Investing in the future of Queensland’s energy workforce

Published on 28 April 2025

Central Queensland is in the midst of extraordinary growth as Australia transitions to a net zero economy. At the heart of this shift is Powerlink, a Queensland Government-owned company responsible for operating and maintaining the state’s high-voltage electricity transmission network. 
 
With a network that spans 1700km from Cairns to the New South Wales border – and serving over 5 million Queenslanders and more than 240,000 businesses – Powerlink plays a vital role in powering the state’s clean energy future.  

Building local capability through training 

Powerlink Chief Operating Officer Gary Edwards says there will be a huge demand for clean-energy workers in coming years as new industries, technology and infrastructure are developed.  

'Training our next generation of workers will ensure we build the capability and capacity locally to support the transition and become a world leader in renewable energy,' Edwards says. 'Our purpose is to connect Queenslanders to a world-class energy future.'   

State-of-the-art training hub in Central Queensland  

To meet this growing demand, Powerlink is building the Queensland Super Grid Training Centre and Transmission Hub in Gladstone. The new world-class facility is expected to be operational by early 2026.  

The Centre will be vital for upskilling energy workers in a range of areas including high-voltage technical training. It will include an operational warehouse, along with learning facilities, including a simulated high-voltage training bay, training rooms and a tower.  

'This hub will host hundreds of energy workers over its lifespan, who will be responsible for building and connecting Queenslanders to a world-class transmission network,' says Edwards.  

'Since we established our presence in Central Queensland we have been expanding our workforce, which includes six apprenticeship positions this year alone.'

Powering a cleaner future  

Powerlink’s Central Queensland network plays a critical role in securing reliable power for heavy industry, as industry looks to electrify operations to reduce emissions. The operator’s broader strategy is to maintain reliability of supply, support the state’s long-term energy needs and decarbonise the state’s economy. To support this, Powerlink is expanding its energy mix to include solar, battery, hydro and wind projects.  

'The region is rich in renewable energy resources, which will be an essential part of Queensland’s renewable energy future,' says Powerlink’s Executive General Manager of Network and Business Development, Stewart Bell. 

'As industry looks to reduce emissions and electrify its operations, strengthening the network throughout the region is critical,' he adds. 

'Central Queensland has a critical role to play in ensuring reliable supply of electricity to the network well into the future.' 

Through initiatives like the Training Centre and continued investment into the region, Powerlink is not only building the infrastructure for Queensland’s clean energy future – it’s also building the skilled workforce to power it.