Strengthening Queensland’s Workforce for the Next Era of Development
The Australian Well Control Centre (AWCC) was proud to attend the Queensland Major Contractors Association (QMCA) Annual Update Breakfast in Toowoomba, where more than 250 industry leaders, government representatives and regional partners gathered to hear CEO Andrew Chapman outline Queensland’s major projects outlook for the coming decade.
For AWCC, the event reinforced what we see every day across our training centres in Toowoomba and Brisbane: Queensland is entering an era of unprecedented infrastructure, construction, and resource development — and delivering this growth will depend on a strong, highly skilled, safety-focused workforce.
Chapman presented data showing Queensland’s major engineering construction pipeline now exceeds $103.9 billion over the next five years, with almost $71 billion of that forecast for delivery between 2025/26 and 2027/28 alone. The scale of this pipeline will require the state’s combined construction and project delivery workforce to grow from around 26,000 workers to nearly 41,000 by 2029/30.
This need is not isolated to one industry. It spans construction, civil infrastructure, renewables, mining, manufacturing, and the oil and gas sector — particularly across the Surat Basin and Western Downs. Regions like Toowoomba are emerging as strategic hubs for labour supply and capability development, with Brisbane reinforcing the state’s wider workforce network.
AWCC is uniquely positioned to support this demand.
While many training providers specialise in a narrow field, AWCC operates across multiple sectors, delivering the skills Queensland’s workforce needs no matter where they are deployed. Our programs cover essential construction competencies such as white card, working at heights, confined space entry, gas test atmospheres and permit to work, alongside advanced safety and compliance training. We also deliver industry-leading oil and gas training, including well control, drilling fundamentals and specialised field-readiness programs.
Our flagship Turbo Program continues to stand out as one of Queensland’s most effective solutions to workforce shortages. Turbo graduates enter the field with a strong grounding in safety, practical skills and industry expectations — enabling them to transition confidently into drilling, well servicing, construction and civil environments. With new gas exploration areas opening and major projects ramping up, this multi-industry readiness is becoming essential.
AWCC’s broad capability is matched by our reach. With training centres in both Toowoomba and Brisbane, we service the Darling Downs, Surat Basin, Greater Brisbane, South East Queensland and beyond. When industry requires support in regional or remote locations, AWCC is equipped to mobilise training and deliver capability wherever it’s needed. Our flexibility ensures that major project partners — whether in construction, energy or resources — have access to the training and safety standards required to meet their obligations.
The QMCA breakfast highlighted the importance of training providers who are truly connected to industry. The room was filled with contractors, engineers, civil and energy leaders, procurement specialists and government stakeholders — all searching for the same answer: Where will the skilled workforce come from? AWCC remains part of this conversation because we understand that training must reflect the realities of the work, the pressures of project timelines, and the non-negotiable commitment to safety that underpins every major development.
This genuine industry alignment is what sets AWCC apart.
We are not simply delivering courses — we are contributing to Queensland’s capability.
We are not observing industry change — we are supporting the people who drive it.
We are not bound to one region — we are ready to serve the entire state.
As Queensland enters a golden era of construction, energy and resource development, AWCC will continue to strengthen the state’s workforce, support regional and metropolitan growth, and ensure Queensland has the talent needed to deliver its ambitious pipeline.
AWCC is proud to help build Queensland’s future — one skilled, confident and competent worker at a time, in every region that needs us.
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