NEXT STEPS In addressing youth unemployment and preparing the region’s workforce for the future, the following four projects have been identified as essential enablers. 1. CQUniversity seeks $50 million to establish a permanent, purposebuilt CBD campus capable of accommodating 4,000+ students by 2030. Due to the proposed location adjacent to the Cairns Convention Centre, the new Campus will complement existing infrastructure, effectively creating a knowledge hub precinct in the Cairns CBD. The close proximity to the Convention Centre provides an important link for conference organisers and allows for greater co-operation with regard to facilities and human resources such as the employment of students for events. Most importantly, the new campus will address the significant skill gaps identified in the region, particularly in terms of allied and mental health, engineering and technology. The allied health courses will be supported by the establishment of on-campus health clinics staffed by supervised student practitioners. The project is shovelready and will generate an estimated 330 jobs during construction (80 direct) plus more than 300 direct jobs through expanded university operations, and staff and student expenditure in the region. The economic impact over 10 years will be around $549 million. 2. CQUniversity seeks $10 million for
Stage 2 of its ambitious Asia- Pacific Aviation Hub. This funding will secure a second hanger at the Cairns International Airport, new laboratory facilities including specialist space for aviation accidents forensics, new flight simulators including a high-fidelity, world class flight simulator capable of attracting global commercial flight training business, and the roll-out of new aviation courses. CQUniversity will partner with Cairns Airport and Aviation Australia to grow skills to support emerging industry opportunities. It is estimated Stage 2 will generate 55-70 construction jobs and 10-15 permanent operational jobs, leading to a longterm economic impact of $30 million
• That the Federal Government invests $50m to establish a new CBD campus for CQUniversity and a further $10 million for Stage 2 of the CQUniversity Asia-Pacific Aviation Hub. • That to support the training of a regional medical workforce, the Federal Government allocates an additional 50 Commonwealth Supported Places and 30 International places recurrent, plus an allocation of Destination Australia scholarships to JCU’s School of Medicine and Dentistry.
3.
across Cairns. To support the training and recruitment of Cairns-based clinicians, JCU requires an additional 50 designated Commonwealth Supported Places (CSP) and 30 international places recurrent for the JCU Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) program. This will allow JCU to offer Years 1-6 of the MBBS in Cairns and Mackay. The additional places will be distributed across the regional centres of Cairns (30), Mackay (10) and Townsville (40).
ESTIMATED PROJECT COST $86.7M
2021-2022 CQUniversity CBD Campus
Recommended Federal Investment
$50m
Asia-Pacific Aviation Hub
$10m
JCU medical school
$26.7m*
for student places
*Recurrent funding
PATHWAY TO PROSPERITY
