Hitting the road to boost regional skills in renewable energy and critical minerals

The workshops, funded by the Queensland Government’s Regional Economic Futures Fund (REFF), will see a skilled educator visit communities including Kingaroy, Goondiwindi, Cloncurry, Biloela, Toowoomba and Mount Isa to support learners enrolled in micro-credential courses that have been developed and funded by REFF and the TAFE Centre of Excellence Clean Energy Batteries.

Developed in collaboration with industry reference groups and subject matter experts, the micro-credentials are industry and skills-specific courses that are self-directed and accessible online.

To improve access and participation of the programs, subject matter expert and TAFE Queensland educator David Gartner will visit the communities to deliver the course content to ensure that learners gain relevant, actionable insights that directly support job performance and career progression.

“What sets these micro-credentials apart is their deep integration with industry needs,” David said.

“Micro-credentials serve not only as learning aids but also as targeted solutions for workforce development.”

The Queensland Government’s vision is to explore opportunities for new industries across the state, with a particular focus on regional economic growth.

 TAFE Queensland is leading five projects funded by $13 million of the REFF initiative, aiming to support long-term sustainability by enhancing liveability, sustainable regional growth and economic diversification.

The $20 million TAFE Centre of Excellence Clean Energy Batteries, led by TAFE Queensland, is a joint initiative between the Australian and Queensland Governments to develop targeted training solutions for the rapidly evolving energy and battery technology sectors.