Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Queenslanders backed with jobs and training opportunities

• The Crisafulli Government is delivering more training and employment opportunities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Queenslanders. 
• The expanded Indigenous Workforce and Skills Development Grants program is offering wage subsidies of up to $20,000 for employers to boost jobs in priority industries.
• The Crisafulli Government is turning the tide on Labor’s skills shortages by delivering skills and training to all Queenslanders and strengthening local communities and workforces across the State. 

The Crisafulli Government is delivering more training and support for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Queenslanders to get the skills they need to secure jobs and develop rewarding careers. 

Labor’s decade of decline created dire skills shortages across Queensland and left businesses struggling to find workers, which is why the Crisafulli Government is delivering more jobs and better services through a stronger economy by backing programs which get Queenslanders into work. 

Applications are now open for projects that respond to workforce needs, create training pathways and support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Queenslanders into sustainable employment through the expanded Indigenous Workforce and Skills Development Grants program. 

The program provides grants of up to $700,000 over a period of up to two years to organisations for innovative workforce projects that have the support of their local Indigenous community.  

For the first time, employers can access a wage subsidy of $20,000 to employ Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander jobseekers to undertake a traineeship, commence an apprenticeship or employ a recent graduate for at least 12 months, helping them gain skills, experience, and confidence.  

400 subsidised positions are available across the State for employers in priority industries such as construction, health, manufacturing and primary industries.  

Minister for Finance, Trade, Employment and Training Ros Bates said the expanded Indigenous Workforce and Skills Development Grant program would deliver real job opportunities for participants. 

"The Crisafulli Government is turning the tide on Labor’s skills shortages, and we know all Queenslanders need access to the skills, training and employment opportunities they need to succeed,” Minister Bates said. 

"The most effective skills solutions are those designed and led by local organisations that understand the unique needs and aspirations of their communities, which is exactly what we’re backing through this program. 

"By strengthening pathways from training into work, we are helping more Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Queenslanders gain employment while supporting businesses and communities to grow." 

Minister for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships Fiona Simpson said the program’s enhanced funding model will ensure more Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people gain the skills needed to secure rewarding careers close to home. 

“The Workforce and Skills Development Grants directly address Closing The Gap targets through a focus on Indigenous economic participation as well as driving financial development for individuals and their communities,” Minister Simpson said. 

"More than 1,000 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Queenslanders have accessed training and employment opportunities through this program to date, with more than half of them moving into work. 

“We are seeing practical training outcomes and exciting careers underway for our First Peoples in rural Queensland, after Labor abandoned the regions. 

“The Crisafulli Government is committed to working in partnership with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to deliver tangible outcomes and broaden opportunities - as reflected in the Workforce and Skills Development Grants.” 

It includes participants like Hervey Bay’s Taylon Miller, who was having difficulty securing a job despite being keen to work.  

Mr Miller was one of 26 participants to enrol in a Certificate II in Rail Infrastructure, delivered by Yakka Training Services in Hervey Bay. 

Taylon Miller said he has secured employment with Australian Rail Technology since completing the program, where he is further developing his skills and building a career in a growing industry.  

“It's opened the door to employment, helped me build a career, and shown me what's possible when you back yourself and take an opportunity," Mr Miller said. 

His success highlights the value of targeted training in connecting people with jobs and delivering longer-term economic benefits for regional communities. 

The Indigenous Workforce and Skills Development Grant forms part of Closing the Gap in vocational education and training, which is a joint initiative between the Australian Government and Queensland Government.  

Applications for place-based projects close on 8 October 2026 and applications for subsidised positions will remain open until the positions have been filled. 

For more information on the Indigenous Workforce and Skills Development Grant program or to apply, visit https://dtet.qld.gov.au/training/community-orgs/iwsdg   

ENDS 

MEDIA CONTACT: Joe Hill, 0408 962 453