Department of Trade, Employment and Training

Queensland Budget 2025-26 · Crisafulli Government

Minister
Ros Bates MP
Department head
Director-General Peter McKay

As at budget day (2025-06-10)

$1.600 billion
Total expenses
$79.0 million
Capital program
$45M
2 tracked measures
546
FTE staff

Key service areas

TAFE QueenslandVocational education and trainingTrade and investment attractionEmployment programs

Budget initiatives

TAFE Centres of Excellence$201.1M totalNewCapitalAnnounced

New TAFE Centres of Excellence including Caloundra (construction trades, $78M), Moreton Bay at Petrie Mill (advanced manufacturing, $60M), and Rockhampton ($61.1M).

State-of-the-art TAFE facilities in Rockhampton ($61.1 million), Moreton Bay ($60 million), Caloundra ($78 million) and Southern Moreton Bay Islands. The $201.1 million program establishes four new TAFE Centres of Excellence in construction, health, maritime and other in-demand trades.

Capital and operating, total across 3 centres ($78M Caloundra + $60M Moreton Bay + $61.1M Rockhampton)

Apprentice and Trainee Training (including Free Apprenticeships)$45MExpandedAnnounced

Critical skills training for apprentices and trainees including extension of the Free Apprenticeships for Under 25s Program for a further 2 years.

Free TAFE training continues for apprentices under 25, making it cheaper for young Queenslanders to enter a trade. This removes the tuition cost barrier for apprenticeships and traineeships in skills-shortage occupations.

2025-26: $45.0M2026-27: $5.0M

General Government operating, total over 2 years from 2025-26. Includes $10M for Free Apprenticeships extension.

Forward estimates

Year-by-year allocations for 1 measure with published forward profiles.

Measure2025-262026-27Total
Apprentice and Trainee Training (including Free Apprenticeships)$45.0M$5.0M$50.0M
Total$45.0M$5.0M$50.0M

Performance metrics

Service standards from the Service Delivery Statement. Targets and actuals as published.

MetricPrior targetActualTarget
2024-252024-252025-26
Level of overall stakeholder satisfaction with trade, international education and strategic investment services≥80%87%≥80%
Cost per hour of trade, international education and strategic investment services$124$125$127
Proportion of all attempted qualifications completed by students in VET60%60%60%
Proportion of VET graduates who are employed or enrolled in further study after training85%86%85%
Proportion of employers who are satisfied with the training provided by the VET system80%77%80%
Government-subsidised VET program completions57,00055,80057,000
Government funding per competency completion in government-subsidised VET$1,590$1,670$1,590
Proportion of government-subsidised VET students who are satisfied with their overall training88%87%88%

Source: Service Delivery Statement. Prior target and actual are for 2024-25; target is for 2025-26.

Source document

Service Delivery Statement — Department of Trade, Employment and Training (PDF)

Last updated: 2026-05-26. Factual information from published budget documents.