Local connection driving new opportunities at TAFE Queensland’s Charleville campus

TAFE Queensland’s Community Engagement Officer and Charleville local, Michael Wex, is passionate about ensuring residents know that TAFE Queensland is not only open for business but embedded in the community.

“Before I started in this role, I always thought TAFE teachers were just visiting the town,” Michael said.

“Now we have three staff who live locally, and that really changes the way people see and connect with TAFE Queensland.”

Having lived in Charleville for seven years, Michael understands first-hand the importance of genuine local relationships in small communities.

“You do notice a new face in town, but you also notice the faces that are here regularly,” he said.

“Seeing someone who’s been around for a while and then works for TAFE Queensland gives that validation that we’re here to stay.”

Charleville’s workforce is built across agriculture, government, education, healthcare, tourism, hospitality and the trades, all industries which Michael works closely with to understand training needs and opportunities.

“These are the industries that really keep the town ticking,” he said.

“Our role is to listen, understand what skills are needed locally, and then work with the community to make training achievable without people having to leave town to complete courses.”

Michael spends much of his time meeting with local schools, employers and service providers to identify training and employment pathways that suit Charleville’s context in remote, outback Queensland.

“I spend much of my time meeting with stakeholders to understand questions such as: ‘What training are people already undertaking? Where are the gaps? And how can TAFE help bridge those gaps locally?’” he said.

Michael brings a rich professional background to the role, having served in the Australian Defence Force (ADF) as an infantry soldier and sniper supervisor before transitioning into education and training roles within the ADF.

“There are so many commonalities between what we do in the military and teaching,” he said.

“It’s about developing people, planning learning, and making sure the next generation has the skills to succeed.”

Alongside his role at TAFE Queensland, Michael continues to work as a military instructor, training future officers through a combination of theory-based learning and hands-on practical blocks, an approach that closely mirrors vocational education and training (VET).

“It’s essentially a VET-style cycle,” he said.

“People apply theory, come together for intensive practical blocks, and then build on that learning, which is why TAFE felt like such a natural fit.”

While the Charleville campus does not have large-scale specialised training or workshop facilities, Michael sees this as an opportunity for deeper community collaboration.

“We might not have equipment like automotive hoists on campus,” he said,

“But that opens the door to working directly with local businesses and industry professionals.”

By partnering with employers and community organisations, TAFE Queensland can offer students exposure to real-world workplaces while keeping training grounded in local experience.

“It also gives local tradespeople and businesses the chance to speak directly with students,” Michael said.

“They can share how they started, how their apprenticeships worked, and what opportunities are available now.”

As TAFE Queensland continues to strengthen its footprint in Charleville, the focus remains clear: local staff, local partnerships, and local training — built by the community, for the community.