Interview with Archie and Donny - Star 106.3FM, Townsville

HOST: This is Star 106.3, you are here with Archie and Donny and we have got our Federal Minister in our city today, the Honourable Andrew Giles, who's our Minister for Skills and Training, and there's a huge announcement happening out at Pimlico. To tell us a bit more about that, Andrew's with us now. Andrew, good morning and what are you excited to be announcing today here for Townsville and North Queensland?

ANDREW GILES, MINISTER FOR SKILLS AND TRAINING: Well, I should say it's always great to be back in this beautiful part of the world. I had a fantastic run along the Strand this morning, but probably what's more exciting to everyone else is that I'm here with my state colleague, Minister Bates, from the Queensland Government to announce a $4.5 million investment that will deliver a state-of-the-art creative arts facility at Pimlico TAFE Campus right here. 

We're going to be opening that later this morning, and this is going to be absolutely fantastic for anyone in North Queensland who's interested in the creative arts and all the amazing opportunities that they can deliver right here in Townsville, particularly when you think about the role, the fantastic job opportunities connected to the Olympics. I'm really excited about seeing these facilities and seeing what that's going to mean to young people, and maybe some not so young people too thinking about a career and skills in the arts.

HOST: When you talk about this new facility at Pimlico what kind of things can people expect inside that facility Andrew?

GILES: Well what we're going to see is the sort of spaces that are really cutting edge right across visual arts. So specialist spaces for print-making, for sculpture, 3D and multi-media facilities, multi-purpose art studio, dark rooms for photography, absolutely cutting edge facilities, so students at TAFE here in Townsville will be able to learn in a modern multi-purpose facility so they can be absolutely at the cutting edge when it comes to industry expectations.

HOST: You know what's fantastic about this is, I am a product of going to a creative arts facility in Sydney. I went to a radio school, I know that if you listen to the show you're like ‘that guy went to school about this, wow’ but you know I am blessed that where I grew up, I had a facility so close to me that gave me the tools and training to follow my passion. And in the arts, they are few and far between. 

So I think it's brilliant that our city is going to have an opportunity for people to express themselves and who knows what that that might lead to. And, I mean, that's just a personal reflection I have about how exciting this is for our region. Andrew, can you also tell us, that there's going to be some Free TAFE courses as well? Can you announce that?

GILES: Free TAFE has been a huge success. It's something that the Albanese Government is deeply committed to, and some of your listeners may remember that just before the last election, we passed a bill to make Free TAFE permanent. And it's been really taken up by Queenslanders. Around 125,000 Queenslanders enrolled in Free TAFE courses already. Some of the most popular ones may surprise you and your listeners too. Diploma of Nursing has been hugely popular. 

Thousands of Queenslanders, including in Townsville, have taken up that opportunity, including some older people who've been thinking about upskilling or reskilling or a career change when they don't have that cost pressure standing in the way of something that might have been a dream. Another really big one has been early childhood education and care, which frankly is about the most important job there is, a really satisfying one. And for people to be able to access those important skills for free in their own community has been a real game changer.

HOST: Mate, I think that's I will say this, the irony's not lost on me. I don't expect you to have known this, Andrew, but too many work in the creative arts. We recently did the grand opening of a travelator here in Townsville and the fact that there's a creative arts centre doing a grand opening today and we weren't invited, that does sting.

HOST: Yeah, that does sting a little bit, Andrew.

HOST: Not sure if that was your call.

HOST: Not come across your desk, the travelator there. Bit awkward.

HOST: Marching band, six mascots, pretty big deal.

HOST: Bagpipes.

GILES: Well, I'm not sure that there are going to bagpipes here today.

HOST: Well, it's barely an opening, mate. It's barely an opening, isn't it?

GILES: When I catch up with TAFE Queensland, the fantastic team there, I'll make sure that there's an opportunity for you guys to have a look around.

HOST: Thank you.

GILES: And maybe to think about particularly, I think, talking just a few minutes ago about your own journey to get the radio production and presumably other skills there, to think about what this might mean for someone growing up in Townsville who thought perhaps they might have had to go away if they were interested in pursuing this as a career, and now they won't.

HOST: And just let us know as well there, Andrew. Well said. If there is a travelator inside the TAFE Creative Arts Centre, we'd love to know about that. Hey, look, we really appreciate your time. Thanks for coming to visit our region. Pimlico TAFE, this is a massive moment for our city, and thank you for joining us this morning. Our Minister for Skills and Training Andrew Giles, we really appreciate it.

GILES: Great to be chatting with you guys, take care.

ENDS