Australia’s most educated city in jobs push

There is no skills shortage in Greater Springfield with 45 percent of city’s 23,000 population currently enrolled in education. Enrolments for 2012 were also up 1,500 compared to 2011, making Greater Springfield a prime location for businesses seeking trained employees to relocate.

Additionally, Greater Springfield’s flexible educational model means the city can expand and tailor its course offering to meet the Western Corridor’s future job requirements.

Springfield Land Corporation Executive General Manager of Education and Health, Terry Kearney said that while a successful education hub had been created in the Western Corridor now was not the time for Springfield, USQ or TAFE to become complacent.

“Phase one of Greater Springfield’s education model has proven itself to deliver both in terms of attracting students from all background and in graduating students securing employment,” Mr Kearney said.

“However, with over a third of Greater Springfield’s population currently aged between 4 and 15 and the overall population projected to grow to 105,000 by 2030, it is imperative we take steps now to ensure that our current and future students have the professional, technical and trade skills required of them in local industry.

“We also have a duty to ensure that our students have real job opportunities available to them at graduation.

“Greater Springfield and the Western Corridor are growing at a phenomenal rate, construction is booming and we are looking at building a hospital. With the right courses and training in place, we can ensure that jobs created locally go to local people.”

Mr Kearney said that Springfield Land Corporation was already in talks with the University of Southern Qld and Bremer TAFE to extend their course offerings.

“USQ and the Bremer Springfield already offer excellent education and business courses and we are working with them to explore certificate, diploma and degree courses in health and construction, courses covering everything from medicine, engineering and surveying to practical apprenticeship training programs,” he said.

“Greater Springfield is extremely proud of its record of attracting first generation university and TAFE students. In order to foster learning in future generations we need to ensure our students are fully equipped for a competitive workplace.”  

Springfield Land Corporation was also exploring the opportunity of a partnership with a mining company to ensure that students interested in the sector have the necessary skills and training required to carve out a successful mining orientated career.

As a master planned city, Greater Springfield has developed a robust education model catering for all age groups, academic ability and interest. It includes state, independent, catholic schools and higher education facilities offering different areas of specialism including sport and IT but all underpinned by a strong academic program.

Greater Springfield has one of the highest student populations in the country. It is currently home to more than 10,200 students from Childcare to University, which is equivalent to 45 per cent of the overall population.  

Springfield’s education city hub and its spokes throughout the residential communities is made up of 12 childcare facilities, 9 schools with five of these catering for both primary and high school students (including an indigenous school), Bremer  TAFE and the University of Southern Queensland.  This year alone education enrolment figures for Great Springfield grew by 19 per cent, from 8,350 to 10,270.

It is estimated that by 2030, the population of Springfield will be home to 105,000 people.  

Greater Springfield is located just 30 minutes from the Brisbane CBD in South East Queensland.  The $1.2 billion Springfield Rail project will see the delivery of two stations connecting the Springfield CBD to Brisbane CBD by late 2013.

It is a place of opportunity offering intergenerational educational options, close proximity to a major airport, access to cutting edge ICT, health, retail and recreation facilities and a wide range of new home options.

Media Contact:  Anita Marron, Sequel Communications 07 3251 8142 or 0403 090 913.