The Sunshine Coast is set to gain a world-class skills hub, with the Crisafulli Government confirming land has been secured for a $78 million TAFE Centre of Excellence in Caloundra. The facility, focused on construction and allied trades, promises to boost the region’s training capacity and support Queensland’s urgent housing and infrastructure needs.
The announcement builds on a pledge first made in September 2024, when the Crisafulli Government vowed to deliver a Centre of Excellence for Caloundra as part of its broader skills strategy. At the time, the commitment was seen as a major step towards tackling Queensland’s construction workforce challenges. Now, with land formally secured, the project is moving from promise to delivery.
The centre is one of four being delivered under the government’s $201.1 million investment, designed to reverse what it describes as a “decade of decline” in trade training under Labor.
Answering the Call for Skilled Workers
Queensland’s building industry has long warned of the widening gap between workforce capacity and demand. The Sunshine Coast, one of the country’s fastest-growing regions, has felt this pinch acutely.
Under Labor, the government argues, population growth far outstripped investment in trade facilities, leaving regions like Caloundra without the training infrastructure needed to prepare the next generation of tradespeople.
Deputy Premier and Minister for State Development, Infrastructure and Planning, Jarrod Bleijie, was clear about the significance:
“Labor spent a decade talking about growth but never delivered the infrastructure to support it. After just ten months, the Crisafulli Government has unlocked land, invested in training, and is getting on with the job of building Queensland’s future.”
The new centre is not just about classrooms and workshops. It represents an attempt to build resilience into Queensland’s economy by training a skilled workforce capable of delivering on housing, infrastructure, and even the venues required ahead of the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
From Pledge to Progress
The September 2024 announcement was framed as a vision for Queensland’s future workforce. Today’s update makes that vision tangible. By securing land in the Sunshine Coast Industrial Park, the government is turning policy into reality, signalling to industry and community that construction is imminent.
The choice of site is particularly strategic. Positioned just north of Aura, one of Australia’s largest master-planned communities, the facility will sit at the epicentre of residential and commercial growth on the Sunshine Coast.
Local member Kendall Morton described the project as transformative for the region:
“This is a win for Caloundra. We’re delivering a world-class training facility that will give young locals the skills they need to build successful careers, right here at home. Small businesses across Caloundra are crying out for skilled workers. This project is about delivering for our local economy, supporting employers, and making sure we have the workforce to keep building our community.”
What the Centre Will Offer
The multi-level facility will include advanced training spaces for carpentry, plumbing, electrical, and other high-demand trades. It will feature flexible classrooms, simulated worksites, and cutting-edge workshops designed to replicate real-world building conditions.
From 2028, the centre is expected to train thousands of new apprentices annually. These tradespeople will flow into an economy where the demand for housing, infrastructure, and energy-efficient construction techniques is only growing.
Minister for Finance, Trade, Employment and Training, Ros Bates, said the investment was a critical election commitment:
“The Caloundra TAFE Centre of Excellence will train thousands of new tradies from 2028, helping deliver more homes, more infrastructure, and preparing Queensland for the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games. We’re reversing a decade of neglect, and we are delivering the training facilities Queensland needs to build the homes, roads and venues of tomorrow.”
Industry and Political Context
The framing of this project is as much political as it is practical. For the Crisafulli Government, securing land just ten months into office underscores its message of delivery compared with Labor’s record.
But the stakes go beyond politics. Workforce shortages remain one of the biggest barriers to meeting national housing targets and keeping construction costs under control. By embedding trade training hubs in regions like the Sunshine Coast, the government hopes to not only grow numbers but also retain local talent, reducing reliance on interstate or fly-in, fly-out labour.
Industry response has been largely positive. Builders and small employers have consistently highlighted the difficulty of finding apprentices, and many see the Caloundra centre as a long overdue solution that could ease pressure on project delivery and business sustainability.
Looking Ahead
Queensland’s construction sector is gearing up for a defining decade. With the Olympics on the horizon, population growth surging, and housing affordability under pressure, the need for skilled labour has never been greater.
The Caloundra TAFE Centre of Excellence, first promised in 2024, and now progressing with land secured, symbolises the government’s commitment to addressing that challenge head-on.
For Caloundra, it is more than just bricks and mortar. It is about creating opportunities for young people, supporting small businesses, and embedding the trades at the heart of community growth.
And for Queensland, it is about ensuring that the workforce matches the state’s ambition to keep building.
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