Skilling the Smart State
While scientific and R&D excellence requires infrastructure such as laboratories and equipment, it also requires people with the right skills to undertake R&D, develop new ideas, apply new technology and operate in the knowledge economy.
Employment
Employment growth in the State averaged 2.4% per annum over the five years to 2002-03, compared with only 1.9% in the rest of Australia. Queensland’s faster employment growth has not only been driven by stronger economic growth across its industries, but also stronger labour productivity growth, which has helped maintain competitive labour costs for employers and business.
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Queensland’s labour productivity growth has strengthened from an annual rate of 1% over the five years to 1997-98 to 2.9% over the five years to 2002-03. At 2.9% over the five years to 2002-03, Queensland has been well above the 1.7% recorded in the rest of Australia.A key priority of the Government has been to increase the levels of education achieved by Queenslanders. This recognises that the higher the education levels, the more likely the State will achieve and sustain its Smart State ambitions, which are based on leading-edge skills, knowledge and creativity.
Statistics show that people with higher levels of education tend to achieve better labour force outcomes, with lower unemployment levels, higher participation rates and higher paid jobs.
The Government supports tertiary study by providing a range of graduate and postgraduate career opportunities in areas such as science, information and communication technology, and business and public sector management across most of its departments.
Core goals of the Smart State vision include:
- developing a highly skilled workforce
- ensuring that as many Queenslanders as possible have adequate ICT skills
- increasing the number of students pursuing careers in science and technology, particularly in the disciplines of mathematics, chemistry, physics, engineering and bioinformatics.
Since 1998, there has been a 121% increase in the number of international students choosing to study in the Smart State. More than 49 000 international students chose to study in Queensland in 2003.
With more than 500 000 people participating in vocational education and training (VET) in Queensland each year, Queenslanders are becoming smarter, more productive and more innovative. Queensland’s workforce is embracing technology, responding to change, and becoming more competitive in the international arena.
VET is improving the skills of existing workers, preparing people for a first job, and assisting Queenslanders to change careers. It is also playing a crucial role in transferring research and technology to the workplace.
Training is available for a diverse range of industries which will play a major role in shaping the future of the Smart State. These include aviation, ICT, aquaculture, health services, environment, laboratory techniques, manufacturing and creative industries.
Funding for TAFE (Technical and Further Education) has increased by over $170 million from 1997-98 to 2004-05.
In 2004-05 TAFE Queensland will invest $15 million in ICT infrastructure. This continuing investment will provide improved services and choice for regional and remote communities and greater accessibility for all TAFE clients.
In 2004-05, more than $827 million will be invested in publicly-funded VET in Queensland, including training provided through TAFE Queensland institutes, agricultural colleges, at private training organisations, and in school programs. This funding will support the substantial investments made by employers and individuals in training and skills development.
Through 2003-04, the Queensland Government:
- provided funding for the VET of more than 288 000 Queenslanders
- increased the number of apprentices and trainees undertaking training by more than 4000 to 68 951
- increased the number of young Queenslanders commencing school-based apprenticeships and traineeships to 5445 in the 2003 calendar year
- provided funding for:
- around 6000 TAFE places and around 1700 traineeship places in ICT training
- around 4400 TAFE places and 13 000 apprenticeship and traineeship places across manufacturing sub-sectors
- around 4000 TAFE places in creative industries
- around 400 TAFE places in environment-specific programs
- around 300 TAFE places in marine training
- around 85 TAFE places in aquaculture.
SmartVET
Queensland’s VET system is continuing to prepare Queenslanders for smart jobs. The Government has recently announced a comprehensive SmartVET strategy that will increase the training and skills of Queenslanders.
SmartVET includes an additional $118 million over three years to encourage accelerated skills development and ensure courses are closely aligned with the future needs of industries. SmartVET aims to ensure that:
- new and growing high-tech industries such as aviation, ICT and creative industries have access to a highly-skilled workforce
- traditional industries central to Queensland’s economic growth including manufacturing, building and construction, primary industries and tourism can keep up with technological advances, attract new workers, and provide existing workers with the opportunity to upgrade their skills
- Queenslanders have unprecedented access to training courses that equip them with skills and qualifications to obtain employment in high priority Smart State industries.
In 2004-05, SmartVET will provide:
More training opportunities for Queenslanders
- $4 million for 2000 additional training places for apprentices and trainees
- 182 new accelerated apprenticeship training places in regions that are attracting major projects and investment such as building and construction, mining, manufacturing and engineering
- an additional 38 aeroskills training places through Aviation Australia
- 646 additional TAFE training places in high growth regions such as south-east and far north Queensland
- $560 000 to pilot a new system of cadetships which fast-track students into high-level careers in critical skill shortage areas
- $500 000 to enable about 500 workers to have their existing skills recognised and counted towards a formal quali.cation
- a new service, Skilling Solutions Queensland, which will provide students with face-to-face information on training, career pathways and local employment opportunities
- commencement of a new $25 million Coomera Education Precinct on the Gold Coast in partnership with Griffith University. The precinct, due to open in 2007, will focus on training programs in design and creative technologies including interior design, architecture, building technologies, ICT, graphic design, film and television and marine studies.
More support for priority industries
- funding for up to half the costs of accredited training for workers in key industry areas to upgrade their skills, including aviation, pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, engineering, machinery and equipment manufacturing, boat-building, small business, rural enterprises, information technology and e-commerce. This will include 2120 traineeships in 2004-05.
- assistance for major industry sectors to develop Skills Formation Strategies which consider a range of factors affecting skills shortages including industrial relations, employment conditions and industry attractiveness
- support for the manufacturing sector through strategies aimed at attracting new workers and training for existing workers.
The Government has a broad range of other training and education programs to help achieve the goal of skilling the Smart State and increasing the number of Queenslanders pursuing careers in Smart State industries.
Science in Parliament
An annual event hosted by the Premier, Science in Parliament provides a forum for scientists and all Queensland Members of Parliament (MPs) to meet and discuss contemporary science and research issues that impact on Queensland. In 2003, 210 scientists and 75 MPs participated in the event.
The 2004 event will be hosted by the Premier and the Queensland Chief Scientist, Professor Peter Andrews, and will look at the challenges and opportunities facing Queensland science over the next few decades.
Smart State Fellowships
The Government has committed $2 million to support talented early-career researchers, working in leading Queensland based research teams. With seven Fellowships awarded, the first two rounds have attracted matching funding of more than $1 million from industry and research institutions in the areas of obesity management, waterways management, plant biotechnology, computer chip manufacture, pest control, environmental UV exposure, and information systems integration and adoption by businesses.
Smart State Health and Medical Research Fund – Queensland Clinical Research Fellowships
In June 2004, the Premier launched the Smart State Health and Medical Research Fund, which includes a Queensland Clinical Research Fellowships program to attract and retain outstanding clinician-researchers in Queensland hospitals.
Queensland-Smithsonian Fellowships
This program is a joint initiative of the Queensland Government and the Smithsonian Institution in the United States. Up to three Queenslanders work with partners at the world’s largest museum complex and research organisation each year, enhancing opportunities for Smart State researchers to share and develop their expertise, through international research and collaboration. Since the program’s inception in 2000, fellowships have been awarded to twelve Queenslanders.
Smart Returns Fellowships
In July 2004, the Premier launched the Queensland Government’s ‘Smart Returns’ Fellowships program. The Government has made funds available to assist universities to offer fellowships to distinguished academics whose careers have taken them overseas. The fellowships will entice internationally experienced researchers (who originally studied in Australia) back to Queensland universities. This initiative will invigorate research and build links between host university and international colleagues. Fellows will work with their host university, local schools and the community to inspire young people and promote the academic rigour Queensland enjoys.
National Science Week
The Queensland Government supports National Science Week each year through its participation in activities such as the Brainwaves Festival, school science projects, research centre open days, public science forums and presentations. These events showcase the latest in science discoveries and help raise the community’s awareness of how much science plays a part in our daily lives.
Last reviewed 19 January 2006