Apprenticeships and traineeships

Payroll Tax Apprentice and Trainee Rebate extension

The 50 per cent payroll tax rebate on the exempt wages of apprentices and trainees will be extended until 30 June 2023, at an estimated cost of $32.2 million. The extension of the rebate is part of the government's ongoing commitment to support Queensland businesses and build Queensland's skills base, including for Queensland's youth, across all regions of the state. The change is subject to the passage of legislative amendments (Budget paper no. 4: Budget measures, pp. 27 and 167).

User Choice - Apprentice and Trainee Training Subsidy

The User Choice - Apprentice and Trainee Training Subsidy program provides government funding towards the costs of training and assessment for eligible Queensland apprentices and trainees, or complementary pathways leading to apprenticeship outcomes. An estimate of $245.7 million is allocated for the subsidy in 2022-23 (Budget paper no. 2: Budget strategy and outlook, p. 201).

Employment

Skilling Queenslanders for Work

In the 2021-22 Budget (p. 4), the government provided $320 million over four years and $80 million ongoing to extend the Skilling Queenslanders for Work program, which assists up to 15 000 Queenslanders facing disadvantage in the labour market each year. Permanent funding for Skilling Queenslanders for Work has embedded the program into the core business of the state (Budget paper no. 2: Budget strategy and outlook, p. 20).

Industry

Queensland Resources Industry Development Plan

The government is committing $68.5 million over five years to implement the Queensland Resources Industry Development Plan (QRIDP). The QRIDP is a 30-year vision for Queensland's resources industry to be a resilient, responsible and sustainable resources industry that grows as it transforms. It is a whole-of-government plan, with funding provided in this budget across seven agencies. The Department of Employment, Small Business and Training is provided additional funding of $3.3 million over four years to support the implementation of several key initiatives included in the QRIDP. This includes the Queensland Future Skills for All program (to assist industry, businesses and individuals seeking to enter, upskill and reskill in autonomous technologies fields) and to develop pathways into higher education courses for those interested in pursuing a career in automation (Budget paper no. 4: Budget measures, pp. 10 and 53).

VET Emerging Industries initiative

Queensland's Workforce Summit, held in March 2022, brought together the community, industry and government to build innovative solutions that support a ready workforce for future opportunities. Measures announced at the Summit include $15 million for the VET Emerging Industries initiative, as part of the $200 million Future Skills Fund. The $15 million investment comprises:

• $5 million Manufacturing Strategy, consisting of a Manufacturing Skills Fund and TAFE Manufacturing Strategy
• $4 million Energy Strategy, consisting of a Electric Vehicle Skills Fund; a Hydrogen Skills Fund and a TAFE Renewable Energy Strategy
• $5 million Agribusiness Strategy, consisting of an Agriculture Skills Fund; a TAFE Agricultural, Rural and Regional Strategy; and a Beef Processing Skills Fund
• $1 million TAFE Screen and Digital Strategy.

The VET Emerging Industries initiative will be industry-led, with key industry stakeholders invited to participate on working groups to prioritise funding, which will also include representation from Jobs Queensland and Queensland Government departments (Media statement 11 March 2022; Budget paper no. 2: Budget strategy and outlook, p. 20).

Growing Workforce Participation Fund pilot

The Growing Workforce Participation Fund pilot is one of the measures announced at the 2022 Workforce Summit. The fund is part of the revitalised Back to Work program, which was allocated up to $140 million in additional funding over four years in the 2021-22 budget (pp. 4 and 139). The fund aims to develop partnerships with industry to build longevity and sustainability in the workforce by empowering industry and employers to support jobseekers from identified groups who experience greater disadvantage in the labour market (Media statement 17 March 2022; Budget paper no. 2: Budget strategy and outlook, p. 20; Growing Workforce Participation Fund: Guidelines for funding).

National Agreements

The total Commonwealth Payments for specific purposes and National Partnership Payments to Queensland for Skills and Workforce Development are estimated at $373.5 million for 2022-23.

National Skills and Workforce Development Specific Purpose Payment

Queensland has been allocated $328 million under the National Agreement for Skills and Workforce Development for 2022-23 (Budget paper no. 2: Budget strategy and outlook, p. 136).

National Partnership Payments

The 2022-23 Australian Government budget estimates in 2022-23 that Queensland may receive:

• JobTrainer Fund - $45.5 million (Budget paper no. 3: Federal financial relations, pp. 46-47).

A $200 million (co-funded) extension to JobTrainer Fund was announced 1 December 2021. The eligibility criteria for this second round was expanded to include students enrolling in a digitial skills qualification, or an aged care, childcare or disability care workforce qualification, regardless of their age or employment status, and the deadline for enrolment was also extended to 31 December 2022 (Joint media release 1 December 2021; JobTrainer Fund information for training providers).

Training providers and programs

Training and Future Skills Investment

The government is providing additional funding of $100.6 million over two years ($47.25 million in 2022-23 and $53.35 in 2023-24) to support the delivery of vocational education and training (VET) services by Queensland's public training providers (Budget paper no. 4: Budget measures, p. 53).

Department of Employment, Small Business and Training highlights

Continuing initiatives administered by the Department of Employment, Small Business and Training include:

• quality skills pathways and opportunities, including Free TAFE and Free apprenticeships for Queenslanders under 25 in priority skills areas
• the vocational education and training (VET) Emerging Industries $15 million investment in skills development, including for the agribusiness, energy, manufacturing, and the screen and digital sectors
• the Queensland Social Enterprise Strategy and Social Enterprise Jobs Fund
• delivering a Queensland Workforce Strategy
• developing a First Nations Training Strategy to support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities to develop skills relevant to local needs and be able to compete for jobs in the future economy
• the Skilling Queenslanders for Work initiative, to assist up to 15 000 disadvantaged Queenslanders each year through a suite of targeted skills and training programs
• targeted employment programs to assist employers and disadvantaged job seekers as well as supporting innovative solutions to industry-specific employment challenges through the revitalised Back to Work program.
• investment in infrastructure through the Equipping TAFE for Our Future program (Service delivery statements: Department of Employment, Small Business and Training, p. 1).

Department of Employment, Small Business and Training appropriation and concessions

The Department of Employment, Small Business and Training budgeted appropriation revenue for 2022-23 is $1 279 340 million (Service delivery statements: Department of Employment, Small Business and Training, p. 6).

The 2022-23 administered subsidies estimates relating to skills and training funded programs are:

• $245.7 million for the User Choice - Apprentice and Trainee Training Subsidy
• $201.2 million for the Vocational Education and Training (VET) - Certificate 3 Guarantee Tuition Fee Subsidy
• $65 million for the VET - Higher Level Skills Tuition Fee Subsidy
• $3 million for the Travel and Accommodation Subsidy (Budget paper no. 2: Budget strategy and outlook, pp. 201-202).

TAFE Queensland income

TAFE Queensland's overall income is $727.9 million in 2022-23, which is an increase of $29.9 million, or 4.3 per cent, compared to 2021-22 Estimated Actual due largely to an increase in User Fees and Charges. This category of income which is budgeted at $269.1 million in 2022-23 includes fees primarily payable by domestic students (38.8 per cent) and international students (12.4 per cent) as well as income from the Australian Pacific Training Coalition (14.3 per cent) and Australian Government funded training programs (21.8 per cent). The main increase in this category is in VET Student Loans which are expected to increase sharply following the cessation of enrolments in courses funded by JobTrainer. Grants and subsidies are expected to remain consistent overall in 2022-23 (Service delivery statements: Department of Employment, Small Business and Training, p. 15).

Employment, Small Business and Training portfolio capital program

In 2022-23, the Employment, Small Business and Training portfolio, including TAFE Queensland, has capital purchases of $103.6 million and capital grants of $8.5 million (Budget paper no. 3: Capital statement, p. 50).

The 2022-23 capital program for the Department of Employment, Small Business and Training of $84.5 million includes $34.8 million of capital purchases and $8.5 million of capital grants for the continued delivery of the Equipping TAFE for Our Future program. Additionally, $500 000 has been allocated for the finalisation of projects delivered in partnership with the Australian Government's Revitalising TAFE Campuses Across Australia initiative. A further $40.7 million is provided for the Annual Training Infrastructure Program to renew and revitalise training infrastructure across the state (Budget paper no. 3: Capital statement, p. 50; Service delivery statements: Department of Employment, Small Business and Training, p. 7).

In 2022-23, TAFE Queensland's $27.6 million capital program includes $7.3 million for the acquisition, replacement and modernisation of training and operational equipment, $12.0 million for the ICT program of work, and $6.6 million on the development of training product and materials to support delivery (Service delivery statements: Department of Employment, Small Business and Training, p. 14).