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A $35m investment will be made into a new aged care, disability support and mental health care and support TAFE centre in Cairns in an effort to fill gaps in industries facing skills shortages.
The boost comes as part of a larger plan to build a network of up to 20 TAFE Centres of Excellence in areas of high skills needs around the country.
That goal has seen a combined $650m from the Commonwealth and states and territories to carry out reforms listed in the National Skills Agreement that began on January 1, 2024.
The Albanese government said the new centre will progress vocational pathways in health and health leadership while providing more opportunities for regional, rural and remote VET students.
The Commonwealth also consulted First Nations stakeholders to ensure the centre will offer culturally appropriate and safe training pathways for Indigenous students.
Minister for Skills and Training Brendan O’Connor said the new centre will partner with the University of the Sunshine Coast and Griffith University to further improve the relationships between vocational training and higher education.
The centre will also work with care providers, Jobs and Skills Councils, unions, and state and federal Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island health councils.
“The care and support TAFE Centre of Excellence is a great example of the Albanese Government partnering with states to place TAFE at the heart of the vocational education and training sector," Mr O'Connor said.
“This will boost collaboration between universities and the VET sector. It will deliver the skills and knowledge our labour market requires and strengthen our resilience and our healthcare services, now and in the future."
Queensland Minister for Training and Skills Development Lance McCallum pointed out health care and social assistance is the state's fastest growing industry, and will employ more than 487,000 people by 2025/26, with the majority of new jobs created outside Brisbane.
Treasurer Jim Chalmers said the centre will have a positive local impact on the Cairns community.
“This is all about equipping more Queenslanders with the skills they need to get a great job, have a great career and get ahead, at the same time as we address workforce shortages in areas of high demand," he said.
“It will be good for local people and great for the local economy."
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