Regional marine trade training centre activated to meet local industry needs

The team at QMI carries an important responsibility to lead, listen to and respond to the needs of industry. Through an industry led engagement framework, QMI actively facilitates ecosystems of change between manufacturing businesses, educators and government to advance Queensland manufacturing.

Manufacturing skills are in demand. The commercial reality to the marine manufacturing sector was 280 jobs to the ten businesses visited by QMI in February 2018. To address this issue, we facilitated the first Marine Gateway Network Meeting in August 2018 bringing together representatives from industry, education and government.

The QMI team discovered a purpose-built boat building trade training centre within a 5km radius of the booming marine businesses, through Gateway to Industry Schools Program (GISP) for Manufacturing & Engineering, also managed by QMI. The trade training centre at Livingstone Christian College hadn’t been utilised since inception (7+yrs), despite having a very skilled boat builder on staff.

Thanks to the commitment of a dedicated principal and boat builder, Queensland Governments’ Department of Employment Small business and training (DESBT) and Department of State Developments, Manufacturing, Infrastructure and planning (DSDMIP), this has now been reactivated by the school as a marine manufacturing and engineering skills centre with a local sustainable talent pipeline and is now also shared with TAFE to deliver accredited training to unrepresented groups in the region.

The principal of Livingstone Christian College, Mr Mark Laraghy, commented ‘this is very unschool’, however, relished being able to serve the local community and recognised the potential for Livingstone Christian College. This followed an inclusive GISP teacher professional development tour into the marine manufacturing sector to see the science, technology, engineering, art+design and Maths (STEAM)connections held in August 2018.

Through the VET industry engagement officer, QMI also put an application forward, on behalf of industry, to have the Certificate 1 in Boating Services put on the Queensland training subsidy list, addressing a need for longer-term workforce solution for the growing marine manufacturing sector.

Mr Kym Fleet, Production Manager from Maritimo International Group reported ‘there’s a two year waiting list on Maritimo luxury motor yachts and it’s tough to find skilled employees’. Maritimo are expanding their manufacturing factory and despite having 12 apprentices in the past twelve months, is also employing 100+ new positions.

By implementing QMI’s industry engagement framework, a sustainable talent pipeline was formed and an unused trade training centre was activated to solve a local industry problem.

This is just some of the great work our team has been involved in, helping make new possible in the manufacturing sector. We want to thank everyone involved in these initiatives who have assisted and continue to deliver such positive actions, through collaboration for Queensland manufacturers.

Opening of the Marine Trade Training Centre. L to R: Simon Taylor LCC Boat Builder, Kim Banks Maritimo, Mark Laraghty Livingstone Christian College, Guy Valentine Dept Employment, Small Business & Training.

The Gateway to Industry Schools Program (GISP) and the VET industry engagement officer position is funded and supported by the Queensland government and managed by QMI Solutions.