Introduction
Paving the Way – the First Nations Training Strategy is the Queensland Government’s plan to support
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples’ skills development and respond to local and community
employment needs.
The $8.3 million strategy is a key commitment under the $200 million Future Skills Fund, which is focused on building the skills needed for future jobs and ensuring every Queenslander has the opportunity to participate.
Paving the Way is also supporting the Good people. Good jobs: Queensland Workforce Strategy 2022-32
to ensure Queensland has trained people to strengthen our communities and keep Queensland at the forefront of new economic opportunities.
Paving the Way includes actions and initiatives to help drive job opportunities across three focus areas:
- Focus area one: Indigenous-led training and workforce solutions
- Focus area two: skills and training pathways that meet local workforce needs
- Focus area three: cultural awareness and competency.
The Indigenous Workforce and Skills Development Grant program is a key action under focus area one.
Up to $4 million will be available under the program until 30 June 2024 to fund Indigenous designed and led projects that support or respond to local training and workforce needs.
The Indigenous Workforce and Skills Development Grant program is administered by the Department of Youth Justice, Employment, Small Business and Training (DYJESBT).
Overview and objectives
The Indigenous Workforce and Skills Development Grant program recognises that skills and training for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples will be more successful when solutions are designed and developed locally and supported by the community.
The program aims to create training and employment pathways for up to 800 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to increase their likelihood of greater economic and social participation.
