Queensland’s TAFE Centres of Excellence lead Australia with competitive grants program

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TAFE Queensland spearheads the TAFE Centre of Excellence Clean Energy Batteries and the TAFE Centre of Excellence Health Care and Support, joint initiatives between the Australian and Queensland Governments through to 2028.

Funding of $1 million is available in the TAFE Centre of Excellence Clean Energy Batteries’ first round of applied research grant opportunities, closing 31 July 2025.

TAFE Queensland Chief Executive Officer John Tucker said the grants will aid the development of innovative training solutions to address industry-identified challenges.

“As Australia progresses towards its Net Zero emissions target, Queensland’s energy transformation is predicted to support up to 100,000 direct and indirect new jobs by 2040,” Tucker said. “With strong future job growth predicted, the Centre’s applied research grants will support the development of targeted training to build a skilled clean energy battery workforce, ensuring the long-term growth and sustainability of this vital industry.”

Applied research investigates solutions to everyday problems, bridging the gap between theory and practice with evidence-based insights that drive innovative solutions.

In the first round of grant opportunities, being offered nationally, the Centre is calling for proposals across a range of clean energy battery focus areas, including accessible education and training models for people in rural, regional and remote areas, culturally appropriate and safe training, and workforce participation.

“With $1 million in grant funding available, we anticipate a highly competitive first round, and look forward to collaborating with researchers, universities, industry, and community groups to find real solutions to industry challenges,” Tucker said.

Since 2024, 12 TAFE Centres of Excellence have been announced across the country and the Centres at TAFE Queensland are the first to launch grants, with several funding rounds planned over the coming years.