Queensland’s Clean Energy Workforce Roadmap outlines a pathway for government, industry, workers and the community to work together to create the future energy workforce Queensland needs.
It is is supported by the Future Energy Jobs Guide, which comprehensively outlines job opportunities and career pathways available to existing workers and school students.
Developed in consultation with over 90 key stakeholder groups statewide, the Roadmap captures the priorities of regional communities and industry to ensure the right skills are delivered in the right locations.
The $30 million in funded actions include:
- Piloting of Mobile Regional Energy Jobs Hubs across the Queensland Renewable Energy Zone (QREZ) regions to connect regional communities to job opportunities
- an expansion to the Gateway to Industry Schools program to cover a dedicated renewable energy focus, and online resources to support Queensland teachers to deliver clean energy content and student learning
- regionally tailored clean energy future skills demand/supply analysis and jobs opportunity guides
- A skills academy as part of Stanwell’s Future Energy Innovation and Training Hub in Rockhampton
- a program of investments for state owned training infrastructure.
- expansion of the VET Emerging Industries initiative
- co-funding of up to 20 places in Engineers Australia Global Engineering Talent Pilot Program for future clean energy related positions
Premier and Minister for the Olympic and Paralympic Games Annastacia Palaszczuk spoke about the clean energy roadmap.
“Queensland is well positioned to lead the clean energy revolution, taking advantage of our state’s natural resources, and established high quality training and training infrastructure,” she said.
“It’s why we released the Queensland Energy and Jobs Plan, focused on delivering more jobs and creating clean, reliable and affordable energy to provide power for generations.
“Our government has built the first facilities in the nation to deliver the skills and training for the renewable energy and hydrogen jobs needed for the Queensland Energy and Jobs Plan.
“The Clean Energy Workforce Roadmap will further expand renewable energy training into more than 30 schools for 2,000 students across Queensland.
“That includes establishing school to industry partnerships so that our young people can have the opportunity to have access to good paying and secure jobs in the regions they are living in.
“The plan also expands on work to provide new skills for existing workers including a Future Energy Innovation and Training Hub in Rockhampton.
“Together, Queenslanders will be at the forefront of new opportunities from the energy transformation, with the majority of infrastructure investment and employment in regional areas.”
Energy Skills Queensland Chief Executive Officer David Cross explained it further.
“Energy Skills Queensland welcomes the investment by the Palaszczuk Government in Queensland’s Clean Energy Workforce as it is our people and our regions that will be driving the energy transformation over the next decade.
“The Palaszczuk Government’s commitment to vocational training, to Queensland’s universities and to pathways for students in our schooling system augurs well for the future. Transforming the workforce now helps begin that journey while laying a critical and positive platform for the industry over the longer-term.
“The efforts of training organisations to equip the electrical trades, engineering, construction, and technical workers is crucial.
“Equally, this development must be guided by quality real-time data and the capture and management of verifiable competencies and skills.”