Premier announces additional $12m funding for Kepnock State High School facility

The Queensland Premier was in Bundaberg to reveal a $12m boost for a school’s new trades workshop, to make it easier for students to “get on the tools” after graduation.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk and Bundaberg MP announced a $12m funding boost for a new industrial design and technology facility at Kepnock State High School.

Pathways for budding engineers and tradespeople have received a huge boost with the state government increasing funding for a new industrial design and technology facility at a Bundaberg high school.

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk visited Kepnock State High School on Wednesday to announce the government would increase its commitment by $12m to bring the total funding for the project to $22m.

The facility, described by Ms Palaszczuk as a “huge manual arts centre in one space”, will include three junior wood workshops, a junior metal workshop, a senior furnishing workshop and a senior engineering workshop.

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Ms Palaszczuk said the centre would give students skills they needed to fill employment opportunities in the Bundaberg region.

“This exciting project will give students skills today for the jobs of tomorrow,” Ms Palaszczuk said.

“We’re looking at matching up the trades and the skills that young people need, with what the opportunities are in the region.”

Queensland had among the highest vacancies nationally for some technical trades included in the National Skills Commission’s 2022 Skills Priority List.

The state had 30 per cent of the national job ads for drillers, miners and shot firers and 28 per cent for metal fitters and machinists.

Bundaberg MP Tom Smith, a former teacher at Kepnock State High School, said the facility would provide opportunities for students to pursue opportunities in agriculture, horticulture, and manufacturing sectors.

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“For a lot of the kids in Kepnock they want to get on the tools … and also into our agriculture manufacturing sectors as well,” Mr Smith said.

“This gives those students new opportunity and a new life of learning to … make sure that they can actually pursue their goals and know that their goals are real.”

Kepnock State High School has been contacted for comment.