Education & training

Pam Dillon. Four schools came together to battle it out on the soft-ball field in Tennant Creek for the Annual Barkly Region Central Softball Cup ... As all teams had won a game, a countback of runs for and against had to be done to decide who was going to play in the grand final.

Serena Kirby. The WA College of Agriculture Denmark showcased a wide range of activities this month at its annual open day ... From machinery maintenance and aquaculture to forestry and calf rearing, students and staff demonstrated the farm-based programs run by the school.

Emma Pritchard. Sitting dutifully at his computer with a copy of his study guide in his hand, Duncan Gray focuses intently on his work ... When asked how he is adjusting to learning from home, Duncan said one of the biggest challenges he is experiencing is waiting for a response from some of his teachers after he asks a question. Sometimes, he has to wait until the next class before he receives a reply.

A new multidisciplinary Australian Research Council Research Hub for Smart Fertilisers at the University of Melbourne will develop a new class of fertilisers and inhibitors for Australian farmers.  

This week Rockhampton Regional Council will be sending out copies of a new book full of age appropriate, tips and hints to help children be prepared and stay safe during a disaster.

Sawfish - one of the world's most endangered rays - have lost over half of their habitat worldwide and largely disappeared from the entire east coast of Australia. A collaborative study by the University of Southern Queensland and Sharks and Rays Australia will endeavour to fill in gaps in information about the ray’s ecology, biology and distribution.

Richard Segal. The Lord Howe currawong is one of the most recognisable and commonly encountered native bird species on Lord Howe Island. They are often curious about people and always keen for a sultana or two. Until recently, little was known about the currawong, including where they prefer to nest and how many of them are breeding. For example, do all birds nest each year or only some of them? Do they nest across the island, or do they favour certain areas?

After four months of delivery in the metropolitan area, the Heavy Vehicle Driving Operations Skill Set will now be delivered through South Regional TAFE to address the shortage of truck drivers in regional WA.

Caloundra State High School students have created a wildflower world with a difference at the  Maroochy Regional Bushland Botanic Garden. The  free augmented reality experience  is on until 10 September and  offers visitors  the chance to immerse themselves in nature while learning about these beautiful flowers through the magic of technology.

Fee-free heavy vehicle truck driver training and licencing courses are now on offer to the grains, cotton, rice, viticulture and horticultural sectors across New South Wales as part of an industry-led workforce development strategy.

Pam Dillon. Students from Tennant Creek Primary and High School took to the beautiful surroundings of Lake Mary Ann for their cross country races. The run took them along the water’s edge, up steep hills and along dusty paths.

The study, published in Ecosphere, analysed the severity of Australia's 2019-2020 bushfires by examining the amount of damage to vegetation. Co-author Professor David Lindenmayer said weather had a large effect on the fires. "However, forests also burned at very high severity when they were between 10 to 40 years old. Young forests regenerating after logging were particularly susceptible to very high severity fire," he said.

The community can discover mythical hidden creatures across local venues during the Barossa instalment of SALA (South Australian Living Artists Festival), a celebration of South Australian visual art. In partnership with Barossa Regional Gallery, Nuriootpa High School Visual Art students have spent months creating the sculptures for public display at participating businesses.

Developing a blood test to predict the stress of aquatic species and help industry develop a more sustainable fish economy is the focus of a new research project at The University of Western Australia in collaboration with the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development.

Katherine Town Council have undertaken a new initiative offering year 11 and 12 students from Katherine High School and St Joseph’s Catholic College the opportunity to undertake paid work experience.

An extra-terrestrial parcel of Australian Golden wattle seeds has returned safely to earth and is undergoing biosecurity screening following its journey into space.  

The hunt is on to find the hydrogen skills and businesses to join the renewable fuel supply chain that will create jobs in Toowoomba and the Western Downs.Minister for Energy, Renewables and Hydrogen Mick de Brenni today announced a partnership between publicly-owned power generator CS Energy and Toowoomba and Surat Basin Enterprise to increase local participation in the hydrogen industry.

Government and industry representatives, businesses, agribusinesses, community members, advocates and anyone with an interest in this field are invited to attend the Activating the Low Carbon Economy in Regional Australia forum online on Thursday 19 August 2021 to learn more about embracing this developing industry and the opportunities it offers.

Greenlife Industry Australia has unveiled its new Careers Hub, an online platform which aims to attract the next generation of talent to the nursery industry. The Greenlife Industry Careers Hub offers a portal to a series of resources relating to careers, education and professional development, to support the attraction, development and retention of workers in the greenlife industry.

Jason Armbruster thanked his training when he reflected on the events of a beautiful Ballina morning in April, events that would sequentially add up and lay the platform for him to be awarded the Surf Life Saving NSW Rescue of the Month.

The COVID-19 pandemic risks having a deep and lasting impact on Australia’s first responder community. New research highlighting alarming rates of anxiety, depression and burnout potentially leaves Australia with a scar that’s harder to heal that the disease itself.