Mackay’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.
• Mackay-Isaac-Whitsunday region predicted to employ more than 114,000 workers by 2025-26.

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 the Mackay region including in the mining, construction, retail, care and manufacturing 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 3,600 students across the Mackay-Isaac-Whitsunday region 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 Assistant Minister for State Development, Infrastructure, Industrial Relations and Racing and Member for Mackay Julieanne Gilbert MP:

“From construction to healthcare, and clean energy to mining, the Mackay region has a huge future ahead of it and I want our locals to get the full benefit of being able to afford training to gain new skills to enter or re-enter the workforce.

“This Queensland Skills Strategy from the new Miles Government will be critical to meet workforce demand triggered by the $623 million Big Build investment in this region - which is creating an estimated 2,100 jobs.

“We know we’ll need even more local people to pick up the tools and join our construction sector – which is delivering everything from renewable energy infrastructure, to new and upgraded health facilities like the $250 million Mackay Base Hospital Expansion.

“Already, Free TAFE has provided pathways to training and employment for thousands of local people – including young apprentices like Nathan Maritz.

“Nathan is undertaking a Certificate III in Carpentry as part of an apprenticeship with Fergus Builders.

“Thanks to the study costs he’s saved, Nathan is building an economically-secure, fulfilling life in the region and hopes to one day open up his own business, supporting the next-generation of local tradies.”

Quotes attributable to Mackay carpentry apprentice Nathan Maritz: 

“Being able to do the course (Certificate III in Carpentry) through Free TAFE has helped me financially, as I want to buy my first house at the end of the year.

“Carpentry is just good in general - you learn many different things and can do a lot, even in your own home.

“I’ve enjoyed the journey through the apprenticeship, meeting others in the trade and other trades, and seeing how things get done properly from the ground up.”

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

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 the Mackay-Isaac-Whitsunday region in 2025-26 will be:

1. Mining
2. Health Care and Social Assistance
3. Retail Trade
4. Accommodation and Food Services, and;
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