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Briefs Live webinar

MACKAY Regional Council is offering a free five-part webinar series focussed on business development. The free mentoring webinar sessions will cover business essentials such as planning fundamentals, building a digital footprint, business accessibility and much more. The webinar series is part of Council’s Small Business Mentoring Program being delivered by Sparrowly Group for businesses in the Pioneer Valley. All businesses in the Mackay region are invited to participate in this fantastic opportunity. Register your interest today at mackay.qld.gov.au/ businesswebinars

Cleaning up

COUNCIL has added two new sites to its Great Northern Clean Up. Residents can now also choose to attend a clean-up at Seaforth Beach from 9am to 11am and Bucasia Beach from 1pm to 3pm. Both events will be on Sunday, September 5. These sites are in addition to the existing eight sites council is hosting this weekend, August 28 and 29 where people can volunteer a couple of hours of their time to help clean up our beautiful region. These are at Sandfly Creek, Bakers Creek Park, Lamberts Beach, Blacks Beach, Riverside Drive, Half Tide Beach, Illawong Beach (Quota Park), and Woodland Reserve. Gloves, tongs/litter pickers, bags, and water will be provided at all sites.

Skill transfer

JOB seekers and those looking to transfer their skills into a new career in Capricornia will be encouraged to consider care and support work in a new Australian Government campaign. The A Life Changing Life campaign captures real-life relationships between workers and the people they support to highlight the unique experiences and employment opportunities available in the sector. The care and support sector, which includes aged care, disability and veterans’ support, is one of the fastest-growing sectors in Australia. The care and support sector can provide a variety of job and career opportunities.

Ramped up

THE Member for Whitsunday Amanda Camm MP has launched a petition to fix the Shute Harbour Boat Ramp. Following a meeting with the local fishing community at Shute Harbour, residents expressed their frustration and disbelief at the standard of the newly developed $1.8 million Queensland Government-funded boat ramp. “Today I have officially launched my petition calling on the Palaszczuk Labor Government to fix the Shute Harbour Boat Ramp,” she said. “The local fishing community was not consulted in the design process. The impracticality of the boat ramp means it is unsafe, and at times impossible, to launch a boat from.” CQUniversity work and employment expert Associate Professor Linda Colley is calling on all workplaces to be inclusive as we lead into Wear it Purple Day on Friday.

“People should feel safe and accepted in their workplace,” Assoc. Prof. Colley said. “This should be a fundamental workplace right and it is the ethical thing for any organisation to do.”

Wear it Purple Day is an international movement that aims to promote supportive, safe, empowering and inclusive environments for rainbow young people.

CQU has been a supporter of the movement for many years, actively encouraging its staff and students to wear purple on the day.

Assoc. Prof. Colley says that while symbolic events such as Wear it Purple Day are a good start for workplaces to embrace inclusivity, inclusivity needs to be built into all other organisational activities.

“Look at language used,” she explained. “I can remember a time when everything in organisations was expressed in masculine terms and the range of emotions I felt about being so excluded.

“So the next step is to create more inclusive pronouns. Encourage use of they rather than he or she. Or encourage explicit use of pronouns by everyone, such as she/her, which regularizes that we should not make assumptions about gender identity.”

Assoc. Prof. Colley says looking at your company or business policies was a good starting point.

“Ensure that they are gender inclusive and provide guidance to managers on how to both avoid discrimination but more than that, to be actively inclusive,” she said.

“Look at other organisational processes, such as making sure there are non-binary options on payroll forms and leave forms and surveys.”

Assoc. Prof. Colley also suggested looking at your training to ensure all diversity and anti-discrimination training programs include LGBTIQ+ and are used to educate staff and managers.

“Think about your office environment. Is there scope for gender-neutral bathrooms, which make perfect sense for everyone. And if you are not sure, ask them. Maybe start an LGBTIQ+ network, for feedback on what is needed and for an ongoing conversation about how your organisation is tracking.”

CQUniversity Ally Program coordinator Dr Gemma Mann says she is proud to work for an organisation that takes inclusivity seriously.

“At CQU we strive to eliminate discrimination, to treat everyone equally and to celebrate and encourage diversity, in particular for people

A/Prof Linda Colley Dr Gemma Mann who identify as LGBTIQ+,” she said.

“As an out and proud gay woman, I encourage everyone in the community to get behind this initiative and Wear it Purple this Friday to show your support for rainbow young people. By doing so, you will not only be fostering connection and inclusion, but showing all rainbow young people that you see them, you hear them.”

Murder’s a ball on the national stage

FROM PAGE ONE

“But for years I was so sure it wasn’t for me - as an outsider looking in, it looked like they were all trying to kill each other!”

After moving to Melbourne then travelling overseas with her brother, a lost bet meant she agreed to give the sport, known as “murderball” for its extreme clashes, a go. “I got my first sports chair in 2014, and straight away loved it – the game is highly strategic, fast paced, full contact and ridiculously fun,” she said.

“It didn’t take long to set the goal of playing for Australia, I worked hard and got my skills to a point where I was invited to a national team camp, and have now been on the national squad for two and a half years.”

“I was lucky enough to spend all of 2019 travelling the world and playing a sport I love,” she said.

Shae was the first woman to be selected for and represent Australia playing wheelchair rugby, a mixed gender sport, and is still the only woman on the Steelers squad.

The team is defending its consecutive-gold record, after Olympic glory at London 2012 and Rio 2016.

Shae’s also achieved big things off the field, continuing with studies to complete her Master of Information Management, and a Graduate Certificate in Teaching while working SKILL: Shae in action on the court. as a librarian in Melbourne. “I developed my obsession with learning while I was at CQU, I originally started a single degree but swapped to double half way through, and it just kind of snowballed from there,” she said.

“Especially before I got back into playing sport, study definitely tapped into my competitive side!”

“Last year in lockdown, being stuck at home and not being able to work was driving me crazy, so getting back into study made a huge difference.”

The pandemic also threw out preparations for the Olympics, but Shae proved her resilience as the Games were moved back a year, and as she and the squad continued training remotely.

“It’s been a wild ride with lots of unknowns, and that’s been frustrating, and scary. But ultimately, it’s been good for my development as a player, and for the confidence I’ll take to Tokyo now.”

Shae and her team flew to Japan on Wednesday 18 August, with five days of competition which began on August 25.

Shae still has family in Mackay, and she says they’ve followed her career eagerly – and with a bit of ‘told you so!’ too!

“My brother doesn’t let me forget it was because of him I got into the sport!” she laughed.

“But it’s a good lesson, not to let things hold you back, even if it’s your own stubbornness.”

“You never know when you’ll find your next big passion!”

Shae’s also continuing her passion for learning and teaching, as an Australian Institute of Sport ambassador for The Good Village, an online resource for primary school children to learn about the benefits of physical activity, nutrition, wellbeing and teamwork.

New visa for farms

THE Federal Government has delivered a vital agriculture visa to help secure the RURALO and Mackay is set to benefit from it.

The Agricultural Worker Visa will provide a long term, reliable workforce for our critical industries while solving one of the great challenges facing regional Australia in recent history.

Federal Member for Capricornia Michelle Landry said she was incredibly proud to be a part of the government that has consistently fought for and delivered for regional communities.

“The agriculture visa will be in place no later than 30 September of this year, with the full implementation of this demand driven visa complete within 3 years,” Ms Landry said.

“The visa will be open to applicants from a range of countries and will be available to skilled, semi-skilled and unskilled workers.

“It will include meat processing, fisheries and forestry sectors and provide a basis for the ongoing growth of our primary industries.

This will greatly assist many industries in Capricornia as they manage and plan out their future workforce needs.

“We’ve listened to our communities and our industries, and this is what they’ve asked for. This will also help keep our next generation in Capricornia knowing that the future of regional Australia is bright and prosperous.” Deputy Leader of the Nationals and Minister for Agriculture, David Littleproud said the agriculture workforce shortage has been a major issue during COVID.

“While our farmers and industries have gone about their work keeping Australians and the world fed and clothed, they have done so under workforce constraints,” Minister Littleproud said. “With the changes to the Working Holiday Maker program following the UKFTA, the Government knew this was the time to put the agriculture visa in place.”

Keeping mum on uber niche

IN TIMES of uncertainty and job instability as a result of COVID19, it might all become a bit too hard looking for work.

However, Daniela Scott went out and not only found a job – but she created it from scratch!

And it is perfect for her!

The 34-year-old, mother of three, is an Uber Eats driver – tapping into the latest trends around dining in!

Daniela has been working for the Uber Eats platform in Mackay for about a year with Uber launching 2019.

Loving the flexibility that comes from the job, it allows her to work around family and life in general.

“I have done Dominos and Pizza Hut – and all those delivery services, but it was really good to find a platform where you can do the hours you need to and you can pause if you have to pick your kids up from school,” she said.

Daniela also loves the fact there are no strict uniforms and that she can just be herself and work in a space which allows her to tap into her love of customer service and to just get out of the house.

“I can also pick and choose what deliveries that I want to do and their payment is really good. You really don’t need the newest car to make deliveries, either” she said.

While Daniela concedes it might not be for everyone, she recommends anyone needing a job to give a platform such as Uber Eats a try.

And if it’s Daniela who appears on your doorstep with your favourite meal or munchies, then be sure to say hi! READY: Daniela on the way to deliver some delicious food.