Rockhampton funding winner

Minister for Employment and Small Business, Minister for Training and Skills Development and Minister for Youth Justice The Honourable Di Farmer

Rockhampton will benefit from the 17 state-wide projects awarded up to $250,000 each to deliver critical skills development for existing Queensland workers or jobseekers.

  • The Palaszczuk Government has awarded more than $3.4 million for the17 projects through its Micro-credentialing Program..
  • Up to 7,525 Queenslanders will be equipped with critical and priority skills through the program.
  • The Palaszczuk Government’s Micro-credentialing Program upskills Queensland’s existing workers or job seekers by facilitating the provision of training in specific skills.

    The Program supports industry development of specialised and targeted training that addresses gaps or emerging skills needs that are not addressed through accredited training.

    The funding will enable organisations to deliver industry backed short courses across Queensland in industries ranging from meat processing and construction to agriculture and aged care.

    The Micro-credentialing Program is a key action of the Palaszczuk Government’s Good people. Good Jobs: Queensland Workforce Strategy skilling Queenslanders now and into the future.

    Quotes attributable to the Member for Rockhampton Barry O’Rourke:

    “The Micro-credentialing Program is delivering important, focused training that gives existing workers or jobseekers important skills development.

    “I’m delighted to see Rockhampton benefit from the funding.

    “Central Queensland University will upskill teachers in agriculture through its Next-Gen Ag Teachers: AgFoodFibre for the 21st century course.

    “Up to 300 teachers in the Central Queensland region and across the state will benefit from this.

    “This project supports primary and secondary school teachers who are required to teach “out-of-field”.

    “It will help to alleviate a state-wide shortage of agriculture teachers. The micro-credentials will improve their knowledge of the new and emerging AgTech implemented in the industry.

    “The Queensland Children’s Activities Network has also received funding to upskill, attract and retain Outside School Hours Care educators, the majority of whom are employed on a casual basis. In person sessions will be delivered in Rockhampton.

    “CheckUP Australia will also deliver its Going all OUT for Outreach program.

    “A wide range of health professionals and assistants will be upskilled, including Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander primary health care workers/practitioners, allied health assistants, administration staff, medical practice assistants, doctors, nurses, and allied health practitioners. All this is great for our community as a whole.”

    Quotes attributable to the Minister for Training and Skills Development Di Farmer:

    “The Micro-credentialing is an effective way to address priority skills gaps outside of other education and training models by providing short courses for jobseekers and existing workers.

    “Our workplaces are changing, influenced by trade, technology, and social forces, and we need to be on the front foot providing the right training so Queenslanders can access jobs and do them well.

    “Through collaboration with industry, innovative programs are being developed that will deliver flexible pathways that complement the significant investment in formal training made by the Queensland Government.”

    Successful projects include:

    • CheckUP Australia will deliver its “Going all OUT for Outreach’ project to up to 250 outreach health professionals throughout the state.
    • The Institute for Urban Indigenous Health will provide up to 1,400 participants in the state’s South East with training in Indigenous health.
    • The Australasian College of Health Service Management will develop micro-credentials in financial management for up to 500 managers in health, aged and social care services online.
    • TAFE Queensland will deliver a micro-credential in spatial measurement for construction, manufacturing and marine at its Coomera campus Marine Centre of Excellence and other sites to up to 100 students.
    • In another project, TAFE Queensland will deliver a micro-credential in the use of emerging and innovative technologies in business to up to 100 students at its Mt Gravatt campus and online.
    • The Australian Information Industry Association Limited will deliver a micro-credential in AI Adoption in business for up to 650 participants online.

    /Public Release. View in full here.