Successful Regional Jobs Committees extended

The Palaszczuk Government is extending six successful Regional Jobs Committees (RJC) to help place the right people with the right skills and right training, in the right jobs in regions across Queensland. 

Minister for Employment and Small Business and Minister for Training and Skills Development Di Farmer said this election commitment was a critical regional response to help Queensland’s economic recovery. 

“This investment ensures RJCs can continue to provide practical and local place-based solutions through strong engagement with their regional networks,” Ms Farmer said.

“Queensland is leading the way nationwide when it comes to creating local jobs, and local initiatives like Regional Jobs Committees are helping us to build on that success.”

The Regional Jobs Committees being extended are currently working in Springfield, Mackay, Fraser Coast, Redlands, Toowoomba and Townsville to help connect government initiatives and regional economic activities drive stronger local employment and training pathways.

“Regional Jobs Committees help local businesses, local industries and local employee groups address regional employment and training needs and solutions,” Ms Farmer said.

“Through the recent Small Business Roadshow I heard directly from almost 3,000 people and employers about what they need to keep their local businesses and communities strong.

“They want to find ways to harness existing government programs to suit their regional needs, build a skilled workforce, while tapping into local expertise.

“One of the best ways to do that is through the fantastic work of Regional Jobs Committees, which are creating local jobs and meeting business demands for now and into the future.”

Minister Farmer said the RJCs across the state are hard at work in their communities with a variety of projects underway.

“In the Redlands, the RJC has already launched a flagship project called Championing Redland Coast,” Ms Farmer said.

“This is about identifying employment and skills opportunities and pathways helping to connect workers with training and jobs. It’s also looking at ways to attract more investment and business to the region.

“I’m also really pleased to see them opening up pathways to TAFE for small business owners through their Building Better Business workshops.

“And in Mackay the RJC is working with industry representatives to identify future skills gaps and future training needs for their local community including doing an analysis of the future workforce impacts of automation and augmentation.”

Minister Farmer said the RJCs also connect people, training organisations and employers through jobs fairs, school engagement and other engagement events.

“In Toowoomba we’ve seen the RJC bring together a range of providers in the public and private sector throughout the Darling Downs to identify, share and support placed-based opportunities to get people into jobs,” Ms Farmer said.

“The on-the-ground engagement with local schools, training organisations and business leaders is critical in determining where we need to focus in terms of local employment and training.

"These RJC extensions won’t just keep that work going but it will now enable existing and any new RJCs to connect, to create a better picture so government investment and programs can be better targeted."

The Regional Jobs Committees were first established in 2019 as part of the Skills for Queensland – Great training for quality jobs strategy.

Planning is currently underway for three new RJCs which will be announced in due course. 

For further information visit www.desbt.qld.gov.au or call 1300 369 935.

ENDS

Media contact:  Debbie Turner 0439 346 402