Manufacturing Skills Queensland (MSQ) will subsidise 50 per cent of training costs for welder certification throughout 2026.
The statewide initiative covers Welding Supervisor training (AS 1796 Certificate 10 and AS 2214) and ISO 9606 welder certification strengthening workforce capability and lifting welding compliance.
The initiative responds to ongoing industry demand, with employers consistently reporting shortages of certified welders and welding supervisors, particularly in regional manufacturing centres supporting defence, energy, infrastructure and advanced manufacturing supply chains.
Training will be delivered across multiple Queensland locations, including Maryborough, Gladstone, Cairns, Brisbane, Townsville, Mackay and Bundaberg.
Weld Australia CEO, Geoff Crittenden, said the subsidised program is a practical solution to a challenge facing manufacturers across the state.
“Queensland manufacturers are telling us the same thing again and again: they need more qualified welders and welding supervisors, and they need better access to nationally and internationally recognised certification pathways,” Crittenden said.
“This partnership with Manufacturing Skills Queensland to subsidise 50% of training costs will remove a major barrier for employers and workers — especially in regional areas — and help build the skilled workforce Queensland needs for future growth.”
According to MSQ CEO, Kris McCue, certified welding skills are essential for maintaining safety, quality, and compliance in manufacturing.
"Partnering with Weld Australia to halve the cost of welding training is a step towards closing critical skills gaps. It’s about empowering Queensland manufacturers with the talent and certifications they need to innovate and lead on a global stage," McCue said.
Program eligibility for participants includes being employed by a Queensland manufacturing business, residing in Queensland, and meeting training prerequisites.
Business eligibility includes being a Queensland manufacturing business with fewer than 200 employees.
The program includes training pathways aligned to key industry requirements:
- AS 1796 Certificate 10 Welding Supervisor – for professionals supervising welding on pressure equipment and high-risk applications, where safety, compliance and quality assurance are critical
- AS 2214 Welding Supervisor – for those overseeing welding in structural steel fabrication, supporting compliance with AS/NZS 1554 requirements for steel structures
- ISO 9606 Welder Certification – the internationally recognised standard verifying a welder’s ability to produce consistent, compliant welds to defined procedures, materials and conditions