Project Description
This project is developing a training-demand aggregation model and an online platform that gives Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) a clear view of the industry’s needs by job function, activity, region, and sub-sector.
The platform will enable employers and stakeholders to submit, view and share demand data, so RTOs can plan and deliver training where it is needed. The aim is to better align training supply with verified demand across the forest, wood and paper products industries.
Timeline
January 2025 – June 2026
Lead Organisation
Led and delivered by ForestWorks, with support from specialist partners
Contact
Anthony Walsh
Workforce Development & Projects Manager
awalsh@forestworks.com.au
ForestEdu Training Demand Tracker
A central hub for aligning training supply with real demand
ForestWorks is developing the ForestEdu Training Demand Tracker as a central platform where employers and individuals can record training needs, and where RTOs can access aggregated data of the forestry sector’s training needs—by region, industry sector and job function. The aim is to align training supply with real demand across the forest, wood and paper products industries.
The Training Demand Tracker will sit within ForestEdu, a central education platform designed to connect people, content and insights to lift training quality and access across the sector.
How ForestEdu fits together
ForestEdu integrates digital products developed under this and related projects as follows:
What the platform does
Who it’s for
How it will be used
Key features (in development)
Next steps underway
ForestEdu Training Demand Tracker
Connecting training demand with supply
Project 9 developed the ForestEdu Training Demand Tracker, a central platform that helps employers and learners discover training, connect with providers and communicate their training needs.
The platform also brings together aggregated information about searches, enquiries and expressions of interest. This can help the forestry and wood products sector better understand regional and industry-wide demand for training.
The industry challenge
Training demand is often fragmented across employers, workers, locations and training providers.
Without a central way to capture and aggregate this information, training providers have limited visibility of total demand. Industry also has fewer opportunities to coordinate delivery, identify training gaps and build evidence for future investment.
The project response
Project 9 created a custom-built ForestEdu service that brings several functions together in one digital environment:
- searchable training information
- training provider profiles and listings
- employer and learner demand capture
- direct enquiry and engagement pathways
- workforce intelligence dashboards.
Part of the ForestEdu platform
The ForestEdu Training Demand Tracker is one of the three integrated ForestEdu services. These services work together to strengthen sector connections, align training offerings with demand, and prioritise training resources.
How the ForestEdu Training Demand Tracker works
The platform performs two connected roles.
First, it helps people discover relevant training and connect with providers.
Second, it turns aggregated platform activity into insights about training demand across the sector.
From training need to workforce insight
1. Identify a training need
An employer, worker or prospective learner identifies a skill or training requirement.
2. Search for training
The user searches the platform and filters the available programs and providers.
3. Explore and make contact
The user views relevant training information, expresses interest or contacts a provider.
4. Capture demand signals
Searches, program views, expressions of interest and contact events generate demand indicators.
5. Analyse aggregated activity
Dashboards bring together platform activity to show patterns by training program, region, user group or provider interaction.
6. Inform workforce action
Industry and training stakeholders can use the evidence to support planning, coordination, delivery and investment discussions.
The opportunity: As participation grows and provider information remains current, the ForestEdu Training Demand Tracker platform can become a living source of intelligence about forestry and wood products training demand.
Core platform capabilities
Search and discovery
Public-facing pathways help employers and individual learners find relevant, accredited, publicly available training.
Provider registry
Organisation, location, program and contact information create a visible, sector-specific training directory.
Demand capture
Search activity, training program views, expressions of interest and provider contact events create measurable demand signals.
Workforce insights
Dashboards support analysis of
training programs being searched and regional demand patterns.
Who can use the platform?
Employers: Employers can search for relevant training and submit information about their workforce development needs.
Learners and jobseekers: Individuals can find training programs, explore delivery options and express interest.
Registered training organisations: Training providers can manage their organisation profiles, program listings, delivery offerings, locations, leads and enquiries.
ForestEdu administrators: Platform administrators can oversee data quality, analytics, reporting, and ongoing service stewardship.
Results and early proof of concept
Project 9 progressed from stakeholder consultation and functional specification to a tested platform with dedicated pathways for:
- public users
- training providers
- platform administrators.
At the time of reporting, the platform’s core architecture and dashboards had been established. Public uptake metrics were not yet available, so the project’s early outcome is best understood as creating a functional digital foundation rather than evidence of full sector adoption.
A foundation for future intelligence: The quality and usefulness of platform insights will increase as more users engage with the service and providers maintain complete, accurate and current information.
Benefits for training providers
Greater visibility
Providers can present their organisation, programs, offerings, delivery sites and contact information through one sector-specific platform.
Direct leads and enquiries
Providers can receive expressions of interest and contact enquiries from employers, learners and jobseekers.
Better market intelligence
Aggregated demand patterns can help providers consider:
- which programs to offer
- where training may be required
- which delivery modes may be appropriate
- where stronger industry engagement may be needed.
Benefits for industry
Simpler access to training
Employers and workers can search for training and connect directly with relevant providers.
Improved regional coordination
Aggregated demand information can help identify locations where combined employer demand may support shared delivery or new training provision.
Stronger workforce evidence
The platform can provide clearer sector evidence to support:
- workforce planning
- training coordination
- investment decisions
- discussions with providers and other stakeholders.
Turning platform activity into sector intelligence
The ForestEdu Training Demand Tracker’s long-term value depends on an ongoing cycle of participation, analysis and action.
- Training providers keep program and delivery information current.
- Employers and learners search, enquire and express interest.
- The platform captures aggregated demand indicators.
- Administrators analyse patterns and prepare workforce insights.
- Industry and providers use the evidence to guide training decisions.
- New and updated offerings generate further engagement and demand information.
This cycle can help the platform develop from a training directory into a broader workforce intelligence asset.
A living intelligence service for the sector
The ForestEdu Training Demand Tracker provides a digital foundation for connecting training demand with supply.
With active participation, current provider information and responsible use of aggregated demand evidence, the platform can help industry and training providers identify needs earlier, coordinate delivery more effectively and make better-informed workforce decisions.
ForestEdu is a central platform for accessing industry-specific training resources, strengthening professional networks, and addressing workforce capability needs across the forest, wood, and paper sectors. The platform was developed for learners, employers, and training providers as part of the Forestry Workforce Training Program, which is funded by the Australian Government Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry.
