Queenslandʼs fastest-growing region is ready and willing to assist a national initiative to provide free TAFE training places to increase skill levels in a changing workforce.
Greater Springfield Chairman Maha Sinnathamby said plans for a five-storey TAFE college had been finalised to complement the existing TAFE facility in the city.
The plans can assist in the allocation of some of the 180,000 free TAFE training places announced by the Federal Government following last weekʼs national jobs and skills summit.
“Training capacity is vital now to ensure that we can properly resource an economy that needs support,” Mr Sinnathamby said.
“We have an existing TAFE college overflowing with students, but we have room to grow to enable more students to gain the skills that will help this nation.
“We have a complete design for a five-storey, purpose-built TAFE. We are ready and we have the people who can benefit from new places.”
Greater Springfield is the fastest-growing region of Queensland in the last decade, as identified by the Australian Bureau of Statistics. It is the only city to be built other than Canberra, since Federation.
Mr Sinnathamby said the growth in the western corridor made it attractive for the training boost that was a focus of the national jobs and skills summit.
“The opening speech of the national jobs and skills summit included one clear message: invest in human capital, big-timeʼ,” Mr Sinnathamby said.
“This is music to the ears of Greater Springfield, which has been built on an investment in human and social capital.
“In 30 years, we have built 12 schools and student numbers will double in the next 30 years. We have built 19 kindergartens, a university campus and a major hospital with approvals for up to 1200 beds. And there is more to come.
“But education cities require teamwork to ensure that we can make the most of our nationʼs opportunities.
“Weʼre happy to take part in a wider discussion about how an expanded TAFE college in Greater Springfield can assist in the goals clearly enunciated at the national jobs and skills summit.”
Mr Sinnathamby also said local insights and expertise could assist governments in achieving goals to benefit the nation.
“A collective focus on enhancing human and social capital will bring the best results,” Mr Sinnathamby said. “Having first-class training facilities will also attract overseas students and migration to enhance our talent bank.”
Springfield Jobs portal
Greater Springfield has developed a free portal, known as Springfield Jobs, that enables employers and jobseekers to advertise, search, and secure local employment opportunities.
Vacancies placed on Springfield Jobs by the Brisbane Lions recently quickly reached an audience of more than 40,000 people via social media.
“This portal connects job seekers with active vacancies and enables us to understand the needs of employers and prospective workers. And that gives us an insight into the skills most needed in our area,” Dr Richard Eden, Springfieldʼs Executive General Manager – Education and Smart City, said.
The platform allows users – both guests or signed-in members – to search for work by title, industry or company, and then by suburb or postcode. Members will then receive local job alerts and be informed of local training, education, and job opportunities.
“The new stage of the Mater Hospital will create a thousand new jobs. The current hospital employs approximately 280 staff, more than 60 per cent of whom live in the local area,” Dr Eden said.
“There are more examples that we are happy to share in a discussion on how we can continue to develop skills and training in the western corridor.”
About Greater Springfield:
• Greater Springfield is a master-planned city, situated 35 minutesʼ drive from the Brisbane CBD.
• Greater Springfield is celebrating its 30th birthday this year – it began in August, 1992, when almost 3,000 hectares of land were purchased to create a master-planned city.
• More than 52,000 residents now call Greater Springfield home.
• In one of the nationʼs faster urbane growth corridors, Greater Springfield has a CBD almost twice the size of Brisbane, and 30 per cent of land across the city is dedicated to green space.
• Combined public and private investment in the city is more than $18 billion.
• It is expected at least one job for every three residents will be created via the Knowledge Precinct at Greater Springfield which incorporates cutting-edge health, education and innovation cities.
For further information, contact Michael Crutcher of 55 comms on 3041 1115 or 0417 798 794, or via email at michael@55comms.com.au.
To explore the new Springfield Jobs portal, visit www.springfieldjobs.com.au.
