Resources Minister Scott Stewart visits Hastings Deering Rockhampton after funding announcement

Central Queensland’s current and future resources workforce is set to benefit from millions put towards programs to upskill workers. Here’s how.

Workers in the resource industry will be able to boost their skills thanks to millions in funding from the state government.

More than $3 million has been invested by the state government to support the training needs of the existing and future resource workers.

Resources Minister Scott Stewart visited Hastings Deering in Rockhampton on Thursday where he met with apprentices, workers and toured the workshops.

Mr Stewart said there was a “great cry out” for skilled workers in the resources and mining sector.

The state government have partnered organisations such as with Queensland TAFE, CQUniversity and BMA to deliver the Queensland Future Skills Partnership.

The program will look at how to attract more people into the resources workforce.

Celebrating 90 years of operation, Hastings Deering employs more than 500 people in the Rockhampton region, making it one of the biggest employers in the area.

Hastings Deering Rockhampton area manager Peter Martin said traineeships and apprenticeships were a big part of the business.

“We have over 37 apprentices working out of the Rockhampton site and next year we’re going to employ eight apprentices,” he said.

“For those eight apprenticeships we had roughly 200 applicants, so as you can see Hastings Deering is a well-sought after employer in the Rockhampton region.”

One of those apprentices, Ally Benson is a first year auto-electrician.

“I wanted to go for something more hands-on and something different where you could learn something everyday,” she said.

“(I’ve learnt) to work around lots of people in different areas and in a different environment.”

Fourth year apprentice Ian Sait said the company had “very good” on job training.

He said he was hoping to stay on in the business in the tractor shop department.

Rockhampton MP Barry O’Rourke said keeping jobs local was a priority.

“It’s so important we make sure our workforce is skilled up for that future,” he said.

“I want to make sure jobs are kept in the regions, here in Rockhampton in particular.”

Resources Minister Scott Stewart said the support from the government would ensure new and existing workers would have the right pathways into a “fulfilling and ongoing career” in the resources sector.

“We know our workforce will continually need to change and update as technology changes,” he said.

“We’re hearing from our resources sector that they need workers who will have these sorts of skills, so through our Resources Industry Development Plan what we’ve identified is a skilled workforce in necessary not only now but well and truly into the future.

“We know a diverse workforce will bring greater outcomes for our communities and greater outcomes for our workplaces.

“We want Queenslanders to have access to job opportunities across the entire resources supply chain - from exploration to extraction, processing and advanced manufacturing, and within our state’s world class METS industry.”