Funding for Far North Qld upskilling program

Communities across Far North Queensland and the Torres Strait are set to benefit from the Federal Government’s Skills for Education and Employment (SEE) First Nations program.

Gur A Baradharaw Kod (GBK) Torres Strait Sea and Land Council Torres Strait Islander and Aboriginal Corporation branches on Thursday Island, Saibai Island, Mer Island, Poruma Island and Badu Island have received grants under SEE First Nations.

“We are working to close the gap, by removing barriers to accessing life-changing education and training for First Nations Australians,” Minister for Skills and Training Andrew Giles said.

“First Nations Australians are disproportionally affected by low levels of reading, writing, numeracy and digital skills so the SEE program has set the foundation for helping Australians secure good, valuable jobs, no matter where they live.”

Minister for Indigenous Australians, Senator Malarndirri McCarthy said foundation skills were essential to Closing the Gap by removing barriers to accessing employment, education and training for First Nations people.

“First Nations people across Far North Queensland and the Torres Strait will benefit from place-based projects that meet local language, literacy, numeracy and digital literacy training needs,” Senator McCarthy said.

The SEE Program was first established to give Australians the core literacy, numeracy and digital skills to attain good, secure jobs.

A new stream – SEE First Nations – was announced to focus on First Nations people, providing grants to First Nations community-controlled organisations so they can partner directly with training providers.

Around 1 in 5 Australian adults lack the basic literacy, numeracy and digital skills to gain better jobs and participate fully in society.

For First Nations people, it is estimated that 40 per cent of adults have minimal English literacy and this figure can rise as high as 70 per cent in remote communities.

Gur A Baradharaw Kod chair Ned David said GBK was committed to empowering Torres Strait Islander and Aboriginal communities by ensuring access to quality education and skills training.

“Through the SEE First Nations program, we are strengthening pathways for our people to develop core literacy, numeracy, and digital skills—building brighter futures and stronger communities across the region,” he said.

The Federal Government is investing $583.5 million over four years to fundamentally reform the way the Commonwealth delivers Foundation Skills programs, so Australians have the core literacy, numeracy and digital literacy skills to succeed.

The redesign of the SEE program will provide more pathways for Australians to access training to improve their language, literacy, numeracy and digital skills. It is expected to support up to 2,000 First Nations people per year by 2026-27.