Regional focus for skills and training budget for jobseekers

The 2017-18 State Budget strengthens the Palaszczuk Government’s commitment to skills and training for job seekers across regional Queensland.

Minister for Skills and Training Yvette D’Ath said initiatives in the State Budget showed the development of the state’s skills and training base remained a key element of the government’s economic plan to create jobs now and for the future.

New regional strategy

Mrs D’Ath said the Budget delivered $10 million over two years to a Regional Skills Adjustment Strategy.

“This is about ensuring the same opportunities for people right across the State, from metropolitan areas to the bush,” Mrs D’Ath said.

“This strategy will help mature aged workers develop new skills, as we identify the jobs of the future, and will include vouchers for training at TAFE.

“What’s more, in order to identify and match the emerging and available jobs in each region to the training available, $9 million over four years will be spent through Jobs Queensland to work in local areas and develop plans specific to the region.

“This will mean the training offered will link directly to the jobs on offer and people will be able to stay in their local community,” Mrs D’Ath said.

Training boost

The budget measures also include a $13 million boost to the state’s public training providers.

“This extra funding recognises the heavy lifting of the VET sector in training the workforce of today and skilling Queenslanders for the emerging industries of tomorrow,” Mrs D’Ath said.

The funding for providers comes on top of the Palaszczuk Government’s Rescuing TAFE program that provided $34 million over three years to restore teaching and support roles that had been cut and also to provide second chance funding options for students.

Skilling Queenslanders for Work

And there’s continued funding for the Palaszczuk Government’s hugely successful Skilling Queenslanders for Work program.

“In 2017-18 there’s $60 million dollars available to drive employment and skills outcomes,” Mrs D’Ath said.

“It is almost incomprehensible that this successful program was scrapped by the LNP, despite the benefits it delivered.

“Since we brought back Skilling Queenslanders for Work it has delivered amazing results.

“To date more than 18,000 disadvantaged Queenslanders have completed a program under SQW, 8182 are now employed as a direct result, 2119 have gone on to further training, and 321 have returned to school.

“These are incredibly gratifying results, and a validation of our commitment to investing in Queenslanders’ futures. 

“But it must be noted that while Queensland is committed to skills and training, Federal Government spending is reducing in this year’s budget and this will have an impact on overall training outcomes,” Mrs D’Ath said.