What it’s all about?
With workforce availability, productivity and skills critical to the region’s future, this event will bring together business, providers, and regional stakeholders to align workforce needs with available programs and resources and identify priorities for future planning.
The event will showcase existing resources, share workforce intelligence, identify gaps and opportunities, and explore practical ways to strengthen regional collaboration.
This event aims to create:
- Shared understanding of regional workforce challenges, skills gaps, employer needs and emerging opportunities.
- Clearer pathways and connections between employers, education and training providers, job seekers and existing workforce resources.
- Agreed priorities for collaboration, including testing interest in establishing a Regional Recruitment, Training & Skills Working Group.
- Direction for the 2027 Jobs Fair & Careers Expo, including opportunities to broaden its focus and better connect people with local jobs and career pathways.
- Potential projects identified for further development and funding opportunities.
Who should attend?
- Regional employers
- Education and training providers
- Primary and secondary schools
- Employment service providers
- Council, government agencies and departments
- Chambers and industry organisations
- Other organisations working in skills, careers, and workforce development
How will it work?
The agenda for the day:
1. Welcome & Regional Workforce Context
Welcome from TAFE Queensland and the Whitsundays Chamber of Commerce & Industry, including key findings from the Vision for the Whitsundays project and insights on current and future workforce challenges and opportunities.
2. Who’s in the Room? Organisational Showcase
A short showcase of current initiatives, services and resources available to support employers, job seekers and workforce development.
3. What Are We Seeing? | Regional Workforce Intelligence
Group discussion points:
- What workforce challenges are businesses experiencing?
- Which skills and roles are hardest to fill?
- Where are the gaps between education, training and industry needs?
- What opportunities are we missing?
- How can we better connect people with local career pathways?
- How can we strengthen regional workforce pipelines and increase workforce participation, including among mature-age workers and experienced people considering their next career chapter?
4. Where to From Here? | Collaboration & Next Steps
- Regional Recruitment, Training & Skills Working Group? Test interest in a Chamber-coordinated group to share workforce intelligence, map regional resources, identify priorities, strengthen industry-provider connections and develop collaborative projects and funding opportunities.
- 2027 Jobs Fair & Careers Expo? Explore a broader careers and workforce expo showcasing jobs, career pathways, education, training and pre-employment support.
- Next Steps? Identify interested participants, immediate collaboration opportunities, and priorities for action.
5. Close & Networking
Final reflections, key takeaways, and informal networking to continue conversations and build connections between participating organisations.
Event Details
What: Whitsunday Workforce Exchange
When: 9am-11am Thursday 12 November
Where: TAFE Queensland Whitsunday Campus, Cannonvale
Registration: FREE
Includes morning tea.