The Queensland state government has announced AU$2.4 million in research grants aimed at building the state’s future workforce in battery technology and disability support.
The funding, delivered through TAFE Queensland’s Centres of Excellence, will drive innovation in vocational education and training in battery technology and disability support.
The TAFE Centre of Excellence Clean Energy Batteries and the TAFE Centre of Excellence Health Care and Support are joint initiative of the federal and state government.
Federal Minister for Skills and Training, Andrew Giles, said the grants would help TAFE Centres of Excellence develop high-quality and responsive training in clean energy and disability support.
“Our government is focused on backing Queenslanders to access affordable, specialised training for secure careers in critical industries,” Giles said.
“Building a renewable energy workforce is vital for a reliable and sustainable future, and these grants will open up new opportunities for Queenslanders to skill and upskill.”
The TAFE Centres of Excellence are specialised training hubs that offer skills development for people training in emerging and critical industries.
They offer training not only for students on site but also for teachers and students across the country.
TAFE Queensland interim CEO Brent Kinnane, said the research grants were delivering tangible benefits for students, communities and industries.
“As Queensland’s largest training provider, TAFE Queensland trains over 135,000 students a year, and our commitment to collaborative applied research will drive innovation in VET and solve industry challenges,” Kinnane said.
“With AU$2.4 million available in funding, I encourage people to submit an Applied Research Grant application before submissions close on 16 March 2026.”
