A proposal for an Australasian skills centre to tackle workforce problems in the resources industry will be presented at a summit in Adelaide this week.

Phil de Courcey, CEO of Adelaide-based Resources and Engineering Skills Alliance (RESA), said better workforce planning and development was critical for the growth of the sector, which was experiencing peaks and troughs across Australia.

A new concept for an Australasian Resources Workforce Development Centre (ARWDC) will be the focus of his keynote address to the RESA Productivity & Skills Summit on Friday.

“The impetus for the establishment of a collaborative skills centre comes from industry,  as many mining companies and contractors have expressed concerns over productivity losses associated with turnover and constant retraining,” de Courcey said in a statement.

The summit will also look at issues such as the need to increase opportunities for women in the sector, and Indigenous engagement.  A panel of mining, energy and media representatives will provide ideas for addressing “complex workforce issues” such as staff poaching.

“Panel members will address questions on the impact of competitive poaching of staff and how this ‘poach and pay’ cycle by companies trying to lure staff through  higher wages and benefits is ultimately destructive for all, and benefits could come from collaborative training and skills initiatives such as the ARWDC,” de Courcey said.

The summit at the Adelaide Hilton will feature a dinner speech by geologist and climate change sceptic Professor Ian Plimer.