QATC transition gathers pace

Businesses, organisations and individuals are invited to put forward proposals for the future use of the Queensland Agricultural Training College facilities in Longreach and Emerald.

Minister for Agricultural Industry Development and Fisheries Mark Furner said the QATC Transition Project Management Office (PMO) was calling for commercial partnership proposals for these community assets.

“The PMO is looking for proposals to repurpose the facilities to create reinvigorated training opportunities in central western Queensland, and to consider alternate commercially sustainable future uses for the college assets,” Mr Furner said.

“Local liaison officers will collate the proposals for assessment.”

Proposals can be submitted to qatc_pmo@daf.qld.gov.au .

Mr Furner said the QATC Transition Employee Assistance Package would soon be rolled out, with the appointment of a contractor to conduct one on one interviews, group training, and develop individual assistance plans with all eligible staff members.

“The package includes job search support, retraining and skills support, as well as special leave and travel assistance,” Mr Furner said.

“Up to $500,000 will be available for the scheme, supporting almost 100 staff currently employed by QATC to help secure new jobs and find local employment elsewhere in their communities.”

The Queensland Government’s modernisation of vocational education, training and skilling in the regions follows the independent review undertaken by Professor Peter Coaldrake. The review found there was declining demand for traditional agricultural industry training as it had been delivered.

More than $30 million is being invested in reshaping VET:

• $25 million over three years for the Annual VET Investment Plan
• $700,000 for Regional Skills Investment Strategies to meet training needs in the Central Highlands and Longreach Local Government Areas
• $2.2 million for the Regional Skills Adjustment Strategy to support drought-affected producers
• support for the Skilling Queenslanders for Work program. 

Coaldrake Review report: https://publications.qld.gov.au/dataset/coaldrake-review

ENDS

Media contact:          Ron Goodman            0427 781 920