Minister announces new TAFE horticulture centre

Trade training in far-north Queensland will receive a boost with the announcement today of a $2.3 million horticulture training centre at Tropical North Queensland TAFE’s Cairns campus.

Speaking in Cairns, Education and Training Minister Rod Welford said the centre would offer state-of-the-art facilities for local horticulture and landscaping students including apprentices, trainees, tradespeople and also international students.

“This project represents the first stage of a $29 million State Government investment in trades training in the region as part of the Queensland Skills Plan 2008,” Mr Welford said.

“The new horticulture centre will support the training of more than 200 students from the far north every year. It will include modern facilities and resources including an all-weather landscape training area, classroom, propagation and shade houses, and sustainability initiatives such as underground water storage and a reed bed for recycling water.

“By investing in modern training facilities we can ensure students have access to the most up-to-date equipment. It ensures they receive industry-specific training, making them more work-ready on graduation, and the local community benefits from having a highly skilled and talented workforce.”

Mr Welford said the centre was expected to be completed in January 2009 and it would provide a cornerstone for the growth of TAFE’s new environment and sustainability training programs, including conservation and land management, spatial information systems and town planning.

Outlining the key measures contained in the Queensland Skills Plan 2008, Mr Welford said it continued the Government’s determined drive to increase skills of individual workers, as well as addressing changed labour market conditions.

“Skill shortages among key professions like engineering and nursing are targeted and the revitalised plan also introduces measures to engage more unemployed or under-employed Queenslanders in a tight workforce,” he said. “For example, to help meet the need for more engineering associate professionals, we’re funding 450 training places over a four-year period.”

Other measures and strategies include:

• A new program to help young people aged 18-24 secure work, including paid work placements, job preparation assistance and accredited training;
• A pathway into mining sector employment for 240 Indigenous Queenslanders through subsidised pre-vocational training (partnering Queensland Resource Council);
• Expanding the successful Get Set for Work program, which assists young people at risk of falling through gaps, by extending employment assistance to 19-year-olds; and
• Involving industry to a greater degree in the development of vocational training programs; TAFE teachers to spend time with local industry to increase skill levels.

To download a copy of the Queensland Skills Plan 2008, go to www.deta.qld.gov.au/skillsplan

Media contact: Marnie Stitz on 0419 734 985