Educating for the future
BETTER SCHOOLS AND JOBS
The Queensland Government is committed to setting Queenslanders up for success through better schools and jobs.
The 2024–25 Budget is investing over $1 billion in additional funding over 5 years from 2023–24 to support delivery of a high performing state education system. This funding will deliver more teachers and teacher aides to support delivery of the government’s education strategy for state schools – Equity and Excellence: realising the potential of every student. Funding will also help to improve outcomes for priority cohorts, including delivering reasonable adjustments for students with a disability.
Good Jobs, Great Training: Queensland Skills Strategy 2024–2028
In the biggest skills and training reform in almost a decade, the government will fund one million training places for Queenslanders, easing cost-of-living pressures for those who want to train, upskill, reskill and pursue careers in the state’s priority industries.
The Good Jobs, Great Training: Queensland Skills Strategy 2024–2028 will help address skills and workforce priorities across Queensland with more free and subsidised training for Queenslanders. It will also fund one million publicly subsidised training places in health, social services, hospitality, clean energy, construction and more.
The government is providing additional funding of $203.1 million over 2 years, as part of a total investment of $370 million, to help kickstart the new Good Jobs, Great Training: Queensland Skills Strategy 2024–2028 to further strengthen the state’s training system to deliver skills needed to power our economy and provide access to good jobs with better pay for Queenslanders. The strategy is Queensland’s roadmap to deliver on the National Skills Agreement, unlocking billions of dollars in areas of national priority, and is a key action under the Good people. Good jobs: Queensland Workforce Strategy 2022–2032.
Free TAFE
Following the outstanding success of Free TAFE, which has seen more than 88,000 commencements in Queensland in around 200 courses, the Australian and Queensland governments have provided a further 30,000 Free TAFE places in 2024 through to 2026. This will offer cost-of-living support while giving more Queenslanders the opportunity to skill-up for future jobs in areas where the economy needs them most. This partnership builds on the Queensland Government’s workforce strategy that aims to position it as a world-class economy out to 2032.
Other incentives include:
- Free TAFE Nursing, which offers 6,500 fee-free training places to eligible Queenslanders in the Diploma of Nursing over 2024 and 2025
- Free Apprenticeships for under 25s, which covers the cost of training in a high priority apprenticeship or traineeship.
Certificate III in Electrotechnology Electrician has been Queensland’s most popular course at TAFE with over 5,000 students commencing their apprenticeship in 2023. Queenslanders are being encouraged to apply for the Free TAFE programs. With the Queensland Energy and Jobs Plan set to create 64,000 jobs in clean energy infrastructure, this initiative is saving students and employers money while they build the industry’s capacity.
50 per cent payroll tax rebate for apprentices and trainees
The 50 per cent Apprentice and Trainee Rebate, which applies in addition to the exemption of apprentice and trainee wages from payroll tax, will be extended for a further 12 months to 30 June 2025. The extended rebate will reduce costs for businesses that employ apprentices and trainees and aligns with the government’s broader objective of supporting youth employment, and will help to address skills shortages across industries. The extension will deliver estimated tax relief of $54.9 million for Queensland businesses employing trainees and apprentices in 2024–25.
GPs in schools
Schools play a significant role in supporting the wellbeing of their students. To ensure schools are well-placed to support all students, the Queensland Government has invested in General Practitioners (GPs) in 50 state secondary schools 1 day per week. The service helps to remove barriers students may otherwise face in accessing timely and appropriate healthcare.
The 2024–25 Budget will deliver $21 million to support the continuation of the GP in Schools program for a further 4 years. A further $10.7 million will support provision of health practitioners in 20 priority primary schools under the $502 million Putting Queensland Kids First package. These programs will help deliver positive outcomes for students’ health and wellbeing, and their readiness and ability to engage at school.
Education infrastructure
The government is continuing to invest in school and early educational facilities that consider population growth and shifts, changes in educational needs, and the high priority needs for student and staff health and safety.
An investment of $1.274 billion in 2024–25 will support projects such as:
- $342.2 million for the provision of additional facilities at existing state schools experiencing faster enrolment growth
- $273.2 million to replace and enhance facilities at existing schools which includes $144.8 million for critical infrastructure upgrades to create contemporary learning environments as part of the Special School Renewal, Contemporary Specialist Spaces and Discrete Indigenous Community Renewal programs
- $166.6 million for the Building Future Schools program to deliver world- class learning environments for students
- $144.2 million as part of the strategic land acquisition fund, to acquire land for future new and expanded schools
- $117 million as part of the School Halls Program to boost education infrastructure investment across Queensland.
PUTTING QUEENSLAND KIDS FIRST: GIVING OUR KIDS THE OPPORTUNITY OF A LIFETIME
The government is committed to supporting children from their earliest years of life, and directing resources, services and supports to give every Queensland child and family the best possible opportunity for a great life.
Backed by an investment of $502 million, Putting Queensland Kids First invests in our youngest Queenslanders for positive and healthy pathways for life, building on the strengths and opportunities that help children and families to thrive, and supporting people to get back on track when they face greater challenges.
The wellbeing of individuals and the economy are intrinsically linked. Social wellbeing fuels a strong and sustainable economy for all Queenslanders.
Evidence shows that investing in a child’s early years is one of the best investments for the long-term health, wellbeing, safety, and prosperity of our community.
Putting Queensland Kids First is underpinned by 5 priorities:
Partnering for connected and community-led delivery
Communities are best placed to understand the strengths and needs of local families and children. The Queensland Government is partnering with non- government and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community-controlled organisations to deliver local, place-based supports that respond to diverse community needs.
Investments include:
- $15 million for a dedicated partnership fund for non-government organisations and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community- controlled organisations
- $5.8 million for more safe, stable, and secure housing for First Nations families and young people
- $270,000 for a co-designed First Nations leadership program for young First Nations parents.
Wellbeing in the earliest years of life
Healthy development in the early years supports young Queenslanders with the strongest start for wellbeing and learning. The Queensland Government is supporting children to be born and raised healthy in their families, connected to culture, and supported in their development.
Investments include:
- $65.5 million for more sustained health home visiting and antenatal support
- $18.4 million to support healthier pregnancies, including health risk screening during antenatal care
- $11.1 million to connect parents with essentials for thriving babies
- $9 million for housing and holistic support for pregnant and parenting mothers
- $4.1 million to expand weekly text messages to support child development and parental wellbeing.
Supporting families and strengthening communities
Whole-of-family health and wellbeing is critical to a child’s healthy development. The Queensland Government is strengthening the holistic and wraparound supports for families and communities, and responding to the needs of parents, caregivers and kin to create the best conditions for children to thrive.
Investments include:
- $29.9 million to embed Early Childhood Coordinators within existing child, family and community services
- $20 million for family and early years school-based hubs in Aurukun and Kowanyama
- $11.6 million to support tenancies for young parents with wraparound support including parenting education
- $10.4 million to enhance mental health support for parents, partners and families
- $5.4 million to support Neighbourhood Centres to combat the effects of isolation and loneliness.
Responsive support for healthy development and positive life courses
The early years of life are a key time to identify developmental vulnerabilities and respond as early as possible, so that children are ready to transition into school with confidence, and to prepare for the best future outcomes. The Queensland Government is supporting individual development through the earliest possible access to support for the diverse needs of Queensland children.
Investments include:
- $71.4 million for enhanced child health development checks in priority locations in the first 5 years of life
- $56.6 million for Enhanced Child Development Services in priority locations to improve the health and wellbeing of children with developmental concerns
- $9.9 million for improved children’s hearing screening and diagnostic services in priority locations
- $3.6 million for housing and support link services for young mothers, babies, and families
- $2 million to strengthen family connections through an early intervention program for families experiencing complex challenges.
Supporting confident steps through life and learning
Children who have positive experiences with learning are more likely to be happy at school and improve their academic and social skills, setting them up for better outcomes across their schooling, training and employment journey. The Queensland Government is encouraging confident steps as children grow and develop, from early learning through to key phases of learning, to set them on positive pathways for the future.
Investments include:
- $67.3 million for Behaviour Specialists in priority primary schools to support engagement in learning
- $42.7 million for Family Support Coordinators in primary schools to support transitions from early childhood for a confident start to learning at school
- $26.2 million to extend free kindy up to 30 hours per week for four-year- olds in discrete communities
- $10.7 million for health practitioners in 20 priority primary schools.
For more information about Putting Queensland Kids First, refer to the website at www.qld.gov.au/about/putting-qld-kids-first.
