CATEGORY

Education & training

Compost in sponge cities are the answer to building climate resilience: CORE

Research conducted by the Centre for Organic Research & Education (CORE) has developed recycled content technologies that can turn cities and farmlands into Sponges that can adapt to more frequent flooding and drought events to reduce the risk they present to our communities ... May 1st to 7th marks International Compost Awareness Week (ICAW) in Australia.

Zounds Professor Zylstra: David Jefford Ward

One of Professor Zylstra’s core beliefs is that withholding fire from south-west Australian eucalypt forests for at least four decades will make those forests less flammable, even in a warming climate. This idea must bring joy to those who have long claimed that frequent, deliberate (prescribed) burning is ‘harmful to biodiversity’.

Library’s seeds a gift that keeps on giving

Serena Kirby. The Denmark seed library has given out 1300 seed packets since it began in November 2020. Instigated and run by the Denmark Library, there is a biannual Seed Library gathering held at the start of autumn and spring where library members can meet and access free seeds.

Continued success for NHS Ag Show team

The Narrandera High School agricultural show team has followed up on their recent success of champion school at the National Angora Trophy Show in Goulburn by taking out the champion school title in the Angora Goats section at the Sydney Royal Easter Show for the second year in a row.

Prospects for Australian wheat exports amid the Ukraine-Russia conflict

A Charles Sturt University agribusiness expert suggests Australia can anticipate an increase in wheat exports to countries affected by the Ukraine-Russia conflict and should target those importing nations’ requirements.

You can’t be what you can’t see: improvement needed to careers education in secondary schools

Careers education in Australia’s schools is grossly inadequate, according to a new report by the National Youth Commission Australia. The report cites young people's negative experiences, such as not being provided with adequate classes or information on career options or pathways post-secondary school education.

Conservatorium supports local musicians to replace musical instruments lost in the floods

It is clear from the extent of the NSW floods that many of the Con’s students, teachers and other musicians have lost their instruments, with most uninsured, and the Con has worked to quickly explore immediate support options for staff, students and the wider musical community impacted by this crisis. The Con itself has also lost much of its musical equipment and not all is fully covered by insurance.

Fisheries workshop a winner

A capacity-building fisheries workshop between Traditional Owners, the Torres Strait Regional Authority and Fishwell Consulting has won the People Development Award at the Queensland Seafood Industry Awards, TSRA chair Pedro Stephen said the award aligned with TSRA’s dedicated fisheries program, which aims to support a sustainable fishing industry owned and operated by Torres Strait Islander and Aboriginal peoples.

Deputy PM announces doctor training for Tennant Creek

Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce flew into Tennant Creek on Wednesday morning to deliver the good news for health in the region. Tennant Creek has been listed as a targeted General Practitioner (GP) recruitment location under the Remote Vocational Training Scheme (RVTS).

Reboot your soils

“Despite all our achievements, we owe our existence to a six-inch layer of topsoil and the fact it rains.” A quote often attributed to long time US radio presenter, Paul Harvey, this quote succinctly captures the critical importance of our topsoil. What is topsoil, how is it formed and how do we improve it?

Caffeine-infused chocolate to create a sweet buzz

Castlemaine local, Stefan Dannhausen, is set to become the Goldfields region’s answer to the Easter Bunny, having launched his new owner-managed business, Dimpex Import and Wholesale. Interested in starting out on his own but initially unsure what type of business he wanted to run, Stefan drew on fond memories of enjoying SCHO-KA-KOLA with his family as a child to come up with a business idea that allowed him to explore his German heritage.

Master class with Mark: vital propagation skills passed on

Serena Kirby. Mark Parre is busy passing on his skills and knowledge to the next generation because, after nearly 30 years with the Shire of Denmark, retirement looms ... “The work is the greatest reward and when I revisit a site I planted up years before and see the diversity of flora and fauna it really makes my heart sing.”

Local Health Advisory Committee

Joan de Bondt. The Barham Local Health Advisory Committee (LHAC) is holding a free two-day course, ‘Mental Health First Aid’ on May 5 and 6 ... The members of the Barham committee meet once a month to identify local service needs, to discuss ways to improve access to services, and to assist in planning and development. They provide valuable input into planning health services and in informing the local community of the availability of services. They encourage members of the public to raise their concerns and to offer suggestions about programs that they would like to see implemented.

No oxygen, no fish: Investigating dead fish in Richmond River post floods

“After the first flood in late February there was no oxygen in the river between Ballina and Coraki. That’s around 60 kilometres of river and estuary with no oxygen and therefore no fish. A lot of the dead fish were washed out to sea during this event due to the magnitude and duration of the flood”: Professor Damien Maher, Southern Cross University.

Drones and dogs team up in Sunshine Coast koala conservation project

For the past three days, a high-tech team from Sunshine Coast Council, University of the Sunshine Coast and the Friends of Maroochy Regional Bushland Botanic Gardens have worked together to uncover how many koalas live in the reserve and how healthy they are.

Plans to establish a local university hub gain support

Plans for a Regional University Centre in Port Lincoln are gaining momentum, with the City of Port Lincoln supporting a proposal for a local university hub. Offering a range of tertiary education options, a university hub would fill a gap in the local and regional education market, providing options for residents to study locally.

Hit the critter trail these school holidays

The April school holidays are almost here, and with it brings the return of the Critter Trail on Chapman: an interactive experience for young detectives. Coordinated by the Geraldton Regional Art Gallery (GRAG), the Critter Trail is a series of art pieces along the CBD portion of Chapman Road depicting critters that have ‘borrowed’ art from the City’s Collection.

Rio Tinto team preparing to hit the road

Rio Tinto’s Indigenous Employment and Development team are gearing up for another jam-packed year of programs, activities and events across Cape York ... Weipa operations general manager Shona Markham said she was impressed by what the team offered.

Historic trade deal with India: PM

Australia signs an historic trade agreement with India, the Australia-India Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement, that will further strengthen our relationship while making Australian exports to India cheaper and creating huge new opportunities for workers and businesses.

$6.3m Federal Budget boost for Tennant Creek boarding school

Plans for a boarding school for Tennant Creek have been boosted by a $6.3 million funding announcement in this week’s Federal Budget. The funding is in addition to a standing $9.2 million Federal Government investment and a $3 million contribution from the NT Government.

Producers prepare for setbacks

Gabrielle Duykers. Food and beverage producers from across the region will be meeting to discuss the impacts of drought and climate change to help bolster their preparedness for such events. The Limestone Coast Food and Agribusiness Cluster, established in December 2021, will run a series of webinars and networking events to help foster a better understanding of the risks posed by drought and varying climates.

The Hive – a new creative business opens

The Hive Narrandera is a hub of creativity, bringing together an art gallery, retail space and opportunities for creative classes ... “I’m new to the area. This is my third year in Narrandera and I have seen so many talented people! My idea was to have an art gallery in the front, because it is such a big space and showcase local, regional and rural NSW art”: Melissa Horrell.

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