A new $12 million Beenleigh training facility will equip up to 700 apprentices with skills needed to secure jobs in plumbing, fire protection and mechanical services industries.
Opening the centre today, Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said the Plumbing Industry Climate Action Centre (PICAC) would help deliver superior training to apprentices in high demand industries.
“My Government is delivering on an election commitment to provide a $4 million grant to towards this world-class training centre as part of our plan to ensure all Queenslanders have access to training, skills and jobs,” the Premier said.
“The PICAC Beenleigh Training Centre will support the training of 400 to 500 fire protection and plumbing apprentices, 100 mechanical services or heating ventilation and air conditioning apprentices and 100 pre-apprenticeship trainees.
“It is delivering the best possible training to prepare our tradies for life in the workforce, a key focus of my Government’s Queensland Skills Strategy. In the current 2019-20 financial year, we are investing $978 million in training and skills.
“We are developing opportunities for all Queenslanders to prepare for quality jobs and to reskill and upskill throughout their working lives.
“Our Strategy delivers initiatives connecting Queenslanders with employment, education and training opportunities, regardless of their background or circumstances.
“This focus on skills and job creation supports industry and employers to have access to the workforce they need to be productive and to grow their business.
“We are supporting Queenslanders to be job-ready now and into the future and this world-class Training Centre of Excellence will help deliver on this goal.”
PICAC will also deliver accreditation for new mechanical services licensing requirements which come into effect on 1 January 2020. The new licensing requirements will ensure people installing medical gas and commercial air-conditioning systems are appropriately qualified and regulated.
