​​A Fresh Start for former Normanton TAFE facility​

• The Crisafulli Government has secured a fresh start for the former Normanton TAFE facility. 
• The Gulf Christian College will redevelop the site as a dedicated secondary school campus with Year 12 to start in 2026.
• The transfer of the site to the Gulf Christian College has been supported by the community as a transformative opportunity to increase educational offerings in the Gulf region.
• The Crisafulli Government is delivering a plan for Queensland, after the former Labor Government’s decade of decline.  

The Crisafulli Government is delivering a plan for Queensland’s future with the transfer of the former Normanton TAFE site to the Gulf Christian College.  

The transfer was facilitated through a sale agreement following an independent market valuation and will allow the Gulf Christian College to establish a dedicated Secondary School campus on the Normanton site, allowing high school students to complete their schooling without leaving home.  

Access to vocational education and training remains available in the Carpentaria region through a range of registered training organisations as well as qualifications through TAFE Queensland available online, in workplaces and at school. Normanton TAFE had the lowest utilisation of any TAFE in Queensland.  

Minister for Finance, Trade, Employment and Training, Ros Bates said the transfer of the underused Normanton TAFE site to the Gulf Christian College would improve educational outcomes for the broader community.  

“The Crisafulli Government remains committed to working closely with communities to deliver what they need while returning respect for taxpayers’ money,” Minister Bates said.  

“The Gulf Christian College and other key stakeholders have identified the redevelopment of the former Normanton TAFE site as a transformative educational opportunity for the community.  

“It makes sense to turn a TAFE with such low utilisation into a high school, helping deliver educational outcomes for local students – working with Gulf Christian College, this is a game changer for the region.  

“This is another example of how the Crisafulli Government is delivering a plan for Queensland, after a decade of decline under the former Labor Government.  

“This transfer would not have been possible without the long-term support and advocacy of Carpentaria Shire Council Mayor Jack Bawden, the council as a whole and other key stakeholder in the region."

Carpentaria Shire Council Mayor Cr Jack Bawden said it was exciting to see the underutilised facility being transferred to the Gulf Christian College.  

“This is going to be great for the local young people to be able to finish their Year 12 studies right here in Normanton,” Cr Bawden said.  

“There are a lot of young people who have not had the opportunity to finish their senior high school education locally who will now get that opportunity.  

“I have also had discussions with the Gulf Christian College’s longer-term plans to offer training options for early school leavers who want to return to mainstream study, such as adult literacy and numeracy courses.