The Hon. H.J. GUMBYS (15:48): I rise to speak today about the Flinders Factory of the Future at Tonsley and the important role it is playing in South Australia's manufacturing future. In July, I visited the facility and toured both the Factory of the Future and the maritime labs. The visit provided an opportunity to see the work being undertaken across advanced manufacturing, robotics and maritime engineering, and the collaboration occurring between Flinders University researchers, students and industry.
On 22 September, I returned to attend the Factory of the Future industry showcase. Events of this kind give students, families, workers and local businesses the opportunity to see what modern manufacturing involves and to speak directly with the people undertaking that work.
The Factory of the Future is designed to address a practical problem. Many businesses recognise that new technologies could improve their operations, but adopting them can involve considerable cost, uncertainty and technical risk. Smaller manufacturers in particular may not have their own research teams or the resources to test an idea before introducing it into production. The factory gives those businesses access to researchers, engineers and advanced equipment and controlled testing environments.
During my time as a convener of the Australian Manufacturing Workers' Union Defence and Aerospace National Industry Committee, we clearly identified these types of connections and collaborations as essential relationships for the future of Australian advanced manufacturing. Through initiatives such as the Manufacturing Growth Accelerator, it can help manufacturers assess new technologies, improve existing processes and move promising ideas towards commercial production.
This work is important because South Australia's manufacturing ambitions cannot depend entirely on large companies. Major defence and industrial projects rely upon networks of local suppliers. Those businesses need the capability to meet demanding standards, adopt new production methods and remain competitive over the long term.
The factory's collaboration with MyModular provides an example of this work. In partnership with BAE Systems Australia and disability sector organisations, a transportable cable processing work cell was developed to improve efficiency while making the work more accessible to people with a disability. It demonstrates that productivity, good design and broader workforce participation can be pursued together when workers, industry and researchers are involved from the outset.
However, investment in equipment is only part of the risk. Advanced manufacturing requires people who can install, operate, program and maintain these new systems. It also requires experienced tradespeople who understand materials, tight tolerances, production pressures and what happens when a process that appears sound on paper meets the reality of the workshop.
The workforce question is not whether these jobs will exist, it is whether South Australia will have enough people with the right skills when industry needs them. Training cannot begin after the contract is signed and production schedules are set. It requires a pipeline extending from secondary school into apprenticeships, vocational education and higher level technical qualifications. That means treating vocational education as part of our industrial capacity, not as an alternative offered to students who were considered unsuited to university.
Apprenticeships and traineeships prepare people for occupations upon which advanced manufacturing depends, while providing a foundation for further technical study, engineering and leadership roles. This is where technical colleges play an important part. The Tonsley Technical College allows students in years 10 to 12 to complete their secondary education while undertaking hands-on industry connected training.
When I visited Tonsley, I spoke with students living and working to this framework. I also shared stories and experiences with my own apprentices when I was on the tools at the Edinburgh Defence Precinct, and they could not speak highly enough about how this method of transition to trades had found them more engaged with school than ever before and excited for their future in advanced manufacturing.
These programs provide pathways into real employment, apprenticeships, traineeships and further study in fields, including advanced manufacturing, engineering, automotive technology, energy, building and construction. Its location is also significant. At Tonsley, the technical college sits within a broader precinct that includes Flinders University, TAFE SA, research facilities and manufacturing enterprises. Students are directly studying in an environment where new products are being developed, manufacturing problems are being examined, and employers are helping to define the skills that they require.
That connection between schools, vocational education, universities and employers is essential. Workforce development must happen in advance and must give young people a clear line of sight from education into a real occupation. I acknowledge Professor Karen Reynolds, director of Flinders Factory of the Future, and the researchers, engineers, technical staff, students and industry partners who contribute to its work.
The Factory of the Future model shows that manufacturing policy is not simply about acquiring new technology, it is about ensuring that South Australian businesses can access that technology that workers are trained to work with.