Subsidised health and work skills courses to kick off in rural Qld

By Priscilla Roberts and Jocelyn Sticklen

CQUniversity has been given a $1.6 million green light to deliver five Certificate III qualifications in health and work skills in Woorabinda, Longreach, Biloela and Emerald as part of a Rural and Remote Pilot.

Eligible job seekers will be able to access the face-to-face subsidised training in Community Services, Individual Support, Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Primary Health Care, Health Services Assistance and Skills for Work and Vocational Pathways from February 2025.

The 12-month pilot is a key action under the Good people. Good jobs: Queensland Workforce Strategy 2022–2032 (QWS) designed to deliver local skills and job creation initiatives to increase workforce capacity across the state. 

CQUniversity’s Deputy Vice-President of Vocational Education and Training (VET) and Business Development, Peter Heilbuth, said CQUniversity was committed to increasing participation in all levels of education and training by providing affordable and accessible courses.

“At CQUniversity we firmly believe that geography should never be a barrier to individuals being able to study and attain a qualification that will benefit their careers and communities.  

“As a delivery partner within this pilot, we are well-placed to support students and deliver high quality training in health and community services,” said Mr Heilbuth. 

“Skills within these service areas are in high need within rural and remote regions in central and western Queensland and we look forward to working with the Queensland Government and those communities to deliver these much-needed skills."

The courses will be delivered via a ‘Hub’ model in Woorabinda, Longreach, Biloela and Emerald. 

In Emerald, delivery will happen at the CQUniversity campus while in other regions CQUniversity will deliver at partner sites. 

Students will also benefit by being able to experience CQUniversity’s most innovative hybrid delivery model, a blend of live tutorials and face-to-face support on the ground, completing assessments online or with qualified industry experts on location in the Hub.

Courses are open for enrolment now, with study to commence in February.

For more information and eligibility criteria visit the Rural and Remote Pilot webpage via www.cqu.edu.au/tafe.