas,” Mrs McFadden said.
Positions that are set to be of high availability in the future are jobs such as allied health care, the digital economy and the green economy.