March 15, 2004—The Australian Government recently announced it would provide support to the facilities management industry to improve environmental performance of Australian facilities, increase education and training opportunities, and progress innovation within the industry.
The Chairman of the Facility Management Association (FMA) of Australia, Steve Gladwin, said that the government had agreed to the Action Agenda proposed by the FMA on behalf of the $60 billion facilities management industry. Action Agendas are designed to facilitate growth of individual industry sectors with support provided at all levels of government.
The Action Agenda submitted by the FMA is a four-pronged approach to developing the facilities management industry:
- Innovation: Improved understanding of how a facility’s construction impacts on its operation, greater understanding of the key drivers of workplace productivity, and the improved application of information technology.
- Education: Improving access to dedicated FM education and training opportunities. This will ensure those who leave school can aspire to a career in facilities management and have clear pathways into the profession.
- Sustainability: Better access to existing knowledge and the development of tools and opportunities to improve the environmental performance of Australian facilities.
- Regulation: Explore opportunities to harmonize state regulations that have an FM impact.
