Leading the way to sustainable jobs and stronger economies

TAFE Queensland is proud to be leading five projects funded by $13 million of the Queensland Government’s $200 million Regional Economic Futures Fund (REFF).

As the market leader for Vocational Education and Training (VET) in Queensland, TAFE Queensland will work with Government and industry to develop critical training needed to support the state’s future workforce and economy to meet the demands of global decarbonisation.

The REFF aims to enable regional economies traditionally reliant on carbon-based energy sources (like coal and oil) to transition to clean energy, supporting sustainable jobs and stronger, more diverse economies.

“TAFE Queensland’s world-class facilities, industry-current educators, and focus on advanced technologies and training will play an important role in supporting Queensland’s transition to renewable energy and net zero,” TAFE Queensland’s Chief Executive Officer John Tucker said.

TAFE Queensland’s REFF projects include:

• Renewable Energy Training Products (RTP) – targeted region-specific training to meet industry requirements to support the transition to renewables in Mt Isa, Cloncurry, Kingaroy and Goondiwindi.
• Critical Minerals Training Hub (CMH) – the Mt Isa-based hub will provide participants access to cutting-edge equipment, including operator simulators and advances computer-based training tools with XR learning experiences.
• Renewable Energy Training Hubs (RETH) - the RETHs in Toowoomba, Kingaroy, and Mt Isa will provide access to cutting-edge equipment and immersive XR learning experiences to cater to the growing demand for specialised training in solar, hydrogen, and wind technologies while facilitating skills development in energy storage systems, energy auditing techniques, and data analysis.
• Renewable Pathways Initiative (RPI) – the RPI will identify and develop training pathways within the Banana Shire to support workers transition into the renewable energy sector.
• Mobile Renewable Energy Training Facility (MRETF) – is a cutting-edge mobile training facility equipped with advanced technology and immersive XR learning experiences. This facility will travel to regional Queensland, offering specialised training in renewable energies such as solar and wind and featuring equipment such as off-grid batteries, controllers, hydrogen and mini wind generators.