Education and training High quality education is the cornerstone for preparing Queenslanders to participate successfully in society. Across the state, education infrastructure supports the delivery of early childhood programs, primary and secondary schooling, and vocational training to more than half a million students. Queensland continues to experience increased demand for education services in line with population growth. These have included the number of children participating in kindergarten, increases in Year 12 completion, compulsory Prep enrolment, as well as increases in special school enrolments and the number of students accessing special education programs and services. In response to this service demand, the state has continued to invest in education infrastructure across urban, rural and remote school and training locations. Some of the more significant education capital projects in recent years have included provision of infrastructure for the move of Year 7 students into secondary school, addressing maintenance needs through the School <strong>Infrastructure</strong> Enhancement program, investment in new schools in Mackay, Toowoomba, Pimpama and Burpengary, the announcement of a new special school in Cairns and a new primary school in Townsville, as well as a range of renewal projects in other regional centres. The future provision of education will be impacted by many challenges that are expected to place additional pressures on early childhood, school and training infrastructure. These challenges include population growth, delivering on the priorities of the Advancing Education Action <strong>Plan</strong>, Closing the Gap and NAPLAN, as well as national curriculum requirements. To address these, we will need assets that are high quality, flexible and future focused. This will entail ongoing investment as many of Queensland’s education assets are ageing, affecting overall quality and suitability to respond to the future of education. We will need to be judicious in our planning methods, prioritising investment according to highest need as well as adopting innovative Integrated learning, Mackay (image courtesy Central Queensland University) solutions that accommodate our growing need for education infrastructure. Some of these innovative models may include public private partnerships, community partnerships, co-investment and colocation opportunities. In addition, innovative asset management arrangements for TAFE Queensland will ensure priority access to state-owned training assets, to support the delivery of quality training that boosts the skills of Queensland’s workforce. The government will continue to support the provision of early childhood education and care services and training facilities, with delivery predominantly undertaken by the private and not-for-profit sectors. The Queensland Government has recently expanded and strengthened the Building and Construction Training Policy to maximise apprenticeship and traineeship opportunities, and increased economic benefits for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. The policy represents a partnership between the building and construction industry and the Queensland Government to develop the industry’s skills base and future workforce capability on government building and civil construction projects. The future of investment in education infrastructure will not only include built assets, but will also embrace innovative, alternate models that are cost effective, provide maximum benefit and appropriately support the educational needs of the Queensland community. EDUCATION AND TRAINING RESPONSES The Queensland Government has developed responses to address identified challenges and guide investment across both the 1–4 year program and future opportunities. Most projects or opportunities relate to at least one response, however some will relate to more than one response. As the SIP matures, the relationship between responses and these programs will strengthen. Create knowledge precincts on the sites we control by co-locating education with industry and local communities. Provide fit-forpurpose and future focused infrastructure that maximises educational outcomes. Support infrastructure that maximises export earnings from education. Increase the use of digital service delivery to delay the need for new infrastructure. Adopt a ‘renew before new’ approach to infrastructure to meet the demand for education. Protect Queensland’s education heritage. 76 <strong>State</strong> <strong>Infrastructure</strong> <strong>Plan</strong> Part B: Program
Education and training 90 combined schools 170 early childhood 916 primary schools 183 secondary schools 42 special schools 1234 state schools in Queensland 3 academies Over the next 15 years, state school enrolments will increase by around 30% 682,000 $608M will be invested in education, training, early childhood education, and pre-prep learning facilities during 2015–16 An additional 60 to 70 new schools may be required over the next 10 to 20 years 525,000 40 training facilities <strong>State</strong> <strong>Infrastructure</strong> <strong>Plan</strong> Part B: Program 77
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