As part of its $100 million Equipping TAFE for our Future initiative, the Queensland Government is expanding the $8.1 million Rural Centre of Excellence into its second stage, firmly establishing Toowoomba’s TAFE Queensland campus on the agricultural training map.
The project enhances the centre’s position as the region’s premier agricultural training facility, according to the State Government. The Government added that the extra $1.1 million investment would increase the centre’s ability to provide cutting-edge training to more students in the region.
Minister for Training and Skills Development Di Farmer stated the state-of-the-art facility is helping to train Queensland’s workers for the State’s $23.5 billion agriculture industry‘s planned development.
“The Queensland Government is providing specialised training to get more people into more jobs, and we are making sure our industries are supported by people who are trained in the latest facilities and technologies,” Minister Farmer said.
According to Minister Farmer, the Rural Centre of Excellence, which officially opened three years ago, trains students in over 25 courses that encompass the most recent innovations in creative, sustainable agriculture and horticultural methods.
For the first time in Toowoomba, Minister Farmer stated that the new facility, which includes a specialised laboratory, will also offer a new Laboratory Skills course.
“I know local agribusinesses are excited about their employees being trained in improved analysis of environmental samples of soil and water along with grains, seeds, and animal health,” Minister Farmer added.
Over 560 students were trained at the Rural Centre of Excellence in 2021-22. The enrollments are projected to continue to grow this year, especially with three of the centre’s courses now available under the new Free Free TAFE agreement with the Australian Government.
“Since the Rural Centre of Excellence opened in 2019, more than 1,800 students have passed through its doors, and many have gone on to secure jobs in the farming and cattle industry, veterinary practices, and horticulture industries,” Minister Farmer said.
According to the Minister, with the assistance of the State Government’s Free TAFE and Free Apprenticeships for Under 25s programs and the Job Trainer plan, about 1,200 students have studied agriculture and horticulture at the centre.
Jobs Queensland forecasts an 11.5% rise in agriculture industry jobs in the Darling Downs-Maranoa region from 2020-21 to 2024-25, with a 20,000-strong workforce.
The industry workforce is expected to grow to over 87,000 by 2024-25, an increase of 8,700 since 2020-21, according to the Queensland Agriculture Industry Workforce Plan 2022-2027, and the four priority groups for future job growth are grazing, horticulture, crops, and aquaculture.
“The anticipated growth is great news for students, and a highly skilled workforce is great news for employers,” Minister Farmer said.
