- Fourth and final North and North West Queensland Regional Community Forum of 2023
- Successful outcomes include improved skills to attain grants for communities
- Expressions of Interest open for residents to participate in the 2024-25 forums
Remote communities have improved capability to access funding to deliver regional projects as a result of the Queensland Government's North and North West Queensland Regional Community Forum, which meets for the last time for 2023 at Normanton on Monday.
Forum members raised the need for upskilling in grant writing to support communities when applying for grants funding, which led to workshops being held in remote areas.
Training was delivered at Cloncurry, Hughenden, Richmond, Julia Creek, Croydon, and Georgetown.
Education, training, and employment pathways, housing affordability and accessibility, regional workforce attraction and retention, and economic diversification are among the priorities of the North and North West Queensland Regional Community Forum Action Plan.
Forum members will tour the Les Wilson Barramundi Discovery Centre, which is the only hatchery in the world to breed the Southern Gulf strain of the iconic fish.
Presentations include Queensland's $89 billion Big Build, urban water management opportunities, an update from Gulf Savannah Development, and an overview of the Forum Action Plan.
Quote attributable to the Minister for Employment and Small Business, Minister for Training and Skills Development and Minister for Youth Justice Di Farmer:
"Forums members have made it known just how important training, and employment pathways are, which is why our regional TAFE campuses such as Normanton deliver carefully selected courses that meet the needs of the local community. Study areas such as resources and infrastructure, early childhood education and care, first aid and CPR.
"Specific to Normanton we have improved ICT infrastructure at the campus with new computers, whiteboards, zoom conference facilities, ipads and guest WiFi.
"TAFE Queensland Faculties have identified a range of short courses that will meet the community needs and will commence in the first quarter of 2024."
Quote attributable to the Assistant Minister for Treasury Charis Mullen:
"The forum members have delivered for the region for the past two years and I thank them for their wonderful contributions."
Quote attributable to the North and North West Queensland Regional Community Forum Co-Chair, Member for Thuringowa Aaron Harper:
"Thank you to the forum members for their diligence and insights which have helped us drive this great region forward together, supporting a brighter future for all."
Quote attributable to the North and North West Queensland Regional Community Forum Co-Chair, Member for Mundingburra Les Walker:
"The Palaszczuk government is proud to have worked with the North and North West Queensland forum members for the past two years and we look forward to the new members continuing this great work."
Quote attributable to North and North West Queensland Regional Community Forum member Christy Guinea:
"I think it's really important that we get a voice that goes straight to Parliament, and we also get the message out there to our friends and colleagues of what is happening behind the scenes."
Quotes attributable to North and North West Queensland Regional Community Forum member and Richmond Shire Councillor Patsy-Ann Fox:
"The idea for grant writing workshops came from a conversation at a forum which resulted in a partnership between three Queensland government departments to deliver workshops in our smallest and most remote communities.
"This helped lift the skill of some of our smallest community organisations so that we are increasing our chance to chase a bigger piece of the contestable funding out there for community facilities."
Background
The forum is the eighth and last for the 2022-23 members. Expressions of Interest for North and North West Queensland residents who would like to participate in the 2024-25 series of forums can be made at Regional Community Forums | About Queensland and its government | Queensland Government (www.qld.gov.au)
