While 2023 presented challenges such as supply chain issues and skilled labour shortages, Australia’s welding industry has continued to go from strength to strength. In fact, our 2023 Member Survey indicated that most fabrication businesses have a very strong pipeline of work, capacity for additional work, and rate the prospects of their business as strong.
Weld Australia members continue to lead the way in innovation, environmental sustainability, diversity and inclusion, and health and safety. We are extremely proud to be your peak body.
We’ve been busy behind the scenes at Weld Australia too. Our advocacy work paid dividends this year. Focused on issues such skill shortages, onshoring and local content procurement, renewable energy and adherence to quality standards, we generated significant media coverage and political interest. Almost 1,000 people attended 19 member events. We also hosted the very successful National Manufacturing Summit August, as well as a much expanded program of Welding Excellence Awards.
Our training department went from strength to strength, with over 350 students completing courses. Our work on the MEM Resources Project continued, with the resources officially launched and already adopted by some TAFEs. We expanded our Advanced Manufacturing School Outreach Program in New South Wales significantly, with over 80 welding simulators installed in more than 40 schools.
We expanded our certification services, adding AS/NZS 9001, AS/NZS ISO 14001 and AS/NZS ISO 45001 to our offering. We also added the IIW International Welding Practitioner (IWP) qualification.
We launched new Industry Groups this year, focused on Renewable Energy and Advanced Manufacturing, and reinvigorated our Defence Industry Network, bringing more members together than ever before.
It’s the ongoing support from members like you that allows us to continue advocating for the welding industry in Australia, and we wholeheartedly thank you for your role in that this year. We hope you will continue your support in 2024.