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Training and skills development in hydrogen

Hydrogen Industry Workforce Development Roadmap 2022-2032

To prepare Queenslanders to participate in hydrogen opportunities and ensure the industry can access the workers it needs, the Queensland Government has worked with industry to develop the Hydrogen Industry Workforce Development Roadmap .

The Roadmap identifies four key focus areas:

  • The importance of building a pipeline of skilled workers for the hydrogen industry across a very diverse range of roles and occupations.
  • The importance of sharing knowledge to support hydrogen skills development, training, and safety considerations - particularly in the early phases of the industry expansion.
  • The need to maximise the benefits presented by the hydrogen industry for local communities through local approaches to hydrogen workforce development, skills and training and an emphasis on diversity.
  • The need to use data insights to continue to plan for the hydrogen industry’s workforce needs over time as industry develops and skills needs become clearer.

The Roadmap has been developed in consultation with industry, skills and training, education and regional development stakeholders from across Queensland, and sets out a range of short, medium and long-term actions to deliver a strong and adaptable workforce for a safe and thriving Queensland hydrogen industry.

Partnerships

The clean energy transformation is Queensland’s greatest jobs opportunity in a generation. Productive partnerships with industry will help build a pipeline of skilled future workers for Queensland’s hydrogen sector.

Gateway to Industry Schools Program

In partnership with Energy Skills Queensland, the Gateway to Industry Schools Program (GISP) has expanded to include a new hydrogen focussed program, which links students with local industries to explore career opportunities in the sector.

The Hydrogen GISP will be delivered in at least 30 Queensland schools, engaging more than 2000 students over three years.

CS Energy and Toowoomba Surat Basin Enterprise – Hydrogen Demonstration Plant

The Queensland Government has partnered with Toowoomba Surat Basin Enterprise (TSBE) and government owned corporation CS Energy to help prepare a job-ready workforce for the hydrogen industry’s expansion. The study, to be conducted at CS Energy’s Kogan Renewables Hydrogen Demonstration Plant, aims to determine skills and training needs for the hydrogen sector.

A dedicated Skills Officer at the demonstration plant will identify the skills, accreditation and qualifications needed for hydrogen projects, and assess how current qualifications in traditional resources industries can apply to hydrogen.

The study will also connect local suppliers with hydrogen manufacturing opportunities and support the wider supply chain to invest in upskilling and training opportunities.

Investments

The Queensland Government is investing more than $50 million in state-of-the-art hydrogen and renewal energy training facilities. This includes:

  • $20 million for Stage 2 upgrades to the industry-led Queensland Apprenticeships Centre, featuring a new Hydrogen Training Centre of Excellence at Beenleigh. The Centre was officially opened in November 2022 and features upgraded green gas training equipment, lower carbon technology upgrades and state-of-the-art training facilities to support construction trades.
  • $17 million to build the Pinkenba Renewable Energy Training Facility. The training facility was opened in October 2022 and will be used for training apprentices and qualified electricians to install, operate and manage solar and other renewable energy equipment safely.
  • $12.45 million to build a hydrogen and renewable energy training facility for training in renewable energy such as hydrogen, solar and wind at the Bohle Trade Training TAFE in Townsville. The project will be completed during 2023–24.
  • $2 million to upgrade facilities at Gladstone State High School to prepare students for jobs in the hydrogen industry.

Under the Queensland Government’s $15 million VET Emerging Industries initiative, $4 million is being invested in an Energy Strategy that includes a $1 million Hydrogen Skills Fund, a $2 million TAFE Queensland Renewable Energy Strategy, and a $1 million Electric Vehicle Skills Fund.

Last updated: 
4 August 2023