MEDIA STATEMENT: First round of Skilling Queenslanders for Work 2025-26 now open

First round of Skilling Queenslanders for Work 2025-26 now open 

• The Crisafulli Government is delivering on its commitment to develop a secure pipeline of skilled workers for Queensland with the first round of Skilling Queenslanders for Work in 2025.
• Applications are now open for the program, allowing more Queenslanders to gain valuable skills and secure jobs.
• The life-changing program – which has helped over 96,000 job seekers since 2015 – will connect Queenslanders with jobs in high-demand industries like construction, health, and hospitality.
• Participants will help meet the state’s demand for more than 156,000 additional skilled workers by 2027-28. 

Queensland’s flagship training and skills initiative has launched its latest round of funding as the Crisafulli Government delivers programs to tackle the state’s skills shortage. 

The first round of Skilling Queenslanders for Work 2025-26 is underway, with the program playing a vital role in repairing the damage left by the former Labor Government who allowed the skills shortage across the state to spiral out of control for a decade.  

In the previous round of funding, 106 community organisations shared in nearly $50 million which enabled more than 6,000 Queenslanders to learn valuable skills and contribute to the local economy.  

The Minister for Finance, Trade, Employment and Training Ros Bates said the Crisafulli Government was delivering a fresh start for Queensland by addressing critical skills shortages.

“The Crisafulli Government is delivering a pipeline of skilled workers to build Queensland’s future with the first round of Skilling Queenslanders for Work grants in 2025,” Minister Bates said.

“The Crisafulli Government is delivering a fresh start for Queensland and tackling skills shortages, to ensure the engine room of our economy can power up.

“Queensland will need 156,240 more workers by 2027-28, which is why we’re securing that pipeline for industries including hospitality, construction and health. 

“There are great jobs up for grabs in Queensland, but we need more skilled workers to meet these demands – that means supporting job seekers to gain the skills they need to fill roles in our priority industries. 

“Skilling Queenslanders for Work is helping women to return to the workforce, ensuring that young people have a pathway to work and a meaningful life, and that migrants can fulfill their ambitions of successful careers.”  

Applications are open and will close at 5pm, Thursday March 27, 2025. 

For more information on Skilling Queenslanders for Work and to apply, visit:  

https://desbt.qld.gov.au/training/community-orgs/sqw/apply 

ENDS 

MEDIA CONTACT: Justin Armsden 0417 518 532 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: 

• Annual investment of $80 million funds organisations to deliver training and support programs to up to 15,000 unemployed or underemployed people.
• The eight Skilling Queenslanders for Work programs include: Community Work Skills, Work Skills Traineeships, Ready for Work, Get Set for Work, Youth Skills, Community Foundation Skills, Skill Up, and First Start.
• Skilling Queenslanders for Work supports the Good Jobs, Great Training: Queensland Skills Strategy 2024-2028, by delivering the skilled workforce needed to power our economy.