Education & training

Recently I have been hosting a series of Business Leaders Round Tables throughout regional Victoria and Queensland. In several of the sessions, I was quite taken aback by the language used to describe our next generation by some of the leaders present. History shows that every generation has its own set of unique qualities, values, and idiosyncrasies. But describing or labelling an entire generation with broad sweeping negative generalisations is unhelpful and is a sure way to get any potential staff or volunteers offside.

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.

Will Hunter. Annette Morphett says she has always had a deep affinity for rural schools and communities. The passionate educator has spent more than 20 years at Wallaroo’s St Mary MacKillop School where she has positively impacted the educational outcomes of countless students.

Recent Dietetic students David and Dylan from Deakin University conducted a project for East Wimmera Health Services (EWHS) regarding Diabetes in the area. The following is a summary article of their findings and recommendations for improving the service and overall health of consumers within the EWHS catchment areas.

Five Yanchep Rise Primary School students unveiled the school’s new peace pole ... Principal Helen Demiris let students Jessica Henry, Ruby Maskelyne, Bailey Gallen, Lily Turner and Iona Roberts unwrap the peace pole following the school’s assembly.

Trevor Shiell ... The community approached the [Fijian] government and got a negative response because the government had no money. Dreketi was a subsistence area of the country, so they decided to build a junior secondary school themselves ... Within a year they had a junior secondary school for 320 kids. No help from government, thank you, and they took pride and ownership of it.

Baringhup Primary School was an important community hub until its doors closed in 2017, following an exodus of students. What has happened at the school since then? The answer is: not a lot.

Students from years 9 through 12 across Sydney will have the opportunity to experience drone flight in an exhilarating setting next month, with the University of NSW’s School of Aviation and the Australian Uncrewed Aerial Vehicle Service (AUAVS) teaming up for a Drone Racing Day in Moore Park ... "The launch of the Bachelor of Aviation majoring in Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems represents a significant step forward in aviation education": AUAVS Manager, Paul Hardy.  

Travelling singer-songwriter Josh Arnold visited Nobby State School last week to help finalise the new school song with the assistance of the students, who helped encapsulate what the school is all about ... Josh said it was important for the students to incorporate the village of Nobby into the lyrics.

The big issues affecting the district will be spotlighted by the Naracoorte-Lucindale Council to the Premier and his ministers when the country cabinet visits the rural township this Thursday. Critical issues such as agriculture, education, roads, reliable high-speed connectivity, emergency health hub...

On Tuesday Corryong College held its annual Tough Mudder and Colour Run ... The course was designed by Claudia McKimmie’s Year 9/10 fun and fitness class and had more than ten different stations including the water slide, the ice bath, silage bails, hay bale climb, mazes, hill climb and barbed-wire crawl.

The Cook Government has approved a 1,012 square-metre land transfer to support a growing early childhood learning centre located on McNeill Street, Dalwallinu. The site will be transferred to the Shire of Dalwallinu with conditional freehold, in recognition of the immediate and long-term benefits for the Dalwallinu community.

Allora P-10 State School Principal Megan Rauchle took up the challenge on Friday. Any students raising over $100 have the opportunity to slime the Principal.

A record number of 25 exhibitors showcased the resources that are available to communities before, during and after an emergency at the North East Emergency Expo in Corryong on Saturday.

Australian Soccer legend, Paul Wade, has been in Koondrook Barham this week delivering a life skills program to kids at the towns’ schools. Paul competed for Australia in the 1988 Olympic Games, captained the Socceroos from 1990-1996, representing the country in 118 international games including two World Cup campaigns and also had great success back home with two National Soccer League Championships and 1988 National Soccer League player of the year.  

There was anticipation in the air as two time capsules from 25 years ago were unearthed last week ... School captains, Meiha Burns and Daisy McGlone, led the formalities, with vice captains, Lainie Hawken and Hayley Rooney, principal Fiona Miller and principal of 1998, Glenn Hall, giving an insight into school life past and present.

Mother Kimberley and daughter Hannah, who attends Kaniva College were among 120 students from across regional and rural Victoria to attend the Annual Biomedical Sciences Day at the University of Melbourne. The local student had the exciting opportunity to experience life as a biomedical scientist at the event presented by the University of Melbourne’s School of Biomedical Sciences and the Gene Technology Access Centre (GTAC).

Meet Lionel Marr, a proud Bunuba man, who always felt a calling to return from the city back to his childhood home of Fitzroy Crossing. He wanted to know more about his country, his people and his culture and became a trainee ranger with the Parks and Wildlife Service, earning a coxswain skippers ticket. Lionel’s efforts during the Kimberley floods of January 2023, despite losing his family home, and his commitment to his job, earned him special recognition.

Clarence Valley beaches now feature a splash of pink after the Far North Coast Surf Lifesaving Nippers season began and children don their pink rash shirts. Nippers at Yamba is open to children between the ages of six and fourteen, and the surf skills program teaches lifesaving techniques, surf safety, CPR, and rescue experience, while completing fun activities in the surf.

Over the past six months I have travelled to every State and Territory conducting a series of Business and Community Leader Consultations. Whilst every region has their own unique issues and challenges to address, what impressed me most was the passion and commitment leaders had for their community, and in particular the next generation coming through. A key recurring message was the importance of being able to lead oneself! ... Having a personal leadership charter is important.

A new bike library will link Orelia Primary School students with unclaimed bikes from WA Police to encourage physical activity. An exciting new bike library concept aims to leave a positive legacy in Kwinana by linking unclaimed or donated bikes with students at Orelia Primary School.