FNQ’s Big Build gets Big Boost with training for 1 million Queenslanders

ATTENTION MEDIA: radio grabs HERE

• New Miles Government plan delivers one million subsidised training places for Queenslanders to access good high paying jobs.
• Plan extends Free TAFE cost of living measure with 70,000 Free TAFE places.
• Cairns region predicted to employ more than 142,000 workers by 2025-26–a 7.5% rise from 2021-22.

In the biggest skills and training reform in almost a decade, the Miles Labor Government will fund one million training places for Queenslanders – easing cost-of-living pressures for those who want to train, upskill, reskill, and pursue careers in the state’s priority industries.

The Good Jobs, Great Training: Queensland Skills Strategy 2024 – 2028 will help address local skills and workforce priorities in Cairns including in the tourism, construction, retail, aged care, and early childhood education and care sectors with more free and subsidised training for locals.

The strategy extends the Queensland Government’s Free TAFE program, funding up to 70,000 Free TAFE places – including 30,000 new places – to bring down costs for Queenslanders to get into better paid jobs or start a career in high-demand industries.

It will also fund one million publicly subsidised training places in health, social services, hospitality, clean energy, construction and more.

It will build on the success of Labor’s Free TAFE initiative, which has provided free training for more than 5,000 Far North Queenslanders since the start of 2023.

Across five focus areas and five years, the strategy sets out to maximise productivity and participation, unlocking billions in annual skills investment – including a $370 million funding uplift to help kickstart the new strategy.

Quotes attributable to Member for Cook Cynthia Lui MP:

“This new Queensland Skills Strategy will provide more opportunities for Far North Queenslanders like 2023 Queensland Training Award winner Shaniqua Burke to make a difference in key priority industries.

“Shaniqua accessed Free TAFE while completing her Certificate III in Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Primary Health Care and the community couldn’t be more proud of her.

“Working with Apunipima Cape York Health Council, Shaniqua has played a lead role in developing the clinic’s social prescribing trial – the first ever to be led by an Aboriginal health worker in Australia.”

Quotes attributable to Member for Barron River Craig Crawford MP:

“The huge initiative from the new Miles Labor Government is not just great for our local workers and young people, but it means we’re creating a solid pipeline of skilled labour for our region’s mighty small business community.

“We’ve already seen over 5,000 locals taking up the opportunity of Free TAFE, and for employers who are putting staff through these qualifications, it means they are saving thousands of dollars on the staff training budgets.

Quotes attributable to Minister for Tourism and Sport and Member for Cairns Michael Healy MP:

“The new Queensland Skills Strategy is such great news for Cairns, with more Free TAFE places allowing locals who have never been able to afford training to gain new skills to enter or re-enter the workforce.

“This initiative also means more locals in Cairns can train and upskill closer to home, rather than having to leave the region to get the skills they need for their career.

Quotes attributable to Member for Mulgrave Curtis Pitt MP: 

“This training will be critical to meet the demand triggered by $1.7 billion investment for Far North Queensland in the Big Build, which alone is creating an estimated 4900 jobs.

“A big part of the Free TAFE program is supporting early childhood educators, which means we’re not only giving students the opportunity at a good job, but there are more spots open for children allowing parents to return to the workforce.”

Quotes attributable to Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Primary Health Care graduate Shaniqua Burke 

“Being a part of the clinic’s social prescribing trial has been a very rewarding experience.

“To be able to help create a strategy for my people which supports them to live longer, healthier lives without suffering – creating great role models for future generations – is a dream come true.

“Studying primary health has had a major impact on my life.

"It boosted my self-esteem and enabled me to achieve my dream – to give back to my community."

ATTENTION MEDIA: please click here for a photo of Shaniqua.

Quotes attributable to the Minister for Training and Skills Development Lance McCallum: 

"We want Queenslanders at the front of the line for good local jobs in–this investment will ensure we make the most of this golden decade of opportunity.

“This strategy is not just real cost of living relief now, but a chance at a better life, with better pay and a better job, helping grow our economy right across the state.

“Labor’s Free TAFE has changed lives–people who were facing homelessness, mothers returning to work, and young people who haven’t finished high school–have completed free TAFE courses and come out with good jobs.

“There’s no clearer difference between Labor and the LNP who will jack up course fees and make young Queenslanders pay for their apprenticeships–they’ll have to, because they don’t back the coal royalties that pay for it.”

Further information:

• Jobs Queensland data projects that the largest employing industries in Cairns in 2025-26 will be:

1. Health Care and Social Assistance
2. Retail Trade
3. Accommodation and Food Services
4. Education and Training
5. Construction

• Higher-level skills are also being sought by employers, with nine out of 10 new jobs requiring post-school qualifications over the 10 years to 2033 according to Jobs and Skills Australia.
• Development of the Good Jobs, Great Training: Queensland Skills Strategy 2024 – 2028 is a key action under the Good people. Good jobs: Queensland Workforce Strategy 2022 – 2032.

For more information and to read the Good Jobs, Great Training: Queensland Skills Strategy 2024 – 2028, visit www.qld.gov.au/SkillsStrategy.

ENDS

Media contact:

Minister McCallum – Andrew Churchill 0472 645 871