MARY CAMPBELL: CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, TAFE QUEENSLAND

Accelerating investment and growth opportunities across Queensland is pivotal to the future of the state and can only be achieved through an increase in skilled labour supply. A key to filling this supply is keeping ahead of changes to industry sectors in Queensland as growth and transformation occurs and influences jobs and the skills required to perform them. With relevant skills training, industries are able to fill labour shortages and produce more output, providing growth for the Queensland economy.

Collaboration with government, industry and all tiers of educational institutes can deliver training to meet the future needs of the Queensland economy and, in the process, support the Queensland Government’s ability to deliver on its investments, particularly in sectors and job clusters that are aligned with economic growth areas.

Skills training is vital – whether it be leading the ‘charge’ for battery electric vehicles training in Australia by working to integrate clean energy technologies into the range of automotive and electrical qualifications or shaping Queensland’s hydrogen industry by delivering training to upskill and reskill the workforce to ensure the safe production, handling and use of hydrogen across various applications.

Every year TAFE Queensland works closely with both Commonwealth and State Governments, industries and communities to develop and deliver new training for priority industries to ensure Queenslanders are ready for the jobs of the future. In addition to energy/renewables, this work is spanning a number of industry sectors including manufacturing, agribusiness, screen and digital.

As a public sector agency, TAFE Queensland also has a role in providing substantial services to the public and in supporting local communities. The public charter that TAFE Queensland fulfils is extensive – including the breadth of education and training offered, even when there may be low demand, and the extensive locations of campuses across the state that provide training and support services into regional and remote communities. This charter is complemented by strong, longstanding industry partnerships, engagement with rural and remote communities and reaching out to Queensland’s more marginal student cohorts.

Skills development has a critical role in sustaining and growing Queensland’s future prosperity and is a key tenant of the Queensland Government Good people. Good jobs: Queensland Workforce Strategy 2022-2032 – a blueprint to strengthen Queensland’s current and future workforce. With local training solutions being pivotal into the future, the reach of Queensland’s public training providers will ensure the provision of the skills needed to enrich local communities, support local industries and strengthen local economies.