Apprenticeships and traineeships

50 Per Cent Payroll Tax Rebate for Apprentices and Trainees Extension

The 50 per cent payroll tax rebate on the exempt wages of apprentices and trainees will be extended until 30 June 2025. The extension of the rebate provides $54.9 million in additional support for businesses employing trainees and apprentices, and forms part of the government's ongoing commitment to building 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, p. 182).

Construction Workforce Fund

Additional funding of $11 million is allocated over three years ($7.4 million in 2024-25) to support the construction industry workforce to position for the future by funding initiatives to increase the number of apprentices and skilled workers, and address barriers to workforce participation, with guidance from industry. This forms part of the government's total funding package of $3.1 billion over five years for Homes For Queenslanders, the Queensland Government's whole-of-system housing plan (Budget paper no. 4: Budget measures, p. 51).

Employment

Mossman Region Community Transition

$1.5 million is allocated over three years from 2023-24 ($732 000 in 2024-25) to support mill workers transition into new jobs, access training and upskilling and gain counselling support. This forms part of the government's total funding of up to $12.1 million over four years from 2023-24 to support the Mossman region to transition away from dependence on the Mossman Mill and foster new economic and employment opportunities (Budget paper no. 4: Budget measures, p. 52).

The Mossman Region Transition Program, administered by the Department of State Development and Infrastructure, is allocated additional funding of $4.1 million over three years to provide new services towards assistance measures such as a worker transition scheme and up to $6.5 million over three years from 2024-25, held centrally, to develop and implement a transition program (Budget paper no. 4: Budget measures, p. 83).

Mount Isa Transition Fund

Additional funding of $20 million, held centrally, will be provided through the Mount Isa Transition Fund to enable delivery of projects to support job creation for the local workforce, strengthen the economy, liveability and community resilience in Mount Isa in the short-to-medium term. This forms part of the government's total funding package of $50 million to support workers affected by the pending closure of Glencore's Mount Isa copper mine and copper concentrator and the Lady Loretta zinc mine (Budget paper no. 4: Budget measures, p. 83).

The Mount Isa Acceleration Fund, administered by the Queensland Treasury, provides funding of $30 million to accelerate development of resource projects in the North West Minerals Province (Budget paper no. 4: Budget measures, p. 144).

Queensland Small Business Strategy 2024-27

Additional funding of $19.7 million is provided to support delivery of the Queensland Small Business Strategy 2024-27. This forms part of a total investment of over $250 million over three years to deliver a range of actions (Service delivery statements: Department of Employment, Small Business and Training, p. 2).

The 'Queensland Small Business Strategy 2024-27' initiative is allocated additional funding of $7.8 million over three years ($4.262 million in 2024-25) to help support small businesses manage the cost of doing business, and build their capability, capacity and resilience, including additional funding for grants to support businesses to implement workforce solutions, continuation of the small business grants program, access to mentoring and upskilling for Indigenous businesses and access to free training under the Free TAFE program (Budget paper no. 4: Budget measures, p. 51; Service delivery statements: Department of Employment, Small Business and Training, p. 2).

The other initiatives funded in this budget that support the strategy are 'Social Enterprise Support and Development' which receives increased funding of $1.9 million in 2024-25 to continue the Social Enterprise Jobs Fund and Queensland Social Enterprise Council , and 'Cyber Security Support for Queensland Small to Medium Enterprises', which receives an additional $10 million allocated over three years ($2.5 million in 2024-25) to develop and implement cyber security infrastructure for small to medium enterprises, bringing its total allocation to $15 million (Budget paper no. 4: Budget measures, p. 52).

Transition to Success program

$7.5 million is allocated in 2024-25 to continue support for the Transition 2 Success program. The program has supported 88 young women and girls in contact with the youth justice system to access education, vocational training, trade taste testers, work experience and employment opportunities to provide positive outcomes and transition pathways (Women's budget statement, p. 40).

Industry

Backing Bush Communities Fund - Workforce Training

Additional funding of $8 million is allocated over four years ($2.701 million in 2024-25) for workforce training initiatives to be delivered by the Queensland Farmers' Federation, its members and AgForce, to upskill Queensland's agricultural workforce. This forms part of the government's total funding of $30 million over four years for the Backing Bush Communities Fund towards workforce training, invasive species management and community projects (Budget paper no. 4: Budget measures, p. 33).

The additional funding allocations for the other initiatives are $12 million over four years for the 'Backing Bush Communities Fund - Invasive Species Management' (Budget paper no. 4: Budget measures, p. 32) and $10 million over two years for the 'Backing Bush Communities - Building Bush Tourism Fund' (Budget paper no. 4: Budget measures, p. 91).

Equal by 30

Queensland is the first state to sign up to the international Equal by 30 campaign to promote opportunities for women in the clean energy sector. Equal by 30 aims for equal pay, equal leadership and equal opportunities in the clean energy sector by 2030. As a signatory of the campaign, the government will develop a Women in Renewables Strategy, among other commitments, to drive practical actions to improve gender diversity and participation and completion of apprenticeships and training in vocational and university-level qualifications in the traditionally male-dominated energy sector (Women's budget statement, p. 17).

Queensland Battery Industry Strategy Implementation

$110 million is allocated over five years from 2023-24 ($29.5 million in 2024-25) to lead implementation of the Queensland Battery Industry Strategy (QBIS). QBIS actions will help to deliver the Queensland Government's community objectives, particularly around supporting jobs that diversify the Queensland economy and build on existing strengths in resources, helping small business to thrive in a changing environment, growing manufacturing and our regions, and investing in the skills of the future (Budget paper no. 4: Budget measures, p. 82).

Queensland Energy and Jobs Plan Implementation

The government is providing additional funding of $43.3 million over five years from 2023-24 ($11.125 million in 2024-25) for government policy priorities under the Queensland Energy and Jobs Plan, including an Office of the SuperGrid, climate action planning, and hydrogen futures (Budget paper no. 4: Budget measures, p. 54).

Queensland Health Workforce

The 'Queensland Health Growth Funding Uplift' budget measure provides $4.393 billion over four years (around $1.375 billion in 2024-25) to address emerging demand and cost pressures, and support priority investment areas (Budget paper no. 4: Budget measures, p. 123).

Additional funding of $222.4 million from the 'Queensland Health Growth Funding Uplift' will be provided over four years in response to Queensland Health's workforce challenges. The aims of the initiative are to support and retain the current workforce; build and attract new pipelines of talent; and adapt and develop innovative new ways to deliver. The allocation includes funding to implement a new electronic workforce rostering system. A further $215.9 million over four years will be met by Queensland Health to continue the Workforce Attraction Incentive Scheme; school-based traineeship programs; and supporting the fee-free Free Diploma of Nursing TAFE course. This will also fund the Queensland Government's new Reproductive Leave policy. Total funding for these initiatives is $438.3 million over four years from 2024-25 (Budget paper no. 4: Budget measures, p. 130).

National Agreements

In 2024-25, the Australian Government will provide estimated funding of $459.1 million to support Queensland's skills and workforce development services through the National Skills Agreement and National Partnerships.

National Skills Agreement

Funding from the Commonwealth Government under the National Skills Agreement is estimated at $450 million in 2024-25 (Budget paper no. 2: Budget strategy and outlook, p. 158). 

The National Skills Agreement (NSA) commenced on 1 January 2024, replacing the National Agreement on Skills and Workforce Development (NASWD). Funding in 2023-24 reflects combined estimates for the NASWD (1 July 2023 to 31 December 2023) and the NSA (1 January 2024 to 30 June 2024). NSA funding is estimated to increase by $59 million (15 per cent) in 2024-25 (Budget paper no. 2: Budget strategy and outlook, p. 159).

National Partnerships 

The Commonwealth government estimates that Queensland may receive $9.1 million under the Fee-Free TAFE Skills Agreement, to be determined on the renegotiation of the agreement (Australian Government Budget paper no. 3: Federal financial relations, p. 53).

Training providers and programs

Free TAFE Nursing

$81.2 million is allocated over three years from 2023-24 ($42.05 million in 2024-25) for 6500 training places for eligible Queenslanders to study the Diploma of Nursing for free in 2024 and 2025. Funding of $46.9 million in 2023-24 has been internally funded by the Department of Employment, Small Business and Training to support this initiative. Queensland Health is contributing another $34.5 million to this initiative from internal resources. Total funding for the Diploma of Nursing under the Free TAFE initiative is $162.6 million over three years from 2023-24 (Budget paper no. 4: Budget measures, p. 50).

Queensland Quantum Academy

The government is providing increased funding of $6 million over five years from 2023-24 ($933 000 in 2024-25) to develop and deliver the Queensland Quantum Academy as part of the Queensland Quantum and Advanced Technologies Strategy to introduce quantum materials and learning opportunities into schools and TAFEs and support the workforce needs of the growing quantum industry (Budget paper no. 4: Budget measures, p. 57).

Queensland Skills Strategy 2024-2028

Additional funding of $203.1 million is allocated over two years ($96.717 million in 2024-25), as part of a total investment of $370 million, to further strengthen the state's training system to deliver skills needed to power the economy and provide access to good jobs with better pay for Queenslanders. The strategy is a key action under the Good people. Good jobs: Queensland Workforce Strategy 2022-2032 and it is also Queensland's roadmap to deliver on the National Skills Agreement (Budget paper no. 4: Budget measures, p. 50).

TAFE Big Build

Additional funding of $101.7 million over four years ($24.5 million in 2024-25) and $26.4 million per annum ongoing is provided to continue to maintain state-owned TAFE Queensland facilities (Budget paper no. 4: Budget measures, p. 51).

Department of Employment, Small Business and Training

As part of the machinery-of-government changes, effective 18 December 2023, Youth Justice was transferred to the Department of Youth Justice and the former Department of Youth Justice, Employment, Small Business and Training was renamed the Department of Employment, Small Business and Training (Service delivery statements: Department of Employment, Small Business and Training, p. 1).

The department's budgeted appropriation and other revenue for 2024-25 is around $1.567 billion, with the expenses of the 'Connecting Queenslanders to training and skills programs and initiatives' service area estimated at nearly $1.504 billion (Service delivery statements: Department of Employment, Small Business and Training, p. 6).

The department's key deliverables in 2024-25 include:

• deliver its three key strategies to grow Queensland's economy:
  • the Good people. Good jobs: Queensland Workforce Strategy 2022-2032, to strengthen Queensland's current and future workforce as a key enabler of the state's prosperity
  • the Good jobs, great training: Queensland skills strategy 2024-2028, setting out Queensland's strategic priorities for the VET sector and ensuring that Queensland's investment in skills and training is tailored to meet current and future workforce needs
  • the Queensland Small Business Strategy 2024-27, outlining actions to help Queensland's small businesses grow and thrive
• deliver targeted employment programs that focus on supporting under-represented cohorts across Queensland's workforce
• implement Paving the Way: First Nations Training Strategy to support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities to improve career development outcomes now and in the future
• deliver 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
• support Queensland's future skilled workforce by funding quality skills pathways and opportunities, including free TAFE places, and bring down costs for Queenslanders
• deliver a range of strategies and actions to support apprenticeship and traineeship uptake and completions, including supporting women in trades
• deliver the majority of actions under the Queensland's Clean Energy Workforce Roadmap, including direct investment in energy training infrastructure, improving links between school and industry, and supporting students and workers to gain the future skills they need
• support the future workforce of priority industries for Queensland (Service delivery statements: Department of Employment, Small Business and Training, pp. 1-2).

The 2024-25 concessions estimates related to skills and training funded programs are:

• $262 million for the User Choice - Apprentice and Trainee Training Subsidy
• $251.5 million for the Vocational Education and Training (VET) - Certificate 3 Guarantee Tuition Fee Subsidy
• $90 million for the VET - Higher Level Skills Tuition Fee Subsidy
• $6 million for the Travel and Accommodation Subsidy
• $3.5 million for the Free Tools for First Years Program (Budget paper no. 2: Budget strategy and outlook, pp. 217-219).

The capital program for the department is $80.4 million in 2024-25, including:

• $11.9 million for the continued delivery of Equipping TAFE for Our Future Eagle Farm Robotics and Advanced Manufacturing Centre project (noting that the Annual Training Infrastructure Program funding also contributes to Equipping TAFE for Our Future Projects)
• $14.8 million for the commencement and delivery of the Great Barrier Reef International Marine College expansion project
• $9.8 million for the continued delivery of TAFE Technology Fund projects delivered in partnership with the Australian Government, including Loganlea clinical skills laboratory, Pimlico visual arts precinct and Thursday Island health hub
• $2.5 million for the continued delivery of Equipping TAFE for Our Future Central Queensland University Rockhampton Campus Consolidation and Training Centre
• $41.4 million for the Annual Training Infrastructure Program to renew and revitalise training infrastructure across the state, to improve accessibility to the necessary skills and training required to boost labour market productivity (Service delivery statements: Department of Employment, Small Business and Training, p. 7).

TAFE Queensland

TAFE Queensland's 2024-25 budget total income is $891.3 million which is an increase of $56.5 million or 6.8 per cent compared to 2023-24 Estimated Actual due largely to an increase in grants and other contributions. This category of income, which is budgeted at $640.4 million in 2024-25, includes government subsidies for training provided to eligible students, accounting for 54.3 per cent of income, with the remainder relating to the State Contribution Grant received from the Department of Employment, Small Business and Training and other minor grants and contributions (Service delivery statements: Department of Employment, Small Business and Training, p. 15).