State Government unveils resources skills roadmap
By Industry Queensland
The Queensland Government has unveiled a 29-point plan to help the state’s resources sector meet existing and emerging workforce needs.
Natural Resources and Mines Minister Dale Last said the Queensland Resources Workforce Plan would help shore up Queensland’s mining workforce for generations to come.
“The plan responds directly to the needs of the resources industry and supports the Crisafulli Government’s Transforming Queensland Manufacturing Strategy 2025-2030 which recognises that a strong workforce is critical to our success,” he said.
The State Government said it was backing the plan with $159 million in this year’s Budget for subsidised vocational qualifications used across the resources sector and $2.5 million to expand the Queensland Minerals and Energy Academy and boost women’s participation in the sector. .
It is also providing $55 million towards hubs, centres of excellence and immersive training experiences across Queensland on top of $18.8 million for the Queensland Manufacturing hubs scheme.
Image at top of page: Resources Centre of Excellence, Mackay.
Queensland Resources Council Chief Executive Officer Janette Hewson said the plan sent a strong signal that workforce development is fundamental to Queensland’s economic future.
“QRC welcomes the release of the Resources Workforce Plan and appreciates the opportunity to contribute to its development through early consultation,” Ms Hewson said.
“It is pleasing to see the Plan’s recognition of the Queensland Minerals and Energy Academy as a QRC led flagship education and industry engagement program.
“Continued investment in proven initiatives such as QMEA, alongside targeted programs such as WIRED, will be critical to attracting more young people, supporting regional participation, retaining skilled workers and expanding career opportunities for women and other under-represented groups.
“The priorities identified closely align with QRC’s Workforce Attraction and Retention Strategy, particularly building the talent pipeline and increasing participation of women and other under-represented groups.”
Actions include:
Industry-aligned skills and training
- Deliver and access immersive training experiences through facilities like the Resources Centre of Excellence (Mackay) and the Isaac Resources Excellence Precinct (Moranbah).
- Fast–track resources skills development such as XR based training solutions through the Queensland Government’s Industry Skills Solutions program, considering opportunities for industry-led, targeted skills development (including through micro-credentials), and workforce attraction and mobility initiatives.
- Work to grow, support and sustain the vocational education and training workforce, including for delivery of courses for the resources sector, as part of Measures to Strengthen the VET Workforce — a joint initiative between the Australian and Queensland Governments.
- Deliver dedicated advocacy for resources industry workforce skills and training needs through the Resources and Mining Industry Skills and Jobs Advisor, to ensure training and skills priorities align with workforce demands and the needs of essential positions
- Enable delivery of future-focused workforce training through establishment of training facilities such as the Resources Centre of Excellence Future Industries Hub FlexiLab (Mackay) and the Queensland Resources Common User Facility (Townsville).
- Support post-employment pathways through government-supported funding for higher-level qualifications in fields applicable to the resources sector, such as Certificate IV in Laboratory Techniques and Certificate IV in Engineering (MEM40119).
- Progress the RS22 micro-credential program in collaboration with Industry Skills and Jobs Advisors to address key safety hazards identified by Resources Safety and Health Queensland and the interim Commissioner.
- Promote (through careers days, events and other engagements) the Associate Degree of Engineering delivered by CQUniversity, enabling full-time workers in the mining industry to upskill while employed, supporting career progression into statutory and technical roles.
Building a strong workforce pipeline
- Expand the Queensland Minerals and Energy Academy to 50 additional schools with new regional hubs and local trainers – a Queensland Government election commitment.
- Deliver the Improved Completions joint initiative with the Australian Government to support informed training choices, enhance support services and embed best-practice to improve training completions across industries like resources.
- Continue the Gateway to Industry Skills Program to attract more young people into resources careers, strengthen school-to-industry partnerships, and align skills development with emerging workforce needs.
- Investigate incorporation of future energy components into the Gateway to Industry Skills Program to ensure the program keeps pace with industry innovation.
- Government, industry and regional economic bodies to collaborate on workforce attraction roadshows to promote a future-focused, tech-driven resources sector and provide engaging materials on diverse resources career pathways.
- Industry and education providers to promote Study Queensland’s Talent-Ed program supporting migrant tertiary education and employment pathways within key resources regions.
- Industry, government and training providers to investigate ways for existing resources sector workers to support development of the next generation of workers, such as pathways to teacher/trainer roles and mentoring positions.
- Partner with universities to increase opportunities for students to undertake government placements including in specialised and technical roles within the Department of Natural Resources and Mines, Manufacturing, Regional and Rural Development to support the pipeline of future workers and support cross industry-government collaboration and capability uplift.
- Leverage the Queensland Government’s refocused Train and Retain initiative, using predictive risk modelling to identify at-risk apprentices in fields relevant to the resources industry (such as fixed and mobile plant mechanics, mechanical fitters, and boiler makers) and enabling targeted regional support interventions.
- Investigate the impact of potential resources industry projects on workforce supply and demand across key regions.
- Industry to access the Queensland Government’s Anticipating Future Skills (AFS) tool to provide baseline employment projections for occupations needed by the resources industry.
- Through the Transforming Queensland Manufacturing Strategy 2025-30, the Queensland Government will provide access to capability and workforce programs and promote key trades/qualifications which will support building the pipeline of workers across the value chain including in the supply chains servicing the resources sector.
- Queensland Government to continue delivering financial assistance for travel and accommodation for mining apprentices across the state.
Increasing workforce participation
- Resources sector employers to access and implement the Resources WIDE tools and resources that encourage diversity and help foster inclusive cultures in workplaces across the sector.
- In partnership with the Queensland Government, the Queensland Resources Council to deliver the Women in Resources: Empowering Development (WIRED) program – boosting women’s participation in the sector by increasing the number of women in operating and technical roles.
- Industry and community bodies to investigate opportunities to address workforce participation and attraction and retention issues in the resources industry through the Queensland Government’s 2025-26 Workforce Connect funding round.
- Through the Queensland Government’s Growing Workforce Participation Fund: • Trucking industry to deliver an entry-level training program for the transport and logistics sector that supports career pathways into the resources sectors – upskilling a broad range of under-represented jobseekers. • Industry to investigate additional opportunities to deliver projects that support resource workforce participation by under-represented cohorts through the Fund’s 2025-26 funding round.
- Through Skilling Queenslanders for Work, 23 projects will commence, providing skills, vocational qualifications, and work experience for nearly 1,000 jobseekers for entry-level jobs in the resources sector and supply chain industries, with further opportunities through this program expected in 2026.
- Through Diverse Queensland Workforce hubs, prospective resources industry workers can access training and employment services to support work ready migrants, refugees and international students to find jobs and build their careers.
- Queensland residents to consider accessing the Queensland Government’s Overseas Qualifications Unit for a free assessment of overseas qualifications. Based on guidelines developed by the Australian Government and aligned to the Australian Qualifications Framework, this assessment can help with employment and further study by assisting Queensland resources employers and educational institutions to understand a worker’s level of education in Australian terms.
- The Queensland Government and industry will target industry-relevant training initiatives, strengthen local employment pathways, and open meaningful workforce opportunities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
- To read the Queensland Resources Workforce Plan, visit: dtet.qld.gov.au/resources-workforce-plan
