Australia: Energy Industry Skills Program Expands with APLNG Support

Energy Skills Queensland’s highly successful Gladstone Workforce Skilling Strategy will expand to include the Bundaberg and Rockhampton regions this year, with support from a $300,000 three year partnership with Australia Pacific LNG’s downstream operator, ConocoPhillips.

The Queensland Workforce Skilling Strategy is funded by industry, including Australia Pacific LNG, the Australian Government’s Department of Education, Training and Employment and Workplace Relations and the Queensland Government’s Department of Education, Training and Employment.

The Strategy’s approach to training connects job seekers with regional employment opportunities for the CSG to LNG industry as well as in other industries and businesses.

The Queensland Workforce Skilling Strategy aims to assist the CSG to LNG Industry to meet workforce skills needs, while addressing broader community requirements to provide local and regional employment opportunities.

ConocoPhillips’ Downstream Project Manager, David Lundeen, said the Queensland Workforce Skilling Strategy would help ensure the project had access to a wider pool of local people with relevant industry skills.

“Our project is expected to create in total around 6000 jobs during the construction phase and about 1000 permanent positions when it is operating, so we’re keen to support regional training initiatives which can help fill those positions,” Mr Lundeen said.

Energy Skills Queensland Chief Executive Officer, Glenn Porter, said the support from Australia Pacific LNG was essential for delivering regional skills strategies to meet demand for skilled and non-skilled workers.

“The Australia Pacific LNG project is one of several major energy and resource industry developments which are creating unprecedented demand and opportunity in regional Queensland,” Mr Porter said.

“The Queensland Workforce Skilling Strategy’s expanded reach from the Gladstone region to include Bundaberg and Rockhampton will allow Energy Skills Queensland to tap into a much broader base of potential employees and provide new skills and a new start to many more people.”

Minister for Education, Training and Employment John-Paul Langbroek said the expansion of the Queensland Workforce Skilling Strategy would open up more opportunities for communities and benefits for the state. 2

“The Newman Government recognises the intrinsic value of energy industry projects on Queensland’s economy and the need for new ideas to ensure Queensland’s energy industry has a quality, skilled workforce,” Mr Langbroek said.

“I congratulate and commend Energy Skills Queensland, Australia Pacific LNG and the local communities for having the foresight to lead by example, investing more in training to ensure their own business success.”

The Queensland Workforce Skilling Strategy expands on the success achieved by Energy Skills Queensland’s Gladstone Workforce Skilling Strategy and CSG Drilling Skills Program. These projects combined have achieved an 83% employment outcome over the past 18 months.

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LNG World News Staff, September 11, 2012; Image: APLNG