September 9, 2011

Queensland Premier Anna Bligh has announced 500 government-funded training places as a way to combat skills shortages in the State’s mining sector.

Speaking at Queensland’s largest trade and technician training TAFE institute, SkillsTech Australia, Bligh says the $1.2 million ‘Resources 101’ will help fast-track the unemployed or under-employed into the sector.

The five-week course will offer basic skills to students and will cover safety induction, base-level engineering skills and general industry training, according to SkillsTech Australia Institute Director Mary Campbell.

“There are a projected 38,000 mining jobs that will be required between now and 2014-2015, and it is initiatives like this that will ensure that Queenslanders are at the forefront of these opportunities,” Campbell says.

SkillsTech Australia's $13 million training facility at Acacia Ridge in Brisbane features up-to-date training and industry standard resources to help deliver apprentices to fill skills shortages in the mining sector.

The Queensland Government has committed more than $200 million to the development of facilities at SkillsTech Australia, with more than $162 million invested so far.

“Our industry partnerships and support from the Queensland Government means that our world-class facilities and training can deliver what industry needs,” Campbell says.