Australia’s Rail industry provides vital freight services across the country and mobility to millions of metropolitan and regional passengers. The industry comprises of private and public operators, passenger and freight operators, infrastructure owners and managers, manufacturers, and suppliers that operate in urban, regional and rural locations. The Australian Rail industry employs nearly 55,000 people, and the workforce is expected to grow by 7.9% over the next decade.
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running train services and coordinating personnel, assets, activities, passengers and freight.
maintaining and managing the physical rail network, including tracks, signals, stations and yards.
protecting passengers, workers and assets through safety systems, inspections, training and compliance.
servicing and repairing trains and other rail vehicles to ensure safe and reliable operation.
This project will conduct a skills gap analysis to support autonomous train operations. The insights gained will guide the review of existing training products and support the development of new products within the Transport and Logistics Training Package.
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This project responds to workforce shortages in rail by creating a new national qualification: Certificate II in Rail Fundamentals (Pre-Vocational).
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This project developed a Rail Mutual Recognition Companion Volume that prescribes industry’s minimum expectations for the design and delivery of training and assessment. The companion volume will be published once mutual recognition governance arrangements are established.
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Brian Appleby
Chair
Public Transport Authority of Western Australia
Shayne Kummerfeld
Deputy Chair
Rail, Tram and Bus Union – Queensland Branch (RTBU)
Brendan Woods
Committee Member
John Holland Group
Fiona Love
Committee Member
Australasian Railway Association (ARA)
Lexie Koch
Committee Member
Aurizon
Matthew Wheatley
Committee Member
TasRail
Paul Baxter
Committee Member
Australian Manufacturing Workers Union – Queensland and Northern Territory Branch (AMWU)
Sarah Wilson
Committee Member
Australian Rail Track Corporation (ARTC)
Tony Landi
Committee Member
V/Line
View the Rail Strategic Workforce Planning Committee Terms of Reference.
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Carly is a highly engaging Stakeholder Relationship Specialist with more than 20 years of experience in workforce planning, industry development, and strategic stakeholder engagement. She has built a strong reputation for delivering practical, future‑focused solutions that support industry growth and workforce capability across complex sectors.
With an extensive background in the Victorian Government, Carly successfully led and supported investment projects across advanced manufacturing, rollingstock, and mining. Her ability to collaborate with diverse stakeholders, including industry leaders, government agencies, training providers, and community organisations, has been central to driving sustainable workforce and economic outcomes.
Before her work with Industry Skills Australia and the Victorian Government, Carly spent a decade within the apprenticeship and VET network. During this time, she refined her expertise in workforce development, stakeholder engagement, and vocational pathways, laying the foundation for her long-standing commitment to skills and industry advancement.
For any enquiries about the Rail Strategic Workforce Planning Committee, contact the Industry Engagement Manager.
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The Australian Rail Track Corporation (ARTC) is delivering one of the most significant rail safety initiatives ever undertaken…
Industry Skills Australia (ISA) was represented at the 2026 ARISO Rail Safety Conference, with Industry Engagement Manager Carly…
Industry Skills Australia’s Rail Industry Engagement Manager, Carly Grigg, made the most of a productive visit to Newcastle…
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