This report (link below) was prepared by the SWG in 2017 in conjunction with the University of Canberra. It was updated in 2020 to provide further baseline data that incorporated the southern zone of the Hub (ie. North East Victoria). The original report was prepared because, at the time, there was little current data on the socio-economic contribution of the industry to the region or the key areas in which investment is needed in skills and training to help maintain the industry in the future. This study addressed that gap, collecting data via a survey of the industry and analysis of data produced in past studies and by the Australian Bureau of Statistics. This enabled production of the up-to-date information on the value of the industry, the jobs it generates, its contribution to the region, and the skills and training needs of the industry.
