Construction, engineering and trade training courses will be available for apprentices in the Moura region in Queensland following a $1 million funding injection by the Gillard Government.
The Minister for Tertiary Education, Skills, Jobs and Workplace Relations, Senator Chris Evans, and the Minister for Resources and Energy, Martin Ferguson, said the Banana Skills Training Centre in Biloela would become a regional hub for trades training.
"Apprentices in the Moura region, who previously had to travel to Gladstone, Brisbane, Mackay or Rockhampton to do their training, will now be able to complete skills training in Biloela," Senator Evans said.
"The Centre is an important investment for the region. These new facilities will give students the real advantage of training locally with equipment that is being used by industry right now, giving them stronger pathways into employment.
"Students who complete training here will enter the workforce with invaluable experience."
The Banana Skills Training Centre, operated by Gladstone Area Group Apprentices Ltd (GAGAL), has already received $1.5 million through the Australian Government's Teaching and Learning Capital Fund for Vocational Education and Training to complete Stage 1 of a larger construction project.
The additional funding will allow GAGAL to complete Stage 2 of the project.
Minister Ferguson said the training to be delivered at the Centre will be of great benefit to local industry.
"It is important to continue to deliver increased training opportunities and infrastructure investment to ensure Australians receive the training required to keep our local industries strong," Minister Ferguson said.
"In the Moura region, the training to be delivered at this Centre will particularly benefit the mining, business and construction industries.
"And these industries are absolutely booming, particularly in and around Gladstone with the emergence of the coal seam gas to liquefied natural gas industry.
"The projects already ticked off in this sector and those coming up on the investment horizon, including BG Group's US$15 billion investment, will create thousands of local jobs in this region. Our investment in this Centre will give local people the best possible opportunity to take advantage of the benefits on offer.
"The Australian Government is strongly committed to investing in infrastructure that improves vocational education and training to ensure Australia has the skills base we need for the future growth of our economy."
The Government's investment in vocational education includes $2.5 billion to establish Trades Training Centres in schools across Australia, and more than a billion dollars per year in apprenticeship incentives.
The Government announced the Teaching and Learning Capital Fund for Vocational Education and Training in December 2008. This fund is investing $500 million into the vocational sector for capital infrastructure works and purchases. All projects that received funding will be completed by June 2011.