TAFE Queensland has opened its $2 million Aquaculture Centre of Excellence, offering specialised training in fish farming, hatchery, and pond management to boost Queensland’s aquaculture industry.
The aquaculture production training facilities at the Centre will focus on prawns and barramundi, and will include a scientific laboratory and smart centre where students may record and preserve test findings, ensuring graduates are job-ready.
Additionally, TAFE Queensland will offer training in marine technology, aqua technology and maintenance, and related trades such as automotive, electrical, plumbing, and mechanical.
“This is such an exciting opportunity for young people to launch their careers in aquaculture or for other students to change their careers completely,” Minister for Agricultural Industry Development and Fisheries and Minister for Rural Communities Mark Furner said.
Minister Furner noted that the Queensland Agriculture Industry Workforce Plan 2022-2027 identifies four priority groups for future employment growth: grazing, horticulture, crops, and aquaculture.
“It’s evidenced by a growth in industry value, with the Queensland aquaculture industry rising to a record value of $224.7 million in 2021-22 and employing close to 900 Queenslanders full-time,” the Minister stated.
“This state-of-the-art centre will keep us on track to meet our growing workforce needs and will see the industry continue to make a significant and positive contribution to regional development,” he added.
Through the Aquaculture Centre of Excellence, TAFE Queensland established an “Aquaculture and Agriculture Tech Skills Hub”, in collaboration with the Australian Government, Greater Whitsunday Alliance (GW3), Regional Development Australia, and Central Queensland University Australia.
According to the Queensland Government, the collaboration will promote a thriving sector and provide free training in the latest technologies.
“The Queensland Government is committed to creating good jobs for Queenslanders and providing training opportunities to strengthen growing industries like aquaculture,” Minister for Training and Skills Development Di Farmer said.
Minister Farmer stated that the Aquaculture Centre of Excellence’s high-quality facilities are paired with high-quality training, and TAFE Queensland will provide a number of skill sets and credentials, including Certificate II in Sampling and Measurement and Certificate II in Aquaculture.
Member for Mackay Julieanne Gilbert MP commented, “The Aquaculture Centre of Excellence is great news for students and a highly skilled workforce is great news for local employers and for our region.”
“This upgrade is the latest investment in TAFE facilities across the region, and includes the $3.4 million Agriculture Centre of Excellence, a $200,000 collaborative learning centre at the Bowen TAFE campus and a $250,000 collaborative learning centre here at Whitsunday,” Gilbert added.
The Aquaculture Centre of Excellence is part of the $100 million Equipping TAFE for our Future program, aiming to provide Queenslanders with modern infrastructure for high-quality training in priority industries.
