The five-year agreement with Regional Development Australia in the Wide Bay Burnett region north of Brisbane will investigate training solutions, direct flight access to GVK projects and policies that support communities and workers’ families.

The move has been applauded by Education, Training and Employment Minister John-Paul Langbroek who said it was an example of how the Wide Bay Burnett FIFO coordination program had helped the industry bolster regional employment.

“This MOU is an example of how this program is linking employers operating in remote areas with suitable workers in high available labour areas such as the Wide Bay Burnett region,” Langbroek said.

He said the government had committed $200,000 over two years to support industry workforce coordinators on the Gold Coast and the Wide Bay-Burnett region.

“The two new coordinators will help Queensland workers find and secure jobs in the state’s rapidly growing industries – especially in remote areas,” Langbroek said.

“The coordinators will attract, train and connect suitable workers to jobs on mining, construction and infrastructure project, including working with airlines to help workers commute to remote locations.”