The following departments were established in November 2024:

  • Department of Trade, Employment and Training
  • Department of Customer Services, Open Data and Small and Family Business.

We were formerly known as the Department of Employment, Small Business and Training until November 2024.

Our Directors-General

Peter McKay

Peter McKay is the Director-General for the Department of Trade, Employment and Training. He previously served as the Director-General for the Department of Employment, Small Business and Training.

Peter brings over 25 years public sector experience where he has led service delivery, policy, corporate and regulatory functions across a broad range of Queensland Government agencies.

Delivering more impactful public services through improved leadership has been a strong focus of his recent work, including development of new public employment laws for a fair and responsive public sector.

Peter believes that working in partnerships is the pathway to better services. His most recent role as Deputy Director-General of the Office of Industrial Relations has focused on improving the performance and reputation of their important regulatory functions.

Peter sees the importance of our functions in supporting Queenslanders to improve their social and economic circumstances by connecting their hopes with the opportunities that our programs provide.

Steve Koch

Steve Koch is the Acting Director-General for the Department of Customer Services, Open Data and Small and Family Business.

Steve has over 20 years public sector experience where he has led service delivery, program management and regulatory functions. He is passionate about the economic and social outcomes that government services and programs provide, particularly the impact for individuals.

Steve has a strong background in small and family business and employment and training, having held executive roles in departments responsible for these sectors over the past decade.

Steve is also a strong advocate for diversity and inclusion and champions these values through his roles.

Steve is currently a member of the Board of Directors of the Building and Construction Industry Training Fund (BCITF Qld) trading as Construction Skills Queensland and the Board of Directors of Manufacturing Skills Queensland Limited. He holds a Bachelor of Economics and a Bachelor of Business Management from the University of Queensland and is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors - Company Directors Course.

Service area structure

The department's service area structure based on the 2024–25 Service Delivery Statements (SDS) (PDF, 2.1MB) as at 30 June 2024 is as follows:

Department's service areaDepartment's objectives

Employment

Connecting and supporting Queenslanders with employment programs and services
To increase employment opportunities for all Queenslanders, in particular disadvantaged cohorts.

 Preparing Queensland's workforce for the demands of current and future industries.

Small Business

Connecting Queensland small business to grants and support programs
To ensure small business can seamlessly interact with government and are supported to start, grow and thrive.

 Helping small businesses to start, grow and thrive.

Training and skills

Connecting Queenslanders to training and skills programs and initiatives
To regulate Queensland apprenticeships and traineeships and facilitate access to and participation in vocational education and training pathways, enabling Queenslanders to gain employment in current and future industries.

 Connecting people to quality training and skills.

The department is responsible for supporting the Minister for Employment and Small Business and Minister for Training and Skills Development. In supporting the Minister, the department is maintaining high-quality services and focusing on implementing the government's objectives for the community and its government commitments.

During 2022–23, the department worked collaboratively with government and stakeholders in delivering the following government commitments:

  • worked to achieve the target of 25% of government procurement from Queensland small and medium businesses
  • provided funding for the establishment the Caloundra Business Alliance to roll out the Buy Local initiative, a Shop Caloundra EFTPOS card
  • established the Office of the Queensland Small Business Commissioner
  • developed targeted engagement strategies and re-invigorated the Queensland Small Business Advisory Council
  • developed a First Nations Training Strategy in consultation with communities to identify training gaps and deliver job-focused training to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people
  • developed a First Nations Training Strategy in consultation with communities to identify training gaps and deliver job-focused training to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people
  • completed stage 2 of Toowoomba TAFE's new Rural Centre of Excellence
  • constructed the Cyber Security Training Operation Centre at Mooloolaba TAFE
  • completed delivery of the fit-out of the new eco-friendly TAFE campus at Robina
  • completed upgrades to nursing and allied health facilities at Hervey Bay TAFE.

Read the September 2023 progress report on 2020 government election commitments (PDF, 1MB).

Last updated 6 November 2024

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