Released on = November 6, 2006, 5:08 am

Press Release Author = Ryan Rebutica

Industry = Government

Press Release Summary = Procurement is the fastest-growing business profession in
Australia, but a skills shortage threatens the boom.

Press Release Body = Procurement is the fastest-growing business profession in
Australia, but a skills shortage threatens the boom.

Jonathan Dutton, managing director of the Chartered Institute of Purchasing & Supply
Australia (CIPSA), said it is growing at a rate of 35 per cent a year. The
Australian government gives preferential treatment to purchasing and supply
professionals seeking work visas.

Speaking at last month\'s CIPSA conference he said expanding Australian industries,
such as mining, are driving demand. Mining firms in the west are so desperate for
purchasers they are paying salaries 30-40 per cent higher than other industries in
the rest of the country.Qualified UK and US purchasers are being enlisted to fill
the gap.

Despite this, Antonia Macrides, director of recruitment firm Bomweb Search &
Selection, warned there would be a medium-term skills shortage because firms failed
to recruit and nurture homegrown talent.

British purchasers in Australia told SM the status of the profession was \"five or
six years\" behind the UK.

Dutton said some sectors, such as logistics and distribution, are more developed
because of the size of the country. Proximity to Asia also means firms have natural
relationships with Asian suppliers which is beneficial.

Craig Lardner, group manager of supply management at BOC Group, and an Australian
who has worked in the UK, said: \"There is the same passion for success. They are
energised but have not figured out how to get their hands on the steering wheel.\"

- Anusha Bradley, supplymanagement.com

Web Site = http://www.nationalvisas.com.au

Contact Details = National Visas
Web site: http://www.nationalvisas.com.au
Address: 3 - 118 Church Street
Hawthorn, Victoria
Australia 3122
Phone: +61 (0) 3 9697 4922
Fax: +61 (0) 3 9815 1544