Education & training

The prestigious Sydney Dance Company joined forces with NORPA last week to mentor young dancers from the Northern Rivers in a week-long dance intensive held at Southern Cross University in Lismore. Working with Sydney Dance Company's Teaching Artists, 30 local dancers aged 13-18 years from across the region were taught Sydney Dance Company choreography and repertoire as well as learning how to develop and express their own experiences through contemporary dance.

Kristin Murdock. With the school year approaching an end, students have been busy finishing off projects ... Shearing and marketing of the lambs has also occurred recently, with Agricultural Studies students from all year levels taking part in the process.

Ali Bohn. Travelling three hours a day, five days a week for six years to attend secondary school in Echuca might seem more than a little daunting for many students, but for Harry Coughlan, he looks back on the last six years and feels that every minute of travel was worth it. The Koondrook local graduated from Echuca’s St Joseph’s College last year with a 95.3 ATAR score, affording him the opportunity to enrol and be accepted into his first course preference of bio medicine at the University of Melbourne.

Artist Donna Mitchell has been drawing and painting since the age of eight, with portraits her speciality. She now shares her knowledge and skills by conducting art classes for kids and adults ... "Since moving to Hendon in 2022, we have enjoyed the simpler lifestyle that comes with living in the country."

Chronic pain doesn’t discriminate. It can impact anyone, of any age, and in any location. However, how it is managed can differ greatly ... The problem of chronic pain is complex, so solving it is going to be difficult. However, progress is being made and researchers at the University of South Australia are exploring how to bring better outcomes for rural Australians challenged by chronic pain.

Racing SA is offering those living in the state’s South-East and wanting a career in thoroughbred racing a great opportunity to expand their knowledge ... Multiple Group 1 winning jockey and Racing SA’s industry, development and training officer Clare Lindop will be joined by Racing SA’s Jockey Coach Dean Pettit to host the day which will encourage and support students with the knowledge to progress their career in the Racing Industry.

Cambooya Hall is now the second venue to host classes by Kiyua, a not-for-profit organisation working with children and youth, building confidence and self-esteem through performing arts. Kiyua Kids come from all backgrounds and cultures and enjoy classes every Saturday during school term.

Totally Renewable Denmark members attended a workshop last month in Bridgetown for community renewable energy groups from regional and urban WA ... The workshop was the inaugural meeting of CREATE Community Energy, a network of community groups which are driving local energy initiatives.

Local students have been acknowledged for their outstanding academic achievements in this year's HSC examinations. Some students from St Francis de Sales Regional College, Leeton, performed very well, resulting in the college gaining 14 mentions on the statewide merit list.

Pony Club Australia has announced the winners of the 2022 awards.

Allora local Mary Higgins, who is a student at Griffiths University, studying Psychological Science and Business, has been awarded a Scholarship under the New Colombo Plan ... “Growing up in Allora, a small town of just 1200 people, I’ve seen my community come together through droughts, floods and many other crises, which has inspired me to work further toward social justice on a grander scale,” Mary said.

New support to improve the mental health of people working in social and community sector organisations will be available in the seven flood-impacted local government areas of Northern Rivers NSW ... “Having worked in the social sector for many years, I’ve seen the almost normalised acceptance of this kind of burnout and mental ill-health across the social sector – a sector that is always on the frontline when disasters and pandemics strike": Julia Keady, founder of The Xfactor Collective Foundation.

Katter’s Australian Party is flagging a proposal incentivising Year 12 students to take up the forgotten “wet” trades of bricklaying, concreting and scaffolding in a transitional schedule strategically-timed with the winter weather. In response to predictions that North Queensland would face an alarming lack of willing workers in the “wet” trades of bricklaying, concreting and scaffolding in the next decade, the KAP proposed to incentivise and provide employment pathways for an annually-set number of Year 12 students.

A partnership between Forestry Corporation of NSW, Pentarch Forestry and the Tumbarumba community has seen donated timber enhance facilities at Tumbarumba Carcoola Children’s Centre and Tumbarumba Public School. The partnership has seen renewable resources used to benefit children and the community, said Forestry Corporation’s Billie-Jo Brown. 

Patricia Gill. “Make no mistake we will have another bushfire like that,” chief bushfire control officer Lez Baines warns of the likely repeat of another February bushfire ... Lez urged all householders to leave rather than defend their properties in the event of a fire.

Denmark circus performer Zak Launay joined a team from the National Institute of Circus Arts to run a series of workshops in the Kimberley ... “We are looking at possible options to organise residencies that could lead to workshops for the Denmark Circus Collective in the future,” Zak said. A key focus of the workshops was to re-engage youth through circus.

Two of the world’s leading palaeontologists along with scientific researchers and educators have gathered to discuss the importance of the Bass Coast Dinosaurs Trail in Inverloch ... "It is a true legacy project for Council to be at the forefront of creating a world class tourism experience that celebrates the work of scientists, volunteers and the international significance of polar dinosaurs to the Australian Continent": Bass Coast Mayor Michael Whelan.

The Brisbane Entertainment Centre became the classroom for Urbenville Public School students on Saturday, December 3. The students were special guests of rockstar Keith Urban. Teacher Mel Sifko said they “had the most magical night. We were ushered in through a VIP entrance to our own special room."

Matthew Harrison's presentation covers a range of issues relating to soil carbon markets, from changes in soil carbon over time to whether we should rethink soil carbon markets, beginning with the key question: why all the hype about soil carbon?

More than 100 rock fishers have walked away better educated in how to stay safe after Surf Life Saving NSW’s popular rock fishing safety program, Gone Fishing, was successfully held at Avoca Beach ... more than 300 people ... learned all about vital safety measures and skill-building techniques specific to the popular but often deadly pastime.

They’re the creepy crawlies with a voracious appetite, so when it comes to food waste, black soldier fly larvae are nature’s number one composters. Now, these wriggly grubs are helping South Australia’s food bowl stay clean and green as part of a sustainable food initiative from Mobius Farms.