📋 Tender Overview
JOINT STATEMENT
Premier and Minister for VeteransThe Honourable David Crisafulli
Minister for Finance, Trade, Employment and TrainingThe Honourable Ros Bates
Works start on Caloundra TAFE Centre of Excellence
Early site works are underway on a new TAFE Centre of Excellence in Caloundra.
The new facility will help deliver skilled construction workers to build Queenslands future.
World-class facility is one of four TAFE Centres of Excellence being delivered as part of the Crisafulli Governments election commitment.
The Crisafulli Government is securing a pipeline of skilled tradies after Labors skills shortage.
Work is underway on a new TAFE Centre of Excellence at Caloundra, delivering more opportunity for Queenslanders to gain a trade, and helping secure a pipeline of skilled construction workers to build Queenslands future.
The Caloundra site is one of four new TAFE Centres of Excellence being delivered by the Crisafulli Government, as part of a key election commitment.
The new facility at Caloundra will train more apprentices in construction and allied trades to support the States pipeline of infrastructure, housing and Olympic and Paralympic Games projects.
The 78 million facility is now under construction after works on the new Rockhampton and Petrie facilities got underway earlier this year, which are the first new TAFE Centres built in Queensland in 15 years.
Its just one of the ways the Crisafulli Government is delivering more jobs and building Queenslands future after Labors failure to invest in TAFE and training left a skills shortage.
Labor failed to build a single new TAFE campus, and Labors failure to develop a pipeline of skilled workers left Queenslands construction workforce crippled by a peak shortfall of 50,000 skilled workers.
That peak shortfall has already eased considerably under the Crisafulli Government to 35,000.
Premier David Crisafulli said the new TAFE Centre of Excellence at Caloundra would help deliver the skilled workers needed to build Queenslands future.
This is about unlocking opportunity to lock in more tradies, and build a better a future for Queensland, Premier Crisafulli said.
This new Caloundra TAFE will help launch thousands of tradies careers and set them up for success.
There has never been a time where there is more infrastructure and more opportunity for tradies in this state.
Whether its homes, hospitals, roads, rail or the Games, theres no shortage of projects that will benefit from the skills learned at this TAFE Centre of Excellence.
Minister for Finance, Trade, Employment and Training Ros Bates said the new Centre of Excellence would play a critical role in easing the skills shortage created by the former Labor Government.
Labor didnt build a single new TAFE campus during its entire decade of decline, while the Crisafulli Government already has three under construction as part of our 201.1 million expansion of TAFE, Minister Bates said.
We inherited dire skills shortages right across the State, but were committed to fixing Labors mess and delivering Queenslanders with opportunities that will lead to very rewarding careers.
The Crisafulli Government has already brought down Labors construction worker shortfall considerably and has delivered record apprenticeship completions, including more women than ever getting on the tools.
Member for Caloundra Kendall Hatcher MP said the new TAFE Centre of Excellence meant Sunshine Coast residents would have access to industry-leading training right in their own backyard.
This facility means people will be able to live, learn and work locally and take pride in the fact theyll be leaving their mark on our community, Ms Hatcher said.
We know local businesses are crying out for workers because of the shortages created by Labor, so this TAFE Centre of Excellence is going to be a real boost for Caloundra and the whole Sunshine Coast.
TAFE Queensland Chief Executive Officer Tim Rawlings said the new Centre of Excellence would deliver the practical, industry-relevant skills needed to support the Sunshine Coasts continued growth.
This Centre of Excellence will give apprentices access to contemporary, hands-on training that reflects the skills needed across construction and allied trades, Mr Rawlings said.
As Queenslands public training provider, we are proud to be helping more people on the Sunshine Coast gain practical skills, build meaningful careers, and support the industries and communities that will drive Queenslands future.
ENDS
MEDIA CONTACT: Joe Hill, 0408 962 453
