No staff
The opening of a new daycare facility in Naracoorte has hit a speed bump. There are no qualified staff to man the facility ready to open at the old TAFE site in the township. The new daycare centre, with a capacity to accommodate up to 80 children, has been developed by Tony Dawson of Robe.
Shearer continues to make strides
Lockhart female shearer Nicki Guttler continues to make a name for herself in the male-dominated field of shearing ... Nicki started off shearing in the Open competition as the only female competing and surprised even herself by coming sixteenth out of 35 leaving quite a few seasoned Open shearers in her wake.
Feedlot fined $140,000 after telehandler operator electrocuted
A Wimmera feedlot operator has been convicted and fined $140,000 following the electrocution of a worker while operating a telehandler in 2020 ... The court heard the 29-year-old worker was using a telehandler to stack hay bales at the Gerang Gerung property in November 2020 when the raised boom and bale lifting attachment made contact with overhead power lines.
60 new nurses to work in Northern Rivers
Sixty nurses from the UK and Ireland have been recruited to work in the Northern Rivers ... Indian national Kavitha Mathew will work at Kyogle Multi-Purpose Service ... “I’m very happy to work in Kyogle,” Kavitha said.
New forestry initiative to create workforce opportunities
A new State Government-funded initiative will support the Limestone Coast timber and forestry sectors to address current skill gap shortages and develop the ‘workforce of the future’. Minister for Education, Skills & Training Blair Boyer officially opened the Mount Gambier Skills Centre this week, which will have a specific focus on timber and forestry, with an accompanying field-based role working directly with industry.
Statement on Closing Loopholes Bill: NFF
It’s disappointing the House of Representatives passed the Albanese Government’s Closing Loopholes Bill. We’ve consistently called out this Bill for being fraught with issues that it will make it harder and more expensive to create employment opportunities in farming.
Female tradies get head start
Eight young women have been given the head start they need in seeking a potential career in the trades sector. The Girls Can Too! program is designed to teach and empower the next generation of female tradies.
Newstead Arts Hub
Chris Johnston. Announcing the launch of our new membership program, everyone is invited to come along to the Newstead Arts Hub ... Newstead Arts Hub Inc is a vibrant creative space run by our community for you – locals, artists and visitors – and located in our historic train station.
Waiting for daycare
Many parents returning to work post-Covid-19 or wanting to do extra hours because of the cost-of-living pressures are desperate for childcare centres in the district. But we have a big problem.
Yamba CAN take council to NCAT
Concerned about the number of staff vacancies impacting the effectiveness of council operations, the Yamba Community Action Network Yamba CAN Inc has taken Clarence Valley Council to the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal NCAT ... Yamba CAN Inc’s solicitor alleged there are high staff vacancy rates and turnover at Clarence Valley Council...
Fixing GP crisis
Why is our general practitioner system broken, and how do we fix it? Rural communities in the South East continue to face GP shortages, and the closure of many small-town medical clinics because of our failure to attract and retain specialist doctors is putting rural patients at risk.
Labor back in bed with the Greens to kill off salmon industry and hundreds of Tasmanian jobs: Rockliff
The Tasmanian Government received a letter from Federal Labor Minister for the Environment and Water, Tanya Plibersek, relating to potential action taken against salmon farming in Macquarie Harbour ... Premier Rockliff said any decision to halt operations by Tanya Plibersek would put 350+ jobs at risk in communities right across Tasmania.
Longreach hosting Western Queensland Regional Community Forum: Bailey
Opportunities for young people in rural communities to gain training and practical skills to make them more employable have been increased as a result of the Queensland Government’s Western Queensland Regional Community Forum, which meets for the last time for 2023 at Longreach.
Our Q&A
The lack of a TAFE, children with special needs, the health bureaucracy, E-tag regulations, arts, rare earth mining, radiation therapy and plastics were among 16 questions asked at last week’s Country Cabinet forum in Naracoorte. During a two-day whirlwind visit SA Premier Peter Malinauskas, his ministers and all department chiefs collectively met with hundreds of people as they travelled to various special spots within our region.
60 new homes
Will the new home plan announced by the state government solve the South East’s dire housing crisis? As part of the Country Cabinet’s recent visit to the South East, the state government announced a new 60-home plan for the Tatiara District, with the hope of attracting workers to regional towns ... the project will cost the state government $2.7million.
101 homes unaccounted for
How much does it cost to build a three-bedroom home ... That makes it $214,500 per house, around $1500 a square meter. So, when the NT Government forks out $30m of taxpayer’s money, awarding a three year period contract to a local company (Pedersen NT, in this case) then we can expect to get 139 homes, with a bit left over, right? Wrong.
Fresh face leads the way
A teacher who started at Corryong College in 2022 has made an immediate impact in the education sector by winning the Victorian Outstanding Early Career Primary Teacher award ... Since starting as a graduate teacher last year, Kendall Heycox has demonstrated her capacity for leadership and aptitude as an educator ...
Police recruitment breakthrough – trainees will be paid to become officers: Minns, Catley
The NSW Government is continuing to rebuild our frontline services today announcing an historic breakthrough agreement to address the ongoing critical shortfall in police numbers by paying Student Police Officers while they study at the Goulburn Police Academy. This is an important workforce incentive to encourage more people to take up a career in the NSW Police Force.
Landmark legislation protects Queensland energy workers and public ownership: de Brenni
The Palaszczuk Government has taken the next steps to enshrine the Queensland Energy and Jobs Plan into law, with a commitment to legislate renewable energy targets, and guarantee the financial security of workers. Following months of consultation, the Energy (Renewable Transformation and Jobs) Bill 2023 was introduced to Parliament after receiving overwhelming support from the community and industry.
Long-term plan secures regional jobs: Rockliff
Tasmanian manufacturing and defence companies are going from strength to strength as a result of the Rockliff Liberal Government’s long-term plan to create more jobs and grow Tasmania’s economy ... The expansion has seen Jayben successfully awarded work under the Australian Army’s LAND 129 Phase 3 contract to deliver next generation tactical uncrewed aerial system, or air vehicles.
Statement from Robbie Katter MP – Mount Isa
The Palaszczuk Labor Government, and in particular Queensland Treasurer Cameron Dick, have in recent days been complicit with Glencore in the signing of an entirely unnecessary “death warrant” for the city of Mount Isa. On behalf of the community of Mount Isa, and the 1,200 jobs that hang in the balance, this needs to be called out.
Census snapshot shows changes in agricultural workforce: ABARES
Australia’s agricultural workforce is steadily growing and changing, with more women and young people joining the sector. The ABARES Insights Snapshot of Australia’s agricultural workforce shows the changing state of the agricultural workforce based on data from the 2021 Census of Population and Housing.
