Member for Cook Cynthia Lui and Minister for Training and Skills Development Lance McCallum inspect plans for the proposed Thursday Island Health Hub. Photo: Supplied.
Hundreds of Torres Strait Islanders looking to get their foot in the healthcare industry door will soon have access to a state-of-the-art learning facility right at home.
Construction of TAFE Queensland’s Health Hub on Thursday Island has commenced, and is scheduled to be completed by mid-2025.
Once completed, the $3.5 million upgrade is expected to support more than 350 students by 2026-27 to receive free TAFE qualifications in health.
Member for Cook Cynthia Lui said the project was “fantastic news”, adding it would support long-term sustainable jobs in the region.
“Health is one of our huge economic drivers in the region, and this new training facility will enable more people in our region [to] get the skills they need, especially with issues around the ageing workforce,” she said.
“This is going to address unemployment by providing employment opportunities for the future and give locals opportunities to get a foot in the door to gain qualifications that enable them to walk into jobs.”
The upgraded facility will simulate hospital facilities, with an operational three-to-five bed flexible clinical ward with connected training bathrooms, a flexible medication room, and a general learning area for classroom learning.
Minister for Health, Mental Health and Ambulance Services Shannon Fentiman described the project as a “game-changer” for locals wishing to learn in their own backyard.
“Providing lifelike training facilities will be a game-changer for students, allowing them to gain valuable skills to assist them to find a job,” she said.
The hub will be constructed by H.C Building and Construction, which operates from offices in Cairns, Seisia and Pormpuraaw.
Architectural plans of the new TAFE Health Hub, which is scheduled to be completed by mid-2025. Photo: Supplied.
