2017 POLICY DOCUMENT. Pathways to Training, Skills and Jobs. Putting Queenslanders First

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1 2017 POLICY DOCUMENT Pathways to Training, Skills and Jobs Putting

2 2 Pathways to training, skills and jobs Contents Message from the Premier 3 Our Commitment 4 The Newman-Nicholls Legacy 5 The Palaszczuk 6 Government s Record Our Plans: Putting 8 Call: Mail: PO Box 5032, West End QLD

3 Pathways to training, skills and jobs 3 Message from the Premier My government understands the dignity of work and is passionately committed to ensuring that Queenslanders have access to jobs, both now and in the future. A key component of this commitment is providing pathways to the training and skills that lead to safe, secure employment, such as apprenticeships and traineeships. IMPLEMENTED $34m RESCUING TAFE PACKAGE That is why we have adopted a policy that a minimum number of labour hours on government building projects be performed by apprentices and trainees. These apprentices need access to high-quality training and skills development programs. TAFE has long been at the forefront of training delivery in this state and now is the time to ensure its future E X T R A T E AC H I N G A N D SUPPORT ROLES To do this, TAFE needs to have facilities that are up-to-date, attractive and flexible enough to deliver the emerging training needs of the future. A re-elected Palaszczuk Government will provide pathways for apprentices and trainees to help them with their future employment prospects, and upgrade infrastructure to ensure TAFE can continue to provide high-quality training. Annastacia Palaszczuk PREMIER OF QUEENSLAND Putting

4 4 Pathways to training, skills and jobs Our Commitment A re-elected Palaszczuk Government will: Invest up to $85 million over three years in the redevelopment, refurbishment and expansion of six identified high-need TAFE facilities Pimlico (Townsville), Cairns, Mount Gravatt, Toowoomba, Redlands and the Gold Coast Reinvigorate our traditional apprenticeship system by employing up to 40 new apprentices in the Department of Housing and Public Works Building and Asset Services (BAS) over three years Maintain our commitment, under the Queensland Government Building and Construction Training Policy, to ensure at least 15 per cent of labour hours on government projects are performed by apprentices and trainees Increase compliance monitoring of the Building and Construction Training Policy to ensure apprentices and trainees are getting the opportunities they deserve Provide a grant of up to $4 million to the Service Trades College to establish a new industry-leading training centre at Beenleigh to train plumbing, HVAC (heating, ventilation and air-conditioning) and fire protection apprentices, pre-apprentices and upskill existing workers Continue our work with TAFE to build and strengthen its market share and ensure its position as the premium provider of vocational education and training in Queensland. $85m TO REDEVELOP, REFURBISH AND EXPAND TAFE 40 NEW APPRENTICES WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND PUBLIC WORKS GUARANTEE AT LEAST 15 PER CENT LABOUR HOURS FOR APPRENTICES AND TRAINEES ON GOVERNMENT PROJECTS

5 Pathways to training, skills and jobs 5 The Newman- Nicholls Legacy When the Palaszczuk Government was elected in 2015, Queenslanders were faced with a TAFE and training system in crisis. More than 2,100 staff had been sacked, TAFE Queensland had its funding reduced by around $63 million and course offerings were being eliminated right across the state. The Newman-Nicholls Government shut down Q-Build and decimated the ranks of apprentices within the state government. They also axed the successful Skilling Queenslanders for Work program despite an independent Deloitte report concluding that for every dollar spent on the program, almost eight dollars was returned to the economy. The Newman-Nicholls Government had closed five TAFE campuses and sold-off a number of former TAFE sites. The LNP also had a hit list of further sites it planned to sell-off without reinvesting in maintenance and infrastructure. The Newman-Nicholls Government set up the Queensland Training and Assets Management Authority (QTAMA), designed to manage TAFE facilities and equipment. All QTAMA did was deny vital maintenance to TAFE sites and often denied TAFE teachers and trainers access to buildings and equipment that had been in use for many years. Large amounts of valuable equipment were either auctioned off or simply thrown out. Newman-Nicholls government cut $63m in funding Newman-Nicholls Government cut 2,100 TAFE jobs Putting

6 6 Pathways to training, skills and jobs The Palaszczuk Government s Record In 2015, the Palaszczuk Government was elected to implement the Rescuing TAFE package a $34 million commitment over three years to restore the damage done by the former Newman-Nicholls Government. Implementing the Rescuing TAFE package in full has resulted in: The creation of more than 100 extra teaching and support roles More than 12,000 second-chance funding places supported $34m R E S C U I N G TA F E PA C K A G E The level of foundation skills being increased and The restoration of vital student support functions axed under the LNP. We put a stop to the campus closures that had started under the LNP. We invested more than $450,000 to fit out and open a new fit-forpurpose TAFE facility in the Maryborough CBD. The Palaszczuk Government also increased funding to TAFE to $173.5 million in After returning to government in 2015, we ensured the Building and Construction Training Policy whose core requirement is that a minimum of ten per cent of total labour hours on eligible State Government projects be 282,530 HOURS OF TRAINING ON G OV E R N M E NT PROJECTS INCREASED FU N DIN G TO TA F E T O $173.5m

7 Pathways to training, skills and jobs 7 undertaken by apprentices or trainees was properly applied. As a result of this policy, some 282,530 hours of training and employment were provided to apprentices and trainees on government projects in In 2015, we expanded the policy to apply to government-owned corporations, the very organisations that Tim Nicholls wanted to sell as Campbell Newman s Treasurer. Then, in September 2017, changes were made to ensure that a minimum of 15 per cent of the labour hours on eligible projects is undertaken by apprentices and/or trainees on major state government and government-owned corporation building and/or civil construction projects with a contract sum over $100 million. Further to our support for apprentices and trainees, we have also been focused on improving TAFE infrastructure. Since 2016, we have conducted a thorough assessment of all TAFE facilities across Queensland and listened to the community. We have met with staff, the public, private training providers, schools, industry, local government and Chambers of Commerce to seek their input into the future of TAFE. Since 2015, the Palaszczuk Government has revitalised the training and skills sector in Queensland. We restored the highly successful Skilling Queenslanders for Work program, a $240 million four-year investment ensuring that people right across the state get the skills they need to succeed. More than 11,000 people have a job as a direct result of this program. We have already announced that a re-elected Palaszczuk Government will continue funding Skilling Queenslanders for Work until the end of This is a further $180 million for the training needs of Queenslanders. We have also implemented the Back to Work employment package which has resulted in more than 8,800 unemployed Queenslanders securing jobs. Back to Work has also supported the employment of more than 1,600 apprentices and trainees across Queensland. In this year s budget, we introduced a WorkCover premium package meaning businesses will not pay a cent in WorkCover premiums on the apprentices they hire. This will save Queensland businesses up to $58.7 million per year. Putting

8 8 Pathways to training, skills and jobs Our Plans: Putting A re-elected Palaszczuk Government will implement a range of programs to ensure Queenslanders have pathways to the training and skills they need for safe, secure employment now and in the future. Advancing our Training Infrastructure Right across Queensland there are countless TAFE sites experiencing a substantial maintenance backlog with many facilities considered outdated for modern-day training. The Advancing Our Training Infrastructure policy is the first step in a long-term plan for the revitalisation of training sites across the state. Advancing Our Training Infrastructure is a comprehensive strategy aimed at modernising TAFE facilities across Queensland making them competitive in a contestable market while providing high-quality facilities for students to carry out training. An investment of up to $85 million over three years will be made to redevelop the Pimlico campus in Townsville and reconfigure and refurbish the Mount Gravatt, Cairns and Toowoomba sites. It also commits significant funding to the training needs of the Redlands region and to the Gold Coast network of TAFE facilities to manage the legacy of the 2018 Commonwealth Games. These sites have been identified as high-priority areas because of their condition and pressing needs.

9 Pathways to training, skills and jobs 9 Consultation has already occurred statewide with huge support from all stakeholders including local councils, Chambers of Commerce, the Queensland Teachers Union, private training providers, government and nongovernment schools, higher education providers and the public. This investment in infrastructure will result in hundreds of jobs. The maintenance backlog and construction of new or enhanced campus facilities will provide jobs right across the state. As more students are enticed by new and improved facilities, TAFE can grow. With higher student numbers comes higher demand for more training staff. Students, staff and the community will all benefit from new and improved resources and facilities. There are many tenants that currently co-locate on TAFE campuses statewide and enhanced facilities will allow them to enjoy the benefits. To ensure these vital infrastructure projects also provide training to the next generation of Queensland workers, a re-elected Palaszczuk Government will ensure that all projects undertaken through each phase will comply with the Queensland Government Building and Construction Training Policy, irrespective of project size. This means that 15 per cent of all hours on any project associated with the plan will be undertaken by apprentices and trainees. When this is combined with the Palaszczuk Government s Buy Queensland policy, it means local businesses, local tradies and local apprentices can take advantage of the opportunities right across the state as the TAFE infrastructure program is rolled out. The Palaszczuk Government s investment in the training infrastructure of Queensland will initially be delivered to: Pimlico up to $26 million to consolidate the campus and upgrade existing facilities to a fit-for-purpose, modern condition Mt Gravatt up to $15 million to refurbish existing facilities to bring them into line with community expectations, giving students the ability to study locally Toowoomba up to $4 million to improve the Toowoomba campus and reconfigure older buildings to modern standards for students and staff Redlands up to $10 million for the training needs of the Redlands, an area experiencing considerable growth in the training sector Gold Coast up to $15 million to establish a TAFE legacy post-commonwealth Games and deliver mixed trades and services across the Gold Coast Cairns up to $15 million for the refurbishment of facilities to better utilise the campus Putting

10 10 Pathways to training, skills and jobs Apprentices for Housing and Public Works The Palaszczuk Government will support young people and contribute to the future of the building and construction industry by hiring apprentices in Housing and Public Works Building and Asset Services (BAS). We will commit to hiring 40 more apprentices to revitalise the traditional BAS apprenticeship system. This will create further employment opportunities, particularly in regional locations with high rates of youth unemployment. Work will be carried out based on current BAS work profiles to ensure apprentices are recruited into the appropriate trade streams including carpentry, plumbing and painting to enhance training outcomes and improve the supply of skilled labour to industry. Building and Construction Training Policy The Building and Construction Training Policy supports employment opportunities and skills development in Queensland s construction industry. It also focuses on increasing the economic independence of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders in the industry. The training policy had a core requirement that a minimum of ten per cent of the total labour hours on eligible projects be undertaken by apprentices and/or trainees and through other workforce training programs. From September 2017, this core requirement increased to 15 per cent for eligible major building and/ or civil construction projects on major state government and government owned corporations. The Palaszczuk Government recognises the role that industry plays in training apprentices on government projects and the opportunity this

11 Pathways to training, skills and jobs 11 provides to train the tradespeople of the future. We recognised this role by increasing the rate to 15 per cent of all labour hours to be undertaken by apprentices or trainees, up from the previous ten per cent. Feedback during the consultation stage showed that some firms had a history of noncompliance with few ramifications. This policy allows for increased monitoring with $1.6 million over two years allocated for a team of officers with specialist skills in building and construction to ensure compliance. PICAC Training Centre The Plumbing Industry Climate Action Centre (PICAC), a not-for-profit entity, is a whole-ofindustry collaboration driving innovation and efficiency across the sector. Its purpose is to train, re-train, skill and upskill the plumbing and fire protection workforce. PICAC is the only provider of apprentice-level training in fire protection that also specialises in training not provided by TAFE Queensland. PICAC, established in 2008, is currently operating out of a trades college in Salisbury which is now over-capacity and has limited space to grow and meet their training operations at the current site. This limitation is making it difficult to accommodate new apprentices to meet growth in demand. The existing Service Trades College has a proven track record with a sustained apprenticeship completion rate in Queensland of more than 90 per cent. The Palaszczuk Government will collaborate with industry to assist in the development of a state-of-the-art training facility in Beenleigh. When fully operational, the new facility will accommodate fire and plumbing apprentices, 100 mechanical services and heating ventilation and air-conditioning SUPPORTING APPRENTICES IN E X PA N D I N G INDUSTRY SECTORS apprentices (HVAC) and 100 pre-apprenticeship trainees. In total the new facility is expected to accommodate 700 places. The industry partnership has already purchased the site and this grant will allow PICAC to expedite the fitout and operation of the new facility. We will provide a grant of up to $4 million towards the $12 million cost of completing the centre. Putting

12 Call: Mail: PO Box 5032, West End QLD twitter.com/annastaciamp Authorised by E. Moorhead, ALP 16 Peel St, South Brisbane.