- Cairns' new $4.1 million Advanced Manufacturing Skills Lab has opened at the TAFE Queensland's campus.
- Featuring cutting-edge technology to support first-class training, the facility will support high-end manufacturing such as augmented reality, automation, and robotics.
- There have been more than 6,500 students in manufacturing-related skills under Free TAFE – with the Certificate III in Manufacturing Technology and Certificate III in Engineering – Fabrication Trade among the most popular qualifications.
Far North Queenslanders looking to capitalise on the Miles Government's Big Build of manufacturing – particularly in maritime, aviation and food manufacturing – have a new home to hone their skills for the region's in-demand blue collar careers.
The technology at the new Advanced Manufacturing Skills Lab at the TAFE Queensland Cairns campus includes a cobot (collaborative robot) arm, 3D printers, and water jet and laser cutters, with many courses offered at no cost under Labor's Free TAFE initiative.
The facility will offer training in computer aided design/computer aided manufacturing and computer numerical control, supporting qualifications such as Diploma of Applied Technologies in 2024, and the Certificate III in Manufacturing Technology and Industry 4.0 Skillset from 2025.
The upgraded space which includes an electrical lab, mixed virtual reality room, flexible training rooms, collaborative workspaces, and multipurpose workshops – all designed to target a 4-Greenstar "Interiors" rating for improved environmental performance, particularly in operational energy usage.
According to Jobs Queensland, the manufacturing sector will employ more than 6,700 people in Cairns by 2025-26.
As stated by Member for Cairns, Minister Michael Healy:
"The best of Far North Queensland is its people.
"Our local TAFE is like a nursery regardless of your age, you can come here, you can be trained in so many different areas – it's got lathes, CNC machines, robotic arms, and 3D printing – how exciting is this!
"This new advanced manufacturing facility is so vitally important to our plan to ensure that we're accommodating for the jobs of the future, with the appropriate infrastructure and the appropriate support from government.
"These trades in extreme high tech are going to be in great demand as our industries evolve, including our significant ship building and repair facility underway and an aviation sector that continues to grow.
"As our region grows, we need skilled staff, and as we move forward, we need to support and invest our people, so our TAFE is the place for it."
As stated by Minister for Training and Skills Development Lance McCallum:
"You will not find more advanced training facilities anywhere in Australia.
"The Miles Government is doing what matters by investing in state-of-the-art facilities so that locals in the Far North can get right at the front of queue for all of the good jobs that have been created in advanced manufacturing.
"Under Labor we have invested heavily in our TAFEs so more Queenslanders can get access to skills and training, unlike the LNP who viciously cut TAFE, sacked workers, and took away the training opportunities that can lead to a brighter future for Queenslanders.
"We've never had more apprentices coming through and being trained up for good jobs and we've never had more Queenslanders learning the skills in things like advanced manufacturing at our proudly publicly owned TAFE."
As stated by Assistant Minister for Train Manufacturing, Regional Development and Jobs Bruce Saunders:
"Manufacturing matters to the Miles Government and our strong skills investment is proof of that – putting more Queenslanders onto training pathways for high-skilled, high-value manufacturing careers.
"Manufacturing Skills Queensland's State of the Sector report confirmed that in the wake of the pandemic, Queensland's manufacturing sector has not only recovered, but is emerging as one of the nation's top performers.
"As more businesses embrace innovative processes and technology – including robotics – we'll need a job-ready workforce, with the right skills to keep local manufacturing competitive.
"In the Far North, this new facility at the TAFE Queensland Cairns campus will help train that future workforce – providing access to the types of tools and tech they'll find in workshops and factories of the future."
