- $47.7 million invested in 171 training and skills projects across Queensland - the first funding round of Skilling Queenslanders for Work for 2025–26.
- Up to 5,881 Queenslanders will gain training in high-demand and emerging industries.
- The program has now supported more than 100,000 Queenslanders with job-ready skills and training - a major milestone in building a stronger workforce.
The Crisafulli Government is delivering a $47.7 million investment to train thousands of Queenslanders for in-demand jobs through a renewed and refocused Skilling Queenslanders for Work initiative.
Under Labor, the program was left on autopilot, resulting in declining rates of ongoing, long-term employment for participants while stakeholders' ideas to reform and improve the program were ignored.
The Crisafulli Government has overhauled the program to restore public confidence and make sure every dollar delivers practical outcomes for Queenslanders and their communities.
The renewed approach includes a shift from volume to value to deliver employment outcomes and workforce demand, not just enrolment numbers.
Training is tailored to regional needs, with strong input from employers and community organisations, and features clear pathways to employment, with performance metrics focused on job placements and retention.
Skilling Queenslanders for Work also integrates with Queensland's broader workforce strategy to complement investments in housing, health, and infrastructure, help rebuild frontline services, with targeted support for priority cohorts such as women returning to work, First Nations Queenslanders, culturally diverse communities, and people facing barriers such as mental health, long-term unemployment, disability or domestic violence.
More than 5,800 jobseekers will benefit from 171 locally tailored projects across Queensland, with training aligned to industries facing critical workforce shortages – including health, construction, and community services.
Minister for Finance, Trade, Employment and Training, Ros Bates, said the program has been reshaped to deliver better outcomes for jobseekers, employers, and the economy.
"Under Labor, too much money was spent on training that didn't lead anywhere. That stops now," Minister Bates said.
"We've reshaped this program to focus on outcomes, not just activity. This is training designed in partnership with local organisations and employers, and focused on real jobs in real communities.
"Skilling Queenslanders for Work is part of our broader commitment to rebuilding Queensland's workforce and restoring economic responsibility.
"We're focused on results - the right training in the right regions for the jobs Queenslanders need now."
Funded projects in this round include:
- Zahra Foundation Australia – Pathways to Empowerment EXPLORE Work Readiness Program – Bardon - Supports up to 60 women impacted by domestic and family violence, with a focus on digital literacy and job readiness. Delivered in partnership with Peggy's Place, targeting women residing in shelters.
- Awesome Women in Construction – Construct Your Future Project – Ipswich - Assists up to 48 women, particularly those re-entering the workforce, to develop skills for employment in construction and associated industries, with a strong focus on apprenticeship pathways.
- The Allison Baden-Clay Foundation – Empowered Futures – Bundamba - Supports up to 60 people experiencing or escaping family and domestic violence to build skills and confidence for a new start. Includes job trials, interview preparation, and employment opportunities, including apprenticeships and traineeships, in partnership with local employers.
- Momentum Mental Health – Creating Momentum Through Upskilling – Toowoomba - Assists up to 40 disadvantaged job seekers, including people with disabilities and mental health challenges, to complete a Certificate II in Skills for Work and Vocational Pathways, supporting pathways to employment or further training.
- Citizens of the Great Barrier Reef Foundation – Get Into Workplace Skills and Reef Conservation – Cairns - Employs up to 10 disadvantaged job seekers, primarily from First Nations backgrounds, as trainees over 22 weeks. Participants complete a Certificate I in Workplace Skills while gaining practical experience in reef conservation.
