PROJECTS

• A community survey identified issues associated with volunteering. A campaign was developed using members from 10 local clubs as the ‘faces’ of volunteering, talking about why they volunteer, to directly address the information gleaned through the survey.
• The campaign is now underway and will run for 10 months in 2024 – which has been declared as Smart Transformation’s ‘Year of the Volunteer’. Participating clubs will provide direct feedback on results, however all clubs and organisations (in both Dysart and Moranbah) are encouraged to use the campaign materal in their recruiting efforts.
• Phase 1 involved the shooting and compilation of 10 short videos, uploaded to YouTube and being promoted on social media; social media results are encouraging.
• Publicity stories were published in March, followed by two television advertisements which were produced with the support of BMA and aired on Channel 7, thanks to the Moranbah Workers Club.
• Phase 2 of the campaign is now underway, following the shooting and compilation of a second round of 10 videos with five new clubs and community groups in May and June. These videos have now been passed onto the clubs and organisations, and are being shared on social media.
• Moranbah District Support Services (MDSS) joined project as collaborator, taking objectives further with social media outlet preparing to be launched.

• Following discussions among STAC members regarding mental health issues in the community, investigations were carried out into options to address the problem.
• Regional support group Outback Futures, having had success in other rural and remote communities with similar issues, was identified as having the necessary skills and resources.
• Outback Futures was engaged to conduct a scoping visit to the community in November 2023, which included 30 interviews with stakeholders and a community forum.
• The Outback Futures team has provided a ‘scoping report’ of recommendations and options for Dysart, which STAC members discussed at their February and April meetings.
• A letter has been forwarded to new Isaac Regional Council Mayor Kellie Vea Vea regarding support for this project, with a briefing in June.
• The proposal has now been funded by BMA for a period of 12 months, as a pilot.
• Discussions with IRC, Mackay HHS and NQPHN being pursued on possible co-funding.
• Outback Futures to conduct November trip with allied health professionals (currently servicing over sixty new clients), along with hosting community meeting to develop STAC-endorsed community initiatives further.

The number one priority of the Smart Transformation Advisory Councils and Youth Advisory Council, the Digital Connectivity Project was developed with funding from BMA and Telstra, managed by the Greater Whitsunday Alliance (GW3) and supported by Isaac Regional Council.

The sucessful delivery of this project has now tripled mobile connectivity capacity in Dysart and doubled it in Moranbah. The focus was on mobile data, however both towns will be included in Telstra’s NBN upgrade by the end of 2024.

The project is now in full operation, with positive feedback received following a community newsletter being delivered in Dysart. A launch event was held in Moranbah in April, where the project was widely celebrated as a great success.

Conversations with NBNCo on local upgrades have revealed construction of infrastructure is complete in Moranbah and almost finished in Dysart. Moranbah residents can upgrade to full fibre to premises, with Dysart sign-up expected Q1 2025.

GW3 consulting with stakeholders on priority blackspots in Isaac.

Following a study into local services, a steering committee was formed to improve the availability of childcare services in Dysart and Moranbah. The Childcare Leadership Alliance (CLA) was born and launched in April 2023, with BMA providing initial funding of $1.2M to establish the Alliance and provide strategic sector-wide support to childcare across Moranbah and Dysart.

Implementation of the CLA’s strategic plan is also addressing attraction/retention and professional development of childcare workers. Professional development training events were held in May and September 2023.

As at June 2024, there have been 35 staff placements made in Moranbah centres, boosting the number of childcare places on offer by 150. Funding to support new staff and further recruitment is now being pursued, with the STACs advised of the need for additional financial support from local industry and businesses. The focus is now shifting to Dysart centres with the CLA conducting a demand survey in Dysart in support of a business case for greater service delivery.

The CLA, with BMA, won the Community Award at the Queensland Mining Awards in July 2024.

At the December 2020 STAC meetings, the issue of affordable housing received upgraded priority given it links with the sustainability of Dysart and Moranbah relating to potential population growth.

Smart Transformation’s Housing Project has developed forward actions to address accommodation challenges both towns. Following an initial summit and subsequent issues workshops in November 2022 involving local, regional and statewide stakeholders, draft recommendations were developed.

A Virtual Roundtable to review the draft forward plan took place in July 2023, with strong attendance from community, industry and government. STAC members are working with Isaac Regional Council, the Isaac Affordable Housing Trust (IAHT) and GWC’s Regional Housing Alliance team.

Moranbah STAC member Ash Dowd travelled to Mackay in April to attend Community Cabinet and lobby Housing Minister Meaghan Scanlon. The STAC is advocating for financial support for the IAHT, and waiting for a response from the Minister.

Smart Transformation met with Isaac Regional Council Mayor Kelly Vea Vea in October 2024, and a further meeting to investigate collaboration between IAHT and Smart Transformation is now being progressed.

Smart Transformation initiated the creation of a Careers Navigator position, attached to local high schools, to ensure regional students are aware of the skills needed to access the jobs of the future. This project helps students access relevant education and training information. Funding was secured through BMA in conjunction with Queensland Future Skills, a partnership between BMA, TAFE Queensland and CQUni.

The Careers Navigator role ended in June 2024, but the high schools now have a list of roles that exist in the mining industry, as well as implementation of QMEA’s Careers4ME tool, and an Industry Skills needs analysis report.

The STACs will also be more involved with the Youth Advisory Council moving forward, with an expanded YAC program (YAC+) in 2024, designed to engage students outside the YAC in future skills.

The YAC+ Program developed in 2024 rolled out in August at MSHS and DSHS with over 350 students participating.

Nominations for YAC 2025 are now being received.

As identified through the Roadmap, the issue of government funding has been a long running one in the region, with most stakeholders believing that service delivery does not match demand or give consideration to the populations living in the mining camps.

Smart Transformation commissioned a study into government funding for Dysart and Moranbah, which showed a significant shortfall in comparison with similar sized towns in Queensland for the resident population. Since the report was completed and provided to key participants, including Mackay Hospital and Health Service, the Queensland Government has announced a new hospital for Moranbah.

Smart Transformation meets with Isaac Regional Council monthly to ensure advocacy plans are co-ordinated, with education at Dysart State High School a priority. .

The STACs prioritised the importance of supporting local businesses with training courses that could be attended in person or viewed from home via video link.

E-commerce training and attraction/retention sessions have been held in Moranbah, in partnership with the Moranbah Traders Association, with further courses under consideration.

As part of this project Smart Transformation delivered new training programs for volunteers and clubs to support sustainability and growth.

A survey of local groups was conducted to ascertain needs and demands for training, with a program developed and delivered.

This training content is also available for viewing.

A new training session about Social Media, in partnership with GW3, was delivered in September 2023, after having to be postponed in June.

After a survey of local residents found support for a bus service, a trial began in December 2022 running weekly between the two towns.

The pilot ended 14 June 2023. 

To date, this project has promoted the positive and vibrant aspects of community life to prospective employees through the creation of two videos – one for each town – uploaded to YouTube and promoted on social media.

Thousands of people have viewed the videos, which are now regularly being used in recruitment campaigns by local employers.

This project looks at the innovative possibilities, ideas and economic benefits available for our towns over the next 30 years, profiled in an initial report. A study was conducted, overseen by the Smart Transformation Innovative Futures Steering Committee, which includes representatives from Isaac Regional Council, Central Queensland University, Mackay’s Resource Centre of Excellence, Regional Development Australia, Greater Whitsunday Alliance, the Department of State Development and BMA. In June 2023, the steering committee endorsed the plan, which has now also been provided to the Queensland Government.

Smart Transformation is currently a participant in the Regional Economic Futures Fund Stakeholder Advisory Committee established by the Queensland Government, along with other key community and industry representatives. The Regional Transformation Plan has been released, and further meetings of the Stakeholder Advisory Committee are planned.

Additionally, Smart Transformation is participating in the work of enviroMETS which studying economic opportunities associating with mine closoure.