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April 2025

Share your experiences with workforce recruitment and retention

The Queensland Government is inviting Queensland employers of all sizes and in all industries to share their experiences about key workforce issues.

The Queensland Workforce Insights Survey is a short survey designed to gather employer perspectives on recruitment, staff retention, and workforce development.

Insights will help shape future workforce support and assistance, ensuring Queensland Government programs are aligned with the needs of Queensland employers.

The survey is open to all Queensland employers and closes Friday, 23 May 2025.

Planning for procurement: Industry Workforce Advisor's webinar - recording available!

Is your business looking to supply to government now or in the future?

Are you prepared for sustainable growth?

Gain expert insights and practical strategies from Industry Workforce Advisors, guest speakers and panel members in this informative webinar.

You’ll discover how strategic workforce planning, when aligned with your business goals, can position you for business growth and procurement success.

Watch the webinar here

For more information, please email industryadvisors@desbt.qld.gov.au 

Educators joined industry as part of the ICT Gateway to Industry Schools program recently, with a tour of leading cybersecurity firm Orro in Brisbane's CBD. Facilitated by the Australian Computer Society, the event welcomed teachers from six Queensland schools to explore real-world ICT environments and build connections with industry experts.

Orro executive and former special needs teacher Scott Reid hosted the tour, sharing his inspiring journey into tech and advocating for workplace diversity. Teachers toured the Security Operations Centre and explored student career pathways into cybersecurity and digital tech.

The ICT Gateway to Industry Schools program plays a vital role in linking schools with industry to inspire the next generation of ICT professionals. 

Racing students towards a sustainable energy future 

The Gateway to Industry Schools project for the hydrogen industry recently introduced Oakey State High School to MYNT Energy, now proudly coming on board as a sponsor for two of the school’s Hydrogen Grand Prix teams. This partnership is a prime example of how the Gateway to Industry Schools program connects industry with schools to drive student engagement in science, technology, engineering and maths.

Students visited MYNT Energy’s Acacia Ridge facility on 3 April 2025, where they explored renewable energy technologies and learned how hydrogen generators - like those powering their race cars - operate at scale.

This real-world experience helped link classroom science to future career opportunities and Australia’s energy transition. Since 2003, MYNT Energy has grown from a diesel-based operation into a global leader in renewables.

The Hydrogen Grand Prix will be held in Toowoomba on 12 June. Come along to support Oakey State High School and other Gateway to Industry schools as they race into the future of hydrogen technology!

The Australian Retailers Association’s Retail Ready and Able program has supported 91 jobseekers into employment in just 12 months, transforming opportunities within Queensland’s retail sector.

Funded by the Workforce Connect Fund, the program works with Disability Employment Services to support neurodiverse individuals and people with disability through a tailored 10-day training course, covering retail essentials like communication, Workplace Health and Safety, visual merchandising, and career planning.

Participants also receive three hours of one-on-one mentoring and coaching, helping them prepare for meaningful employment.

After 14 years out of the workforce, Alesha joined the program and secured a receptionist role—beating 200 applicants—thanks to the support she received in building confidence, refining her application, and practising for interviews.

Since July 2023 the program has supported more than 200 job seekers, with many gaining full-time, part-time or casual employment.

TAFE Queensland’s new cutting-edge XR Hub at the Ashmore campus on the Gold Coast, is helping animal studies students step inside an animal's body to explore its anatomy—without a scalpel in sight!

Using this immersive technology, students can walk through a beating heart, examine bones from the inside out, and peel back muscle layers in detail. Combining augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR), and mixed reality (MR), this immersive experience transforms learning. 

Educational Team Leader, Melissa Bamberry calls it a game-changer for understanding complex biological systems. 

“The anatomy and physiology unit is very theory-heavy, with limited practical activities. VR gives students the chance to manipulate 3D models and truly understand how anatomical systems connect," said Melissa.

For students who thrive with kinaesthetic learning through movement and interaction, the XR Hub provides an invaluable way to grasp complex anatomical concepts that are traditionally difficult to visualise.

Live and online, don't miss our top WorldSkills talent in action!

With the WorldSkills' national championships just around the corner, our Queensland team is gearing up to take on the nation's top skills talent at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre from 12 to 15 June 2025. 

Can't make it to Brisbane? Stay connected to all the action on Channel WSA – your go-to source for live event coverage, interviews and magic moments from behind-the-scenes.

Check out program of competition coverage, which features:

• interviews with Queensland competitors, mentors and industry leaders
• skills spotlights highlighting trades and techniques in action
• live coverage of opening and closing ceremonies.

Whether you're cheering on the side lines or online, this is your chance to support our incredible competitors as they showcase the talent, precision and passion that put Queensland at the forefront of skills excellence.

Screen Queensland's Season of the Dev is uniting Queensland’s games developers.

Jobs Queensland projects the screen and digital games industry on the Sunshine Coast will grow by up to 5.4% by 2027-28. The industry is anticipated to employ over 13,000 people across Queensland.

Don’t miss these final Season of the Dev sessions:

• Business Development Workshop (8 May)
• End of Fest Celebration (9 May).

At the Business Development Workshop, participants will discover how to budget, schedule, pitch and close publishing deals for their indie game.

At End of Fest, participants will join their fellow game developers in their best video games character cosplay for rides, refreshments and the announcement of Game Jam winners.

Queensland’s primary industries are on the cusp of something big – and a skilled workforce is key to unlocking the full potential.  

The Queensland Government and industry are developing a 25-year blueprint to support an ambitious goal of increasing production output to $30 billion by 2030. 

This vision of prosperity for our food, fibre and foliage industries will drive future investment, create jobs and lead to new opportunities for agribusinesses. It's critical that everyone with a stake in agriculture, fisheries, forestry and biosecurity have the opportunity to shape the future of the sector. 

Explore the draft blueprint, Primary Industries Prosper 2050, and join the conversation about building a strong and skilled workforce to help shape a thriving future for our primary industries. 

Queensland Disability Research Network, Griffith University, and the Queensland Government, invite you to participate in the Voice of Queenslanders with Disability Survey for 2025.

The survey is a research initiative designed for Queenslanders with disability, their families, carers, and organisational representatives. Your insights and stories are important in helping to enhance services and programs.

There are three surveys available online. You can choose the one that describes you best or complete more than one.

You can ask to take the survey as a phone interview, virtual interview, complete the survey in a word document, or any other way you feel comfortable sharing.

Please email dignityproject@griffith.edu.au for support.

Survey closes Wednesday, 30 April 2025.

The Brisbane Truck Show is rolling out heavy vehicle industry opportunities at The Depot careers and entertainment precinct on 15-17 May. The Depot includes: 

• TAFE Queensland displays showcasing pneumatics, virtual reality welding, cyber security, graphic design and much more
• hands-on activities and dynamic demonstrations including driver simulators, virtual spray painting, virtual panel beating, tyre changing, vehicle jump starting, motor builds, robotics and much more
• appearances from Brisbane Bullets, Dolphins NRL and Broncos NRLW players.

Open to school students, job seekers and those looking for a career change, The Depot is the place to explore transport and logistics jobs, including more than 30 career paths in the heavy vehicle industry. 

Hosted by Heavy Vehicle Industry Australia in partnership with TAFE Queensland, the event will connect Queenslanders with industry leaders as well as real training and career opportunities.

Congratulations to our Queensland Overseas Foundation Awards recipients!

We’re happy to celebrate three of our 2024 Queensland Training Awards winners who were recently honoured at the Queensland Overseas Foundation Awards Ceremony at Parliament House. Queensland Overseas Foundation scholarship and bursary recipients are supported to undertake professional development and work experience opportunities abroad, gaining valuable skills and knowledge to bring home to Queensland.  

2025 Scholarship Awardee - Caitlin Baxter 

Mentor - Encores Restaurant at the Empire 

2024 Harry Hauenschild Apprentice of the Year - Darling Downs South West Regional Winner and State Finalist

2025 Bursary Awardee -   Tanu Jayaswal 

VET Coordinator - Australian International Islamic College 

2024 VET Teacher/Trainer of the Year - Metropolitan Regional Winner and State Finalist 

2025 QTA Bursary Winner - Rebecca Hoffensetz 

Hospitality Trainer, Learning and Development Coordinator - The Ville Resort – Casino   

2024 VET Teacher/Trainer of the Year State Winner - North Queensland Regional Winner

Events 

Date: Thursday, 8 May 2025

Venue: The Stack, Mt Isa Civic Centre, 23 West Street, Mt Isa 

The Jobs Expo will focus on workforce development in the construction and manufacturing sectors, aligning training, employment opportunities and industry engagement with the region’s future infrastructure needs. The event will feature a panel session, hands-on exhibitor displays, career pathway information and showcase training and apprenticeship support initiatives.

Grants and programs

A 24/7 referral-based initiative, Regional Reset provides a one-to three-week live-in program for young people demonstrating anti-social behaviours to provide early intervention support to help young people towards employment pathways, encourage engagement with education or training, and develop age-appropriate life skills. 

Tender applications close 12pm, 13 May 2025. 

Stay connected and informed!

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The Queensland Government respectfully acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the lands and seas from across Queensland.
We pay our respects to Elders past, present and emerging for they hold the memories, the traditions, the culture and hopes of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people across the state.

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