Short-term (by June 2024)

ACTION 1 – ESTABLISH WAC

This forms part of the Central Highlands Workforce Development and Accommodation Strategy.

CHDC to establish the Workforce and Accommodation Collective (WAC) to deliver and monitor the agreed priorities and continue to drive the broader recommended actions.

A call for members is to be made for the WAC which will include members of the already established CHRR as well as other businesses, institutions and CHRC.

The State Government will also be invited to participate.

The WAC will meet monthly and communicate outcomes publicly.

◼ TIMEFRAME: Call for membership by 1 May 2024 and group formalised for first meeting in June 2024.

PROGRESS REPORT

Terms of Reference and membership invitations issued to 13 stakeholders.

Workforce Accommodation Collective (WAC) inaugural meeting on May 14th.

Second WAC held on Thursday June 20th.

At the inaugural WAC meeting on 14 May 2024 were Kate Isles (Infinitum Partners), Marsha Abbott (Central Highlands Hospital and Health Service), Leisa Donlan (CHRC), Sharyn Larsen (Kestrel), Joy Fernie (Fernie Real Estate), Annette Smith (Acumentis), Jenny Finlay (Borilla Community Kindergarten), Gai Sypher (CHRC and CHDC), Luke Padovan (Coronado), and Peter Dowling (CHDC). Not pictured but attended online: Amy Church (Kestrel), Mark Dunning (Costa 2PH), Michael Solomon (Glencore), Monique Evans (Regional Schools Industry Partnership, QLD Government), Bruce Campbell (QBuild).

The third WAC was held on Thursday, 18 July 2024, with guest speaker Mel Comerford from Astute Early Learning discussing the Childcare Leadership Alliance and the recruitment strategy they implemented for Moranbah and Dysart. Several childcare centres from within the region were also in attendance.

WDAS – Summary

WDAS – ATTACHMENT

WDAS – MEDIA RELEASE