Southern Queensland is on the cusp of transformation. Over the next two decades, the region is projected to be one of Australia’s fastest-growing population corridors, with South East Queensland alone expected to welcome more than 2.2 million new residents by 2046. This growth will place immense pressure—and offer immense opportunity—for the region’s education and training systems to fuel economic development, social inclusion, and workforce readiness.
The challenge
Rapid population growth brings complex challenges:
- Uneven access to tertiary education across rural, regional, and peri-urban areas
- Skills shortages in key sectors such as health, education, advanced manufacturing, agriculture, and construction
- Fragmented efforts across institutions competing for the same cohorts, partnerships, and funding
- Limited coordinated advocacy to government for infrastructure and policy support.
The response
The Southern Queensland Education Alliance (SQEA)– an initiative of UniSQ led in collaboration with TAFE Queensland, will bring together universities, TAFEs, schools, and businesses and industry from across the region to form a united platform for place-based collaboration, innovation, and influence. We acknowledge that real change will only occur by partnering together to develop solutions through mission-based agreements with government to lift educational attainment and support regional development.
The Alliance covers Southern Queensland broadly – from the Darling Downs and South West to the Southern and Western parts of South East Queensland, Logan, Ipswich, Scenic Rim, and Lockyer Valley.
The formation of SQEA responds directly to priorities outlined in the Australian Government’s Higher Education Accord, including improved access, stronger regional partnerships, and deeper collaboration across the education and training sectors. The Accord aims to lift the tertiary education attainment rate to 80% of the working-age population by 2050.
The launch of the Southern Queensland Education Alliance marks the beginning of a coordinated, place-based strategy to unlock education-led development and influence policy reforms from the ground up.
“The Southern Queensland Education Alliance is a regional commitment to access, inclusion, opportunity, and innovation. It will foster collaboration across the entire education ecosystem – from schools to TAFE and university – to deliver solutions and lasting impact for and with the communities in Southern Queensland.”
- UniSQ Vice-Chancellor Professor Karen Nelson
Our purpose
The Southern Queensland Education Alliance will:
- Build clear and inclusive education-to-employment pathways
- Advocate for targeted infrastructure and funding in regional areas
- Align education and training with emerging industry and workforce needs
- Support lifelong learning and engagement across all communities.
“This alliance strengthens the connection across vocational training and higher education to ensure local voices shape innovative, place-based solutions.”
- TAFE Queensland’s General Manager (South West) Kate Venables
