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Wide Bay Burnett Community Engagement Forums 19-23 March 2012

Regional Development Australia Wide Bay Burnett (RDA WBB) invites you to attend a free Community Engagement Workshop to share your views on key activities to be progressed across the Wide Bay Burnett region;

Strategic planning and partnerships
Gaining our share of resource sector job opportunities
Fostering a “culture” of education and skills development
Encouraging regional investment and industry growth

These key activities are driven by an action plan and underpinned by the five Regional Priorities identified in the Wide Bay Burnett Regional Roadmap.

The Community Engagement Workshops are your opportunity to have input into RDA WBB’s action plan to build on the region’s strengths and support social and economic prosperity for the future.

Places will be limited so to ensure that you do not miss out, please book your seat at any one of the Workshops by clicking on the relevant link below.

RSVPs close on Friday 9th March 2012

DATE	TOWN	VENUE	RSVP
Mon 19/3	Gympie 7am - 10am	Gympie Conference Centre	Click here
Mon 19/3	Fraser Coast 2pm - 5pm	Susan River	Click here
Tues 20/3	Bundaberg 9am - 12pm	Brothers Sports Club	Click here
Wed 21/3	Monto 7am - 10am	Colonial Motor Inn	Click here
Wed 21/3	Gayndah 1:30pm - 4:30pm	Golden Orange	Click here
Thurs 22/3	Kingaroy 2pm - 5pm	Kingaroy RSL	Click here
Fri 23/3	Cherbourg 9am - 11am	TAFE Nurunderi Campus	Click here

Resource Sector Opportunities Forum

Regional Development Australia Wide Bay Burnett held its Resource Sector Opportunities forum on Thursday 10th November 2011. This major event provided an opportunity to hear from high profile expert speakers discussing regional issues and opportunities to leverage from Queensland’s Resource Sector boom.

To view a copy of the presentations given by the speakers, follow the links below;

Grant Maclean, Chair, Regional Development Australia Wide Bay Burnett

RDA WBB Overview

Reuben Lawrence, Principal, Lawrence Consulting

Economic and Social Impact of the Resource Sector

Tracey Whittaker, Director, Twentieth Letter

Strategic Marketing to Attract Business and Families

Zane Hughes, CEO, Kalkadoon Enterprises

Indigenous Workforce Development Opportunities

Neil Miller, General Manager, Skills Queensland

Workforce Training and Skills Development

Paul Massingham, Executive Officer, RDA WBB

Magnifying Our Region’s Opportunities (FIFO)

Resource Sector Opportunities Study

The Wide Bay Burnett region faces some vast challenges, including persistent high levels of unemployment and historically low labour force participation rates. These challenges will need to be addressed if the whole region is to prosper. As of August 2011, Wide Bay Burnett had the highest unemployment in Australia at 11.2% (14,500 persons) more than double the State and National average and a labour force participation rate of 53.1% (source DEEWR).

Significantly, Wide Bay Burnett is the only labour force region in Queensland to have a participation rate under 60%. This provides a large pool of potential workers to train for resource sector positions or to backfill existing workers hired by the resource sector.

The Wide Bay Burnett Resource Sector Opportunities Study, completed in September 2011, builds on preliminary work already underway in the region that is bringing together regional stakeholders and industry. Consultation through these and other initiatives has helped identify the key opportunities for Wide Bay Burnett and is reflected in the study.

The Resource Sector Opportunities Study is not the solution to the region’s issues, but establishes a framework for a coordinated, region-wide approach. It demonstrates RDA WBB’s commitment to considering the needs and priorities of the region in its planning and prioritising.

Click HERE to download a copy of the Resource Sector Opportunities Study in pdf format.

Regional Development Australia (RDA) is an Australian Government initiative that brings together all levels of government to enhance the growth and development of Australia's regions. A national network of RDA committees has been established to achieve this objective.

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