Fraser Coast’s healthcare workforce in good shape with Hervey Bay TAFE upgrades

• The Fraser Coast’s growing healthcare workforce is benefitting from a new $1.3 million Nursing and Allied Health facility at TAFE Queensland’s Hervey Bay Campus.
• More than 120 healthcare students are being trained in the new facility that was officially opened today.
• Demand for healthcare workers is set to continue to climb due to the region’s popularity as a retirement destination.

The Hervey Bay TAFE campus is doing its part to ensure the region has a strong healthcare sector today and into the future.

Continued strong enrolment growth in the health sector is expected over the next five years thanks to the recent facility upgrades.

The upgraded training facilities include a six-bed low fidelity ward and an eight-bed high fidelity ward, a nursing station, an observation room, a medication room, three general learning classrooms and more.

The training ward spaces have been designed to accommodate virtual reality technology activities in the future.

Today’s ribbon cutting by Training and Skills Development Minister Di Farmer marks the official opening for the upgraded facility which welcomed its first students six months ago.

Quotes attributed to the Member for Hervey Bay Adrian Tantari:

“This new facility will give more residents the chance to train for a rewarding career in the local health sector, with the demand for healthcare workers set to continue due to the region’s popularity and growth.

“Jobs Queensland predicts a 10.8 per cent increase in the need for skilled workers in the Wide Bay region by 2024-25 – that’s more than 12,600 extra workers needed since 2020-21.

“Health Care and Social Assistance is projected to be the largest employing industry by June 2025, employing 24,700 people or more than 19 per cent of the Wide Bay workforce – an increase of 16.5 per cent since 2020-21.

Quotes attributed to Minister for Training and Skills Development Di Farmer:

“The Palaszczuk Labor Government is absolutely committed to ensuring the state is a leader when it comes to delivering quality health care.

“The Hervey Bay TAFE campus is in a fantastic location, adjoining the Hervey Bay Hospital and St Stephens Private Hospital – with improved collaboration with local health and aged care facilities expected.

“By 2024-25 it’s estimated there will be more than 440,000 people employed in health care and social assistance in the state.

“That’s more than 63,000 extra people employed since 2020-21.

“State-of-the-art training facilities support our Good people. Good jobs: Queensland Workforce Strategy 2022-2032, which is attracting, connecting and educating a thriving workforce and setting Queensland up for success now and into the future.”

“Through the unveiling of the Nursing and Allied Health facility, the Palaszczuk Government continues to deliver better services for Queenslanders.

Explainer/fast fact and or further information:

Strong enrolment growth is expected over the next five years because of the recent facility upgrades for training courses such as Diploma of Nursing, Certificate III in Allied Health Assistance, Individual Support Ageing and Individual Support Disability, Certificate II in Health Support Services and other related non-accredited health training.

The upgrade, completed by Kane Construction, was part of the Equipping TAFE for our Future funding (ETFOF) initiative to ensure the Fraser Coast region has access to quality training in line with workforce demand.

In 2020, the Palaszczuk Government committed $100 million for our ETFOF initiative to build or refurbish TAFE facilities to help deliver training in new, emerging or growth industries such as health, agriculture, cyber security, renewables, and advanced manufacturing.

ENDS

Ministerial media contact: Nicola Field 0497 940 285