Nailed it!
The Crisafulli Government has marked National Skills Week with a showcase at Parliament House, reinforcing its commitment to tackling Queensland’s skills shortage and opening new opportunities for regions like Far North Queensland (FNQ).
In a unique event, TAFE Queensland transformed Parliament into a live training ground, featuring demonstrations in key trades including construction, carpentry, plumbing, bricklaying and electrical. The showcase highlighted how hands-on skills are the foundation of Queensland’s future — and nowhere is this more important than in FNQ, where demand for skilled workers continues to grow across industries like tourism, construction, agriculture, resources, and renewable energy.
National Skills Week is Australia’s annual celebration of vocational education and training. Its message, “Explore All the Options”, is especially important for FNQ, where apprenticeships, traineeships, short courses and micro-credentials provide clear and practical pathways into local jobs.
For young people leaving school, career changers, and those looking to upskill in FNQ, vocational training remains one of the most direct routes to rewarding and secure employment.
For 40-year-old Cairns local Chris Reppel, National Skills Week is more important than ever. This local Cairns man is the proud 2025 Queensland Training Awards Harry Hauenschild Apprentice of the Year for Tropical North Queensland.
After two decades in sales, Chris swapped spreadsheets for timber and toolbelts, starting a carpentry apprenticeship with MB Constructions and Ballinger Training and Consultancy.
Chris credits the support of MB Constructions, Ballinger Training, and his wife. He also shares his journey on his YouTube channel ‘Midlifecarpentry’, inspiring others — including a 45-year-old Cairns man who is now also in the MB Constructions team.
The Crisafulli Government is delivering for Queensland with more training and employment opportunities to help address the skills shortage left by Labor.
The $1.6 billion Finance, Trade, Employment and Training Budget lays the foundation of a fresh start for a stronger economy.
Under the Crisafulli Government, Queensland is open for business, with a return of regulatory and taxation certainty to restore our State’s position as a safe and secure investment opportunity.
With one in five local jobs supported by exports, the Budget includes $5 million in 2025-26 to help Queensland businesses expand into new international markets and strengthen existing trade relationships.
The Budget delivers a major investment in the next generation of skilled workers to support new investment in our State, including a $201.1 million investment into new TAFE Centres of Excellence over four years.
That includes $40 million in 2025-26 to train the tradies of tomorrow, from electricians and carpenters to chefs, welders, and mechanics, who will help build the infrastructure our communities rely on, as well as the 2032 Games infrastructure.
Key initiatives include:
- $78 million for a new TAFE Centre of Excellence in Caloundra.
- $13.6 million to expand the Great Barrier Reef International Marine College in Cairns.
- $61.1 million for the new Rockhampton TAFE Excellence Precinct.
- $60 million for a new TAFE Centre of Excellence in Moreton Bay.
- $2 million for a new Marine Centre of Excellence for the Southern Moreton Bay Islands.
- $21.4 million to renew and revitalise existing training facilities.
- $79.1 million for the Transforming Queensland manufacturing program.
- $80 million for Skilling Queenslanders for Work.
- $7 million for the Workforce Connect Fund.
- $20 million for the Crisafulli Government’s Returning To Work program with grants to help cover the cost of transitioning back to work for women after having children, caring for family or illness.
- $10 million for Free Apprenticeships for Under 25s, to remove tuition fees and make trade training more accessible and affordable.
- $50 million to leverage the National Skills Agreement, which will strengthen TAFE Queensland, grow the training workforce, and close the skills gap for First Nations people.
- Funding to support the Regional Jobs Committee program for another 2 years to help close skills gaps in critical industries.
- $1.6 billion over five years, on top of the $450 million already invested in the Electricity Maintenance Guarantee, to help deliver affordable, reliable and sustainable energy.
For FNQ, these investments complement local TAFE campuses and specialist programs that are equipping the region’s workforce with skills in construction, hospitality, health, mining, and emerging industries. With population growth and industry demand rising in Cairns and surrounding communities, the Government says more regional training opportunities will follow.
Explore Free Construction Apprenticeships for Over 25s: qld.gov.au/education/training/subsidies/free-construction-apprenticeships
Learn more about the Queensland Training Awards: desbt.qld.gov.au/training/qta/winners-and-finalists
