Introducing the Southern Queensland Education Alliance

TAFE Queensland has joined forces with the University of Southern Queensland to launch the Southern Queensland Education Alliance (SQEA) — a groundbreaking initiative aimed at tackling the education, workforce, and innovation needs of Southern Queensland.

The partnership comes at a pivotal moment of growth, with Southern Queensland well and truly on the move. According to the Queensland Government’s ShapingSEQ 2023 report, the region is set to welcome more than 2.2 million new residents by 2046 — making it one of the fastest-growing areas in the country.

With that growth comes both challenges and exciting opportunities for our education and training providers to step up — driving economic growth and preparing a skilled workforce for the future.

Formally launched on 16 September 2025 by Commissioner of Jobs and Skills Australia, Professor Barney Glover AO, SQEA represents a coordinated effort to strengthen collaboration across the education and training sectors and drive regional development.

“Increasing tertiary harmonisation through collaborations like the Southern Queensland Education Alliance will be a key driver of regional productivity, helping to address skills shortages to allow regional communities to thrive,” Professor Glover said.

The Alliance spans Southern Queensland — from the Darling Downs and South West to the Southern and Western parts of South East Queensland, including the Gold Coast, Logan, Ipswich, Scenic Rim, and Lockyer Valley.

The Southern Queensland Education Alliance aims to:

• Build clear and inclusive education-to-employment pathways
• Advocate for targeted infrastructure and funding in regional areas
• Align education and training with emerging industry and workforce needs
• Support lifelong learning and engagement across all communities.

So, what does that mean in practice?

• Free UniSQ prep courses offered at TAFE Queensland, to build skills and confidence.
• Industry Degrees offered in partnership with local businesses and industry.
• UniSQ’s MedSafe-ready program embedded in TAFE Queensland Nursing diplomas, with direct entry into Registered Nursing at UniSQ.
• Eligible TAFE Queensland Diploma students securing a UniSQ place before finishing their study.
• A TAFE Queensland Diploma as a major in UniSQ’s Agribusiness Management degree.
• Shared knowledge – UniSQ and TAFE Queensland educators inspiring each other’s students.
• Shared spaces – connecting students with leading-edge learning and teaching facilities.

TAFE Queensland’s role is pivotal to the Alliance, and TAFE Queensland’s General Manager (South West) Kate Venables, emphasised the transformative impact vocational education can have on regional communities — when education, training, and industry come together, regional communities don’t just grow, they thrive.

“This alliance strengthens the connection across vocational training and higher education to ensure local voices shape innovative, place-based solutions,” Ms Venables said.

UniSQ Vice-Chancellor Professor Karen Nelson called the new initiative more than a partnership.

“The Southern Queensland Education Alliance is a regional commitment to equity, opportunity, and innovation. It will foster collaboration across the entire education ecosystem — from schools to TAFE and university — to deliver real-world solutions and lasting impact.”

Foundation members include UniSQ and TAFE Queensland, supported by regional development organisation Toowoomba and Surat Basin Enterprise.

Membership will expand to include schools, community organisations, employers, and government agencies committed to improving educational outcomes and economic prosperity across Southern Queensland.

The formation of SQEA responds directly to priorities outlined in the Australian Government’s Higher Education Accord, including improved access, stronger regional partnerships, and deeper collaboration across the education and training sectors.

The Accord aims to lift the tertiary education attainment rate to 80% of the working-age population by 2050.

The launch of the Southern Queensland Education Alliance marks the beginning of a coordinated, place-based strategy to unlock education-led development, with TAFE Queensland at the forefront, delivering hands-on, practical training — equipping people with skills to enrich their lives and transform their communities.