There is a real skills shortage in robotics in Australia at the moment and it will only increase as the industry grows. In the last four years estimated revenue from robotics companies in Australia has increased by $6b (or 50%).
Robotics education in Australia runs a wide and varied range, from students in Prep using simple robots to learn directional terminology all the way through to academics in higher education performing world leading research. STEM Education is crucial in order to provide a pipeline of suitable talent capable of meeting the requirements of our thriving robotics industry. Fortunately Australia’s world-class education system means that we are developing a high-quality pool of graduates that will position Australia as a knowledge-driven robotics nation. The long-term benefits of transitioning to a robot-ready economy are clear and include economic growth, wealth creation, job upskilling as well as diverse job opportunities.
How do we educate our children for the jobs of the future, many of which have not yet been created? Some of the most common skills required for a new robot economy, apart from STEM, are generalist and include creativity, adaptability and resilience. Integrated skills encompassing the social sciences, law, economics, the arts, and design are necessary to ensure that robotic technologies are accepted by society.
Robotics Australia Group (RAG) is the peak body for robotics in Australia, established to facilitate the growth of a sustainable and internationally competitive national robotics industry. A crucial component of this is robotics education to help us supply people ready for the jobs of the future. RAG is dedicated to growing Australia’s capability in this area and finding ways to connect those with skills in robotics with the robotics companies that desperately need them. Robotics challenges are a great way for students to get hands-on experience with robots, and robotics education leads to concrete careers and jobs which are also fun!
About The Author
Dr Sue Keay FTSE,
Chair, Robotics Australia Group
An advocate for diversity in technology, Sue represents Oceania for Women in Robotics and is responsible for bringing the Grace Hopper Celebration to Australia. Sue has an MBA from The University of Queensland Business School and a PhD in Earth Science from ANU.
She is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and is an Adjunct Professor at QUT. Former roles include CEO of Queensland AI Hub, Research Director for Cyber-Physical Systems at CSIRO’s Data61 and Chief Operating Officer for the Australian Centre for Robotic Vision.
