- 17 projects have been awarded up to $250,000 each to deliver critical skills development for existing Queensland workers or jobseekers.
- The Palaszczuk Government has provided 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 aims to upskill Queensland's existing workers or job seekers by enabling 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.
In 2023, the funding will enable organisations to deliver industry supported 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 Good people. Good Jobs: Queensland Workforce Strategy 2022-2032 to skill Queenslanders now and into the future.
Quotes attributable to the Minister for Training and Skills Development Di Farmer:
"The Micro-credentialing Program is delivering important, focused training that gives existing workers or jobseekers important skills development.
"It can be an effective way to address priority skills gaps outside of other education and training models by providing short courses for jobseekers and existing workers.
"Successful projects include Queensland's public training providers, TAFE Queensland and CQ University which will be funded to develop and deliver a number of micro-credentials.
"CQUniversity 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.
"Up to 100 aged care workers in Bundaberg will gain critical skills through CQUniversity's new micro-credential that tackles the early recognition of and response to deterioration in older adults.
"Key industry bodies Master Electricians Association of Queensland, the Queensland Master Builders Association, Cotton Australia Limited, Australasian Timber Flooring Association and AUS-Meat Limited will receive funding to deliver micro-credentials in high priority skills areas to more than 2,800 Queenslanders.
"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.
"The partnerships aim to build a strong, flexible and diverse workforce."
Other 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.
