Investing In Skills Goondiwindi Region
« BackSupporting local industries to meet their skilled labour needs will be the focus of newly appointed Regional Skills Investment Strategy Project Coordinator Samantha Noon.
The exciting new role is a first for the Goondiwindi region and is part of the Regional Skills Investment Strategy (RSIS) – a Queensland Government initiative to support regional communities to identify current and emerging jobs in key industries and ensure there is a supply of skilled local people to meet demand.
Three industries have been identified as key emerging sectors in the region: food processing, transport and logistics, and health and aged care. Ms Noon’s role will engage with representatives from these sectors to explore which skills need to be developed in the region and to identify any existing barriers to training.
Ms Noon, originally from Lithgow in New South Wales, has lived in Goondiwindi for the past three years and now brings her passion for rural and regional areas to the new role.
“This is a really exciting role for the Goondiwindi region because it means more training opportunities to get more local people the skills and training they need,” Ms Noon said.
“It’s about matching local people to local jobs and ensuring local people have access to quality training opportunities. Helping those industries that are needing more skilled workers will help our region’s economy and ultimately benefit the whole community.”
Goondiwindi Regional Council CEO Carl Manton said the continued economic success of the region was dependent upon the supply of skilled workers.
“These sectors are vital to the future of the Goondiwindi region’s economy,” Mr Manton said.
“We want to be prepared for growth in those industries and make sure we’re in front of process instead of being reactive. A skilled local workforce is essential to the continued success of our thriving regional economy.
“It was a competitive process [to secure the funding], so it’s a great success and boost to our region to be able to secure this role and Samantha’s expertise,” Mr Manton said.
First on the project agenda will be the formation of a reference group with representatives from the target industries. This will determine regional skills priorities and work together with the Queensland Government to develop training solutions through a ‘locals first’ approach.
“Local knowledge is critical and we will work with employers that are looking for skilled workers now and into the future,” Ms Noon said.
“It will also be an opportunity to inform industry groups and individuals about what’s out there in terms of training and development.”
Increasing community awareness of the existing vocational education and training already in the region will be a priority of the project.
“I think there is a perception that training can be inaccessible and unaffordable,” Ms Noon said. “But there are subsidised and accessible programs out there. One of the main messages I want to get across is to never stop learning and there’s certainly no age limit for training and development.”
The Regional Skills Investment Strategy project is proudly supported and funded by the Queensland Government. The Project Co-Ordinator role will run for two years from March 2019.
Goondiwindi Regional Council Mayor Graeme Scheu said Council was extremely proud to have secured this role for the region.
“I want to take this opportunity to acknowledge and thank the Honourable Shannon Fentiman MP, Minister for Employment and Small Business and Minister for Training and Skills Development for supporting and investing in the Goondiwindi region,” Cr Scheu said.
“As a council we are excited to see the outcomes of this project and what it will mean for our communities.”
Businesses and stakeholders in the target industries are encouraged to provide their input and can contact Samantha on 0428 819 932 or SNoon@grc.qld.gov.au.
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For more information, please contact:
Samantha Noon
Project Coordinator Regional Skills Investment Strategy
Goondiwindi Regional Council
M 0428 819 932