Ayr training hub relocates to town centre

Published Thursday, 22 February, 2018 at 01:27 PM

Minister for Agricultural Industry Development and Fisheries
The Honourable Mark Furner

An opportunity to provide a wider reaching, more comprehensive, and highly effective rural training service to the Burdekin region, has prompted Queensland Agricultural Training Colleges (QATC) to set up a new training hub in the township of Ayr. 

Minister for Agricultural Industry Development and Fisheries Mark Furner said moving the local training service from Giddy Road to a building in Graham Street in Ayr, demonstrated the Palaszczuk Government’s commitment to providing accessible and viable services to people in regional Queensland.

“While it might seem a little strange to offer a rural skills training service from a CBD location, the service provided from Ayr covers the whole of the Burdekin region, and even further afield,” Mr Furner said.

“There is a strong demand for flexible delivery of training via workshops, online courses, and workplace-based training throughout Queensland.

“This training is vital to provide people in regional and rural Queensland with the skills they need to further their career, and as a consequence find meaningful employment close to home.

“Providing avenues for employment is a key plank of the Palaszczuk Government’s second-term agenda and I look forward to seeing some great outcomes for people in the Burdekin region.”

QATC Instructor Rowan Scott said the service would be fully mobile.

“In my day to day work as a trainer of rural-related skills, I could be delivering training at a school in the region, on a commercial work site anywhere from Ingham to Bowen, or working with a community group at a public recreation area,” Mr Scott said.

“The service that is offered out of Ayr is equipped with chainsaws, quad bikes, side by side vehicles, chemical application tools, all fully transportable by trailers and utility vehicles. 

“We take the training to the people.”

Anyone wanting to enquire about local training possibilities can contact QATC on 1800 888 710, email enquiries@qatc.edu.au or go to qatc.edu.au. 

People are also very welcome to call into the Graham Street office to speak to the staff located at the Ayr Training Hub to find out more.

Contact: Brock Taylor - 0427 018 178