Queensland Member Regional Update | November 2024 New

Date: 03-Feb-2025

Welcome to the latest Queensland Member Regional Update, where you’ll find the latest updates, events, and insights shaping the irrigation industry across Queensland. The aim of each edition is to provide you with valuable regional news and the opportunity to stay connected with our vibrant community.

In this edition

Queensland Committee Updates

New Members

Irrigation Australia Updates and Requests for Feedback

Industry and Government News

Upcoming Events

Training and Certification Opportunities

The Queensland Committee has met 3 times since reconvening including 22 May, at the Sydney Conference on 4 September and 17 October. Its membership includes:

Brian Cruse - Chair
Stephen Attard - Vice Chair
Clinton Hort
Jagtar Singh
Udi David Stern
Brian Walters
Philip Szabo
Terry Carty
Natalie Morris
Hamed Ebrahimian
Michael Bevege

Supported by National Membership Manager - Rebecca New and CEO - Dave Cameron. This includes 3 new members since our last communication. It’s activities to date have included:

Planning for a casual Christmas event – please check out the event page if you think you can join us.
Providing review and support for Irrigation Australia’s applications to the Queensland Government for increased funding for our industry as detailed below.
Member engagement and retention, focusing on building strong connections across the region. This includes collaborating with industry leaders to add value for all members.

Welcome to our newest members who have joined Irrigation Australia over the past six months! We're excited to have you as part of our community and look forward to working together to advance water management and irrigation excellence across Australia.

The Irrigation Hub
Texas Pumping & Irrigation Supplies
Canegrowers Burdekin Ltd
Property Water Solutions
Ben. B
Neil. G
Daniel. M
Sergio. I
Mani. M
Mark. P
Bhargava. R

The Association has been busy in working on proposals to the Queensland Department of Employment, Small Business and Training for improved funding, supported in some instances by Rod Morris, the Industry Skills Adviser to the department based with the QFF. These include:

Renewal of our Skills Assured Supplier status due early November – the mechanism needed to be able to deliver funded traineeships to Queensland students;
An application to the Queensland Training Ombudsman to increase the subsidy level for the Certificate III in Irrigation Technology to make it more in line with other states, making training more affordable for employers (following notification of a pricing review being conducted now);
Lodgement of a business case to request Higher Level Skills funding support for the Certificate IV in Irrigation Management, along with three skill sets – Irrigation Efficiency, Irrigation Installer (linked to CII) and Meter Validator and Installer (linked to CMI), again making more affordable for employers;
Lodgement of a micro-credentials funding application targeted at a facilitated online short course for new entrants to the industry. More to come if successful but the course would be approximately 8 hours delivery, at about $100 per student with the rest funded by government. Check out our free online induction course in the meantime.

Overall, we are prioritising our work on expanding support for industry careers to make as tangible as possible a difference to skills shortages. We will aim to hold a webinar early next year to explain these approaches, once we’ve had a chance to consult across all regional committees.

We are working with the Department of Local Government, Water and Volunteers on improvements in training to support the regulated skill sets around metering. The department provided a letter of support for the funding request mentioned above and is aiming to commission a new portal for DQPs soon – currently at the user testing stage.

We are also planning on embarking soon on a review of licensing requirements in Queensland, having heard a number of mentions of new activity at the QBCC – very keen to hear from those with first-hand experience of this. Please reach out directly to dave.cameron@irrigation.org.au.

MacLean-Iedema Award Winners Give Back to TIACS

Following their recent win, both Maclean-Iedema award recipients, Ben Chapman and Chris Thompson have donated a sizeable proportion of their prize money to TIACS, a free mental health counselling service that provides critical support to blue-collar workers.

Their decision not only exemplifies the community spirit that defines our industry but also highlights the importance of mental health support. At the core of our industry lies the hard work and dedication of countless individuals, and it is essential that we continue to champion their mental well-being.

We extend our deepest appreciation to Ben and Chris for their generosity and their dedication to a cause that resonates with so many.

The Queensland Skills Strategy

The Queensland Skills Strategy is Queensland’s five-year plan to further strengthen the state’s training system to deliver skills needed to power our economy and provide access to good jobs with better pay for Queenslanders.

The recently released Strategy is also Queensland’s roadmap to deliver on the National Skills Agreement, unlocking billions of dollars in areas of national priority, and is a key action under the Good people. Good jobs: Queensland Workforce Strategy 2022–2032. It feeds directly into the Training Priorities Plan.

DESBT Training Priorities Plan 2024-2025

The Department of Employment, Small Business and Training (DESBT) Annual Training Priorities Plans (TPPs) are being introduced through the Queensland Skills Strategy to outline how the Queensland Government is supporting skills development across the state.

This annual approach ensures government’s significant investment in skills, which reached $1.5 billion in the 2024-25 State Budget, remains responsive to skills needs while realising the long-term vision of the five-year skills strategy and the National Skills Agreement.

Each financial year, plans will map out Queensland’s skilling priorities and how they inform investment decisions including subsidised training, as well as industry, community and place-based programs and initiatives.

The 2024-25 plan leads the way, recognising that social and economic imperatives are two sides of the same coin – changing lives and skilling workforces at the same time.

This first plan, released on 30 September 2024, outlines priority settings that inform what courses are funded and who is eligible, with data, analysis and industry advice used to target investment in skills that deliver good job outcomes.

Download the 2024-25 Training Priorities Plan here.

Queensland Farmers Federation Supervisors Short Course

The Supervisors Short Course is nationally accredited training designed to give supervisors within the industry the knowledge and skills needed to supervise other people.

The short course will equip participants with professional mentoring, coaching and supervisory capabilities to support workplace development and optimal performance of their staff and/or trainees.

The course is being delivered across 3 - 4 weeks of online study and assessment, with two, seven-hour face-to-face workshops, and two, one and a half hour online workshops. QFF and UQ Skills funded students will pay $0.00 in program fees.

Locations in the program so far include:

Download the fact sheet here. For more information please contact UQ Skills at 07 5460 1353 or email uqskills@uq.edu.au.

Queensland Government New Cabinet and Directors General

The newly elected Queensland government announced its new cabinet and departments, with a number of changes to Directors General.

Of likely interest to Irrigation Australia members:

Ann Leahy MP takes over the new portfolio of Local Government and Water, Fire, Disaster Recovery and Volunteers, and Linda Dobe heads the Department of Local Government, Water and Volunteers.
Dale Last MP is the new Minister for Natural Resources and Mines, Manufacturing and Regional and Rural Development and Graham Fraine is the Director General for the department of the same name.

Both continuing Directors General listed are experienced in water matters having led the former Department of Regional Development, Manufacturing and Water.

It is likely that a document will be released in the next couple of weeks detailing further changes including which existing legislation will fall under the remit of the new agencies.

Queensland Christmas Member Event

Irrigation Australia is inviting Queensland members to join us for an end-of-year Christmas event at BrewDog Murarrie on Friday the 6th of December, starting at 2:00 PM. This is a great opportunity to meet the Irrigation Australia team and connect with the newly revitalised members of the Queensland Regional Committee.

We look forward to celebrating the end of the year with you. Don't miss this chance to relax, connect, and share some holiday cheer. Register here.

Final Block for Certificate III in Irrigation Technology - November 2023 Intake

A few weeks ago, we wrapped up the final week of training for our Queensland Certificate III in Irrigation Technology (AHC32422), November 2023 intake. This final week covered essential skills and practical applications to prepare our students for real-world challenges in the irrigation field.

A special thank you to Grundfos Pumps for their support in giving us hands-on access to their advanced pumps area, allowing our students to deepen their understanding of irrigation pump installation and operation. We’d also like to acknowledge Vindex for their generous provision of materials for our electrofusion and butt welding sessions. Their support ensured our participants could develop practical skills with top-quality resources.

Upcoming Training Opportunities

Ready to enhance your skills or work towards obtaining a certification? Here’s what’s coming up in Queensland in the first six months of 2025:

Your committee is keen to understand training priorities for your staff and how Irrigation Australia can help. If the timing isn’t right for you but you are interested in a particular course, please contact training@irrigation.org.au.

Click here to view upcoming Training Courses.Click here to view the latest Career Opportunities available within the Irrigation Industry.

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