The Queensland Government has released new training and skills plan which it says will see significant investment directed towards essential courses and qualifications.

State Minister for Education and Training, John-Paul Langbroek, said the Great Skills. Real Opportunities initiative was a five year plan aimed at revitalising Queensland’s Vocational Education and Training (VET) sector.

“The Newman Government is dedicated to the economic and social prosperity of Queensland,” Mr Langbroek said.

“If we are to continue growing a strong, four pillar economy, Queensland must look at ways of boosting productivity and increasing participation in the workforce.”

Mr Langbroek said a key component of the plan was that skills investment would be fully contestable in 2014 and directed towards courses and qualifications needed by industry.

“We want Queensland’s students and employers to have greater choice and access to quality training,” he said.

“By creating a contestable training market we will build the Sector’s overall capacity and lift quality by encouraging innovation in service delivery, course content and training outcomes.”

Mr Langbroek said a Ministerial Industry Commission chaired by Assistant Minister for Technical and Further Education, Saxon Rice would also be established.

Mr Langbroek said some of the reforms outlined in the plan were already in motion.

“The TAFE Queensland Bill was passed on 23 May 2013 to establish TAFE Queensland as an independent statutory body, a change that will come into effect from 1 July 2013,” he said.

“This will make our public provider more commercially competitive and better able to respond to the changing needs of students and industry.”

Mr Langbroek said the government had also released the first pool of contestable funding to deliver the Certificate 3 Guarantee that gives Queenslanders access to a government subsidised training place up to and including their first certificate III level qualification in priority training areas.