$200 million to be invested in future training

The State Government is investing $200 million in a range of skills initiatives to help train and retrain Queenslanders for in-demand jobs over the next four years. 

The Palaszczuk Government is committed to supporting the skills and training needs of Queenslanders in response to the COVID-19 economic recovery priorities and to grow the skills for the jobs of the future.  A critical focus will be on skills and training in priority industry growth areas across the State.   

Future skills initiatives include $83.4 million for: 

• $32.4 million over two years for the TAFE Priority Skills Fund  
• $25 million over two years for Pre-Apprenticeship Support  
• $8 million over four years for a Digital Professional Workforce Plan  
• $8 million over two years for the Social Enterprise Jobs Fund  
• $5 million over two years for the First Nations Training Strategy  
• $5 million in 2020-21 for the Workforce Transition Support Program 

This comes in addition to programs which have been already announced, including establishing Manufacturing Skills Queensland for $16.51 million over three years (under the Making it in Queensland: Building a Stronger Manufacturing Sector) and the investment of $100 million as part of our Equipping TAFE for our Future plan which provides for new, modern facilities to skill Queenslanders,  

Minister for Training and Skills Development Di Farmer said the fund focusses on skills development as a vital part of Queensland’s Economic Recovery Plan. 

“From early 2021, we will begin implementing new training programs for in-demand jobs and increased support in the regions and for disadvantaged cohorts,” Ms Farmer said. 

“We are committed to supporting the skills and training needs of Queenslanders in response to the COVID-19 economic recovery priorities and to grow the skills for the jobs of the future.   

“We need to have a skilled workforce for emerging industries such as advanced manufacturing and marine industries, as well as to skill for new technologies increasingly being used in existing workplaces.” 

“The three-year Equipping TAFE for our Future initiative will commence on 1 July 2021 to ensure future training meets the needs of industry and the post-COVID economy and includes infrastructure modernisation projects at TAFE Queensland and CQUniversity sites.” 

These infrastructure projects will be delivered in Cairns, Rockhampton, Mackay, Bowen, Cannonvale, Bohle, Toowoomba, Ipswich (Bundamba), Mooloolaba, Robina, Bundaberg, Hervey Bay, Yarrabilba, Eagle Farm and Southbank in Brisbane. 

Media contact: Richard O’Leary 0447155332