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JULY 2025
CAIRNS Regional Jobs Committee
RJC's work with industry to identify workforce challenges and skills shortages and plan for our future workforce.
From the Chair
Jodie Duignan-George
The State budget has been handed down and with that, we are thrilled to announce a 2-year extension of the Cairns Regional Jobs Committee. The State Government has pledged:
Apprenticeship Support: · $19 million to support small and family businesses to take on apprentices by covering 50% of apprentice wages for first and second-year apprentices, and 25% of wages for third and fourth-year apprentices during training block periods of four weeks, twice a year.
Free Apprenticeships: · $10 million over 2 years to extend the delivery of the Free Apprentices for under 25s initiative, removing tuition fees for employers.
Training Investment: · $40 million to increase training opportunities for apprentices and trainees to meet growing workforce demand in critical sectors such as housing, healthcare and construction.
Payroll Tax Exemption: Wages paid to apprentices are exempt from payroll tax, reducing the overall cost of employing an apprentice.
Snapshot
The latest insights from the Labour Market Dashboard for the Cairns region (26 June)
Employment Growth: Cairns's employment rose by 2.3% over the year to 148,700 people.
Unemployment Rate: Now at 4.1%, slightly down from 4.4% in May 2024.
Youth Unemployment: A concern at 9.7%, well above the state (6.1%) and national (5.6%) averages.
Top Employing Industries: Health Care & Social Assistance II Education & Training Accommodation & Food Services II Construction II Public Administration & Safety
In-Demand Roles: Electricians, Truck Drivers, Sales Assistants, and Registered Nurses.
For more details, visit Jobs and Skills Australia.
Upcoming Events
Why Mental Health Matters to Your Business
Employee mental health plays a vital role in workplace productivity, culture, and retention. This upcoming workshop, delivered by The Therapists Cairns, will equip business leaders with practical strategies to support staff wellbeing, reduce burnout, and meet legal obligations under the Work Health and Safety Act. Topics include setting boundaries, addressing inappropriate behaviour, and identifying early signs of stress. Join us for this valuable session and learn how to foster a resilient, inclusive, and high-performing workplace.
When: Friday 25 July 2025, 9.00am–12.00pm
Where: Cairns Regional Council, Civic Reception Room
Cost: $35pp Members | $45 Non-Members (includes barista coffee & morning tea)
What: Cairns Chamber of Commerce July Business Luncheon - Cairns Economic Outlook
Guest Speaker: Pete Faulkner, Partner & Economist, Conus Business Consultancy Services
When: Tuesday 29 July 2025
Time: 11.30am - 2.00pm
Where: Hilton Cairns, Ballroom
Cost: $69 Members | $89 Non-Members | $552 Table of 8
Inclusions: Welcome Drink on Arrival, Alternate Drop Main Course, Freshly Brewed Tea & Coffee
2025 Queensland Training Awards Ceremony
The 2025 Queensland Training Awards (QTA) Tropical North Queensland Regional Final Awards Ceremony promises to be a night of celebration, honouring the region’s top training talent.
Hosted by local radio producer Juanita Soper, this special event will shine a spotlight on outstanding individuals and organisations across 11 award categories. It’s an opportunity to acknowledge and celebrate the remarkable achievements of Tropical North Queensland’s regional finalists.
Event Details:
Date: Friday, 25 July 2025
Time: 6:00pm – 11:00pm
Venue: Cairns Convention Centre
Tickets: $99
Guests can look forward to an evening of glamour, live entertainment, and a three-course dinner, as the region comes together to celebrate excellence in training and announce the 2025 award winners.
Certificate III and Certificate IV in Airborne Operations qualifications have been updated to enable workforce development and career pathways for air crew personnel working in a broad range of industries including aviation, emergency services, border protection and defence.
The revised qualifications will enable more airborne crew, within both rotary and fixed wing operational environments, to access nationally accredited training. This will enhance workforce mobility across different industry sectors.
This webinar will take place on Tuesday 29 July, 1.00pm – 2.00pm AEDT.
Registrations close, Monday 28 July 2025, 5.00pm AEDT.
The Certificate II in Transport Security Protection has been updated to support improved training outcomes and mobility for security screening officers across aviation, maritime, and air cargo sectors.
The structure of the updated qualification will streamline and enhance delivery of the qualification, leading to increased efficiency and lower training costs for employers.
This webinar will take place on Thursday 31 July, 1.00pm – 2.00pm AEDT.
Registrations close, Wednesday 30 July 2025, 5.00pm AEDT.
Learn more about Industry Skills Australia
Disability Friendly Business Basics micro-credentials
Did you know that 1 in 5 Queenslanders have a disability and rely on mainstream services for services and supports? Don’t let simple barriers turn customers away. Whether it’s a step at the door, an inaccessible website, or unclear information, potential customers facing accessibility challenges often move on to a competitor without even saying a word.
This suite of free online Disability Friendly Business Basics micro-credentials is designed specifically for sole traders and small-to-medium businesses like yours and will give you and your team the confidence and knowledge to:
- Enhance customer engagement with people with disability.
- Strengthen your service delivery for all customers.
- Build your reputation as an accessible and inclusive business in the community.
- Complement your existing workplace policies and procedures.
How it Works:
This flexible, self-paced online training allows you to learn when it suits you best.
- Complete any one micro-credential to receive a Certificate of Completion.
- Work your way through all three micro-credentials to earn your official Disability Friendly Business Basics digital-badge and a confirmation status you can proudly showcase in your business.
How accessible is your business for people with disability?
Download this checklist and find out.
If you're in retail, hospitality, health, or any customer-facing industry, this course will help your business grow by making everyone feel welcome.
📢 Registrations are now open!
This program is proudly funded and supported by the Queensland Government.
Investing in Skills & Training for the future
The Queensland Government is investing $1.6 billion to train, upskill and reskill more Queenslanders—building stronger workforces across key industries like construction, health, and energy. Key initiatives include:
$40 million boost to train the tradies of tomorrow.
$10 million over two years to continue the Free Apprenticeships for Under 25s program, removing training fees for employers.
$50 million to support national skills priorities—growing the training workforce, strengthening TAFE Queensland, and closing the skills gap for First Nations communities.
$201.1 million over four years for new TAFE Centres of Excellence in Caloundra, Moreton Bay, Rockhampton, and Southern Moreton Bay Islands.
$120 million to help Queenslanders into work, including:
$93 million for the Skilling Queenslanders for Work initiative
$20 million for the Back to Work program
Continued funding for Regional Jobs Committees to address skills shortages in regional and high-demand industries.
$19 million for the Small and Family Business Construction Apprentice Wage Subsidy Pilot, aimed at increasing apprenticeship commencements and completions in the construction sector.
🔗 Learn more at the Queensland Budget 2025–26 website.
Bus Service launch
There are currently two bus services:
🚌 Portsmith Workers Bus (Weekdays Only)
Departs Wugu Nyambil (Noble St) at 5:45am
Arrives at Tropical Reef Shipyard/Norship (Cook & Tingira Streets) by 6:45–6:50am
🚌 Edmonton & Mt Sheridan Service (Mon, Wed, Fri)
Departs Wugu Nyambil at 9:00am
Arrives Mount Sheridan Plaza (via Cattle St – Old Bruce Hwy) at 9:50am
Return trip leaves at 1:30pm, arriving back in Yarrabah by 2:20pm
🎟️ Fare: Just 50c each way ($1 return)
June kicked off with a major milestone—the launch of the Kinetic Yarrabah Community Bus Pilot, proudly funded by the Federal Government.
Credit to those who worked collaboratively to realise this, Wugu Nyambil, Tropical Reef Shipyard, Kinetic, Yarrabah Aboriginal Shire Council, and the Cairns Chamber of Commerce and Workforce Australia.
The Portsmith “workers only” route is gaining traction, but more entry-level jobs in the marine precinct are needed to ensure the service continues beyond the six-month pilot.
Early reports show both services are being well used—great news for local access and workforce mobility!
Building the Workforce: Construction, Skills & Labour
The Cairns RJC was proudly represented at the recent UDIA Queensland Building the Workforce event by our construction member, Sarah Menniti (CSQ).
Together with Robert Sobyra (Build Skills Australia), Sarah spoke of the challenges and opportunities ahead for the construction workforce and explored a range of key industry issues, including apprentice numbers, regional labour shortages, workforce requirements, project pipelines, approval processes, and the rising costs impacting the building and construction sector. She also shared valuable insights on the current construction pathways and efforts to attract more people into the industry.
A clear message emerged from the event: to meet ambitious housing and infrastructure targets, we must increase participation across all entry points into the industry and improve productivity.
Cairns continues to lead the way with initiatives supporting employers who take on trainees and programs that encourage students to pursue construction careers.
Ready for the Future
Invest in the future
Work experience isn’t just a box to tick — it’s a smart recruitment strategy. If we’re serious about securing the future of our professions and industries, we must actively support and inspire the next generation of workers.
Offering work experience placements can bring real, measurable value to your business. It provides young people with a vital link between classroom learning and real-world practice, while giving you the chance to play a meaningful role in their career journeys. These hands-on opportunities help students build confidence, independence, and workplace maturity — all while showcasing your business as a leader in community engagement and workforce development!
It’s also a valuable way to start building your talent pipeline. A successful placement can open the door to school-based apprenticeships or traineeships, offering your business a direct line to enthusiastic, emerging talent.
To help businesses get the most out of this opportunity, the Cairns RJC has collaborated with educators, employers, government and industry leaders to produce two new guides:
Work Experience for Businesses
School-based Apprenticeships & Traineeships
If you’re interested in attending the launch of these resources, we’d love to hear from you. Please email rjc@cairnschamber.com.au to register your interest.
Let’s work together to shape the workforce of tomorrow.
Q & A with Larissa Bittencourt – Project Manager, PMO
Can you share a bit about your cultural background and heritage?
I was born in Brazil, in the northeast region of the Country, in Salvador, which is the capital city of the State of Bahia. Salvador has one of the most famous Carnival's in Brazil (and is entirely different from Rio de Janeiro's Carnaval). I grew up in Aracaju, also in the northeast region, where the weather is very similar to Cairns, making it easier for me to acclimate and feel at home in Cairns. I have never searched for information about it, but I might have some different European heritages due to my Brazilian surnames.
What’s a fun fact or something interesting about your culture that most people might not know?
We speak Portuguese (not Spanish 😊), as we were colonised by the Portuguese. Brazil has six climate types, not only tropical and many people think. The Brazilian culture is immensely rich (music, dance, food, art, etc.), which started from our Indigenous People who owned the land and being mixed and enriched for more than 500 years by the Africans (who sadly were brought as slavers), Europeans, Asians, Lebanese, etc. The largest Japanese and Lebanese communities outside their countries are in Brazil.
A famous food that you love to share with others
It's super hard to pick one, but Brigadeiro is a sweet treat that is always served at all kid's parties and most other celebrations. It is super easy to make, and it's mouth-watering.
What challenges have you faced as someone from a CALD background, and how did you overcome them?
At first, I could not find a job at the same level as my previous professional experience. To overcome it, I had to step back professionally and start from the lower level in the PMO structure to get local experience and make my way up. Since I moved to Australia when I was already 36 years old, I have had no local references from a young age, and I will always have a thick accent. As much as I feel I’m Australian at heart, I will always gravitate between my background experiences/references and my Australian life. I believe this should be one of the reasons why it’s hard to make close Aussie friends.
What can others do to better understand and celebrate different cultures in the workplace?
Be genuinely curious and ask questions about our colleagues' different cultures, being mindful not to start with common stereotypes in mind.
If you could share one message with your colleagues about cultural harmony, what would it be?
We are much more alike than most of us could think. Be open to learning and celebrating the diversity that makes us more complete as a community.
Good to know!
The Tablelands University Centre (TUC) has launched a free local job site at tuc.edu.au/jobs, helping businesses in the Tablelands and Mareeba regions connect with local talent, including TUC students. Designed to reduce recruitment costs, the platform offers free job listings, targets local candidates—especially important given limited housing for newcomers—and provides increased visibility to a wide range of potential applicants. Posting is simple, making it easier than ever for businesses to find skilled local professionals.
Grants, Tenders & Support
Would you like to submit an article or good news story to feature in the next edition? Get in touch by emailing rjc@cairnschamber.com.au
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