Queensland’s TAFE Centres of Excellence are directing more than two and a half million dollars toward new research and training projects, with aged care and battery technology emerging as priority areas. The latest grant round brings together VET providers, universities, industry bodies and not-for-profit groups, each aiming to tackle skills shortages that have been widely discussed across the country.
Twelve projects have been chosen, with the Queensland and Australian Governments positioning the grants as part of their broader plan to build a stronger vocational pipeline. The Centres of Excellence were set up to test new approaches to training and workforce development, with both the Health Care and Support Centre and the Clean Energy Batteries Centre jointly funded by the Albanese and Crisafulli administrations.
This round drew 36 applications from across Australia, suggesting broad interest in shaping future VET programs. The grants were offered competitively, with separate streams for aged care and battery initiatives. Supporters of the approach say it encourages collaboration across sectors that might not usually work together, while giving TAFE institutions more room to develop applied research that can be put into practice.
Federal Skills Minister Andrew Giles said the grants will support projects with the potential to lift capability across the VET system. He pointed to funding for Ageing Australia, which received 400 thousand dollars to trial community learning hubs in regional Queensland, aimed at improving access to aged care training. Central Queensland University will receive more than 170 thousand dollars to develop safety and recycling training for battery energy storage, an area expected to grow as more industries pursue clean energy solutions.
Giles framed the funding as part of the Albanese Government’s national work with state and territory governments to expand TAFE Centres of Excellence. These centres are intended to provide resources beyond their immediate regions, giving students, trainers and employers access to programs shaped by local needs and national workforce trends.
Queensland’s Training Minister Ros Bates said the grants would support new evidence-based work at a time when the state is preparing for continued growth in health and social care roles. Forecasts suggest that by the end of the decade, one in six new jobs in Queensland will sit within health and social assistance. Bates said the state is relying on a steady stream of qualified workers to support both regional and metropolitan areas, and sees TAFE as key to reducing pressure on the health system.
Debate about the best way to address skill shortages often centres on how quickly new programs can be developed and whether they meet industry needs. Advocates for the Centres of Excellence model say it keeps training close to employers while encouraging research-led innovation. Others argue that long-term workforce planning still requires stronger national coordination, particularly in areas like aged care where workforce shortages have deep structural causes.
The Centres at TAFE Queensland plan to open a second funding round in January 2026, giving organisations another chance to put forward ideas. Similar Centres of Excellence in other fields are funded through separate state and territory arrangements, and are open to Queensland-based applicants.
The grants come at a time when governments across Australia are looking for ways to strengthen vocational pathways and ensure emerging industries are supported by workers with the right training. For many in the sector, the focus now shifts to how these funded projects perform once they move from planning to practice.
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