Empowering CQ’s Future 

With the launch of the Australian Government’s “Bringing New Energy to Australia” campaign in Central Queensland, the spotlight has turned to how the current workforce is being prepared for roles in the renewable energy sector. Spearheaded by the Net Zero Economy Agency, the campaign highlights Central Queensland’s pivotal role in Australia’s energy transformation, emphasizing collaborative efforts among communities, businesses, and industries to drive forward a net-zero economy. Key initiatives are providing training, reskilling, and employment pathways to equip local workers for the evolving clean-energy workforce. 

Projects fueling this workforce transformation include Stanwell’s Future Energy Innovation and Training Hub (FEITH), Fortescue’s Global Green Energy Manufacturing Centre (GEM), and Powerlink’s Gladstone SuperGrid Training Centre and Transmission Hub. Stanwell’s FEITH, located near Rockhampton, offers advanced facilities for renewable energy technology testing and workforce training. Powerlink’s training center, launched in 2023, has already seen its first cohort of Gladstone-based apprentices, set to be upskilled in high-voltage technology among other key areas. Fortescue’s GEM in Gladstone will house its first Vocational Training and Employment Centre in Queensland, supporting green manufacturing skills for the regional workforce.