The Queensland Government is expanding its Minerals and Energy Academy by delivering the skills to support the future of the resources sector as part of series budget initiatives following the most recent state budget.
In 2023-24, mining was the state’s largest industry, worth $61.6 billion in nominal gross value added terms.
Queensland’s 2025-26 budget forecasts the state’s economic growth to strengthen to 2.5% in 2024-25 and 2.75% in 2025-26, after rising 2.1% in 2023-24.
“Mining is Queensland’s biggest industry employing more than 81,000 people, 60% of whom live in regions like Mackay and the Bowen Basin,” says Dale Last, Minister for Natural Resources and Mines.
The Queensland Minerals and Energy Academy has a network of 100 schools and directly engages with up to 6,000 students each year, increasing awareness and interest in the energy and minerals sectors.
In a fresh start for industry skills training, the state government is committing $2 million to establish regional hubs in Central and North Queensland.
The expansion, over a three-year period, will see the first regional hub based in Mackay at the Resources Centre of Excellent, with Rockhampton to follow in 2026 and Townsville in 2027.
The program aims to reach up to 10,000 additional students and will also transition into primary schools.
Minister for Finance, Trade, Employment, and Training Ros Bates says the $2 million expansion would help provide pathways for more young people to the resources sector.
“The Queensland Government is proud to work closely with the Queensland Resources Council, through the Queensland Minerals and Energy Academy, to ensure it has the right people with the right skills for its workforce,” Bates says.
“The resources sector is critical to Queensland’s economy and as it continues to grow, we need to make sure we develop the pipeline of talent the industry needs now and into the future.”
The Queensland Minerals and Energy Academy provides a pipeline of skilled workers to the resources sector and other supporting science, technology, engineering, and mathematics under the Gateway to Industry Schools Program.
Write to Aaliyah Rogan at Mining.com.au
Images: The Queensland Minerals and Energy Academy
