An industry group, made up of representatives from  the region’s Agriculture, Construction, Civil Construction, Health, Horticulture, Manufacturing, Tourism, Transport and Resources sectors, has been formed to find solutions to local workforce challenges such as skills and labour shortages and overcoming barriers to workforce training.

The Far North Queensland Industry Workforce Development Group (IWDG) Chair Colin Keily, HR Manager of MSF Sugar Limited, said collaboration was the key to developing a sustainable regional workforce.

“A sustainable labour pool can only be achieved by working collaboratively with other businesses in this region, rather than in competition. The IWDG, which brings together representatives from a range of regional sectors, is a great opportunity for industry to develop and implement solutions to workforce challenges,” he said.

“With anticipated developments in the resources sector, in particular the establishment of a FIFO hub in Cairns, together with recovery in both the tourism and construction industries and associated demand for services, there could be a significant demand for skilled labour that will need to be met in the short term.”

A meeting on Tuesday will see the IWDG’s charter signed.

“The charter provides the IWDG with a clear pathway forward; outlines clear strategies for success and provides the foundation to translate ideas and strategies into direct, results-based action which will deliver a work – ready, FNQ based workforce to support the growth of industries and businesses in this region.”

The IWDG has been established as part of Advance Cairns Skills Formation Strategy project, which is funded by Skills Queensland.

The Tropical North Queensland Regional Economic Plan (TNQREP) will be launched in the near future. Involving consultation with all levels of government and 40 regional agencies and organisations, the TNQREP outlines a 20 year vision for the region and contains rolling five year action plans and provisions for annual economic benchmarking. Read more

Pictured: Advance Cairns Regional Development Officer Margaret Darveniza who has led the TNQREP process on behalf of the regional stakeholders

International Student Welcome 2011

A note from the President – Susan Rees

PURPOSE

To welcome International Students to the Cairns Region and celebrate the cultural diversity and significant economic contribution they bring.

Cairns opened its arms to over 200 international students, residents and visitors when Study Cairns and the Cairns Regional Council hosted the International Student Welcome annual event at Fogarty Park on 28^th August 2011, held as a part of the Festival Cairns celebrations.

Students were invited from all sectors (English Language, High School, VET and University) within the education and training industry.

During the event, the Mayor delivered a Welcome Speech, games were played by the students, a wide range of entertainment (see below) was on stage, plus Study Cairns members and supporters information stands available and a BBQ held.

Many industry partners got on board by holding information booths on the day, providing entertainment and performances or donating prizes. A BIG thank you …… we cannot do this without your support.

STUDENT & CULTURAL ENTERTAINMENT/GAMES:

• Cairns State High School Rock Band – Sick of the Silence
• Chinese Molihua Dancers and Lion Dance
• Kodomo Kai Japanese Dance Performers
• Zumba demonstration
• Tai Chi & Kung Fu demonstration
• Cairns Wildlife Dome reptiles
• Go Bowling ten pin bowling competition

EVENT SPONSORS

Trinity Anglican School provided the sausage sizzle and hire equipment

Migration Plus provided the giveaway bags

Cairns Produce and Tong Sing provided the fresh fruit

LASTING MEMORIES

A lasting memory from this event is having your photo taken with the Mayor or some of our native wildlife. These treasured photos are a powerful marketing tool when shown back home to agents, family and friends and hopefully encourage increased visitation to the region.

Part of our vision is to promote Cairns as a ‘tropical learning city’ and the leading international education and training region in Queensland and events such as this support our vision

A single student staying for 1 year is estimated to bring $40,000 to the Cairns Regional economy, according the Cummings Economic Report 2006.

Please see our Austropex Conference Feature which was published in the Cairns Post on 3 August 2011.

There’s only two days to go until the inaugural Australian Tropical Expertise Conference.

Themed ‘Our Regions Future’, the Conference explores the role the tropical expertise sector can play in boosting our region’s profile and economy.

The Conference features sessions on Mining, Tourism, Food, Energy, Innovation, Agriculture, Environment, Built Environment and Small Business.

The closing session will see regional leaders come together to share their vision for Our Region’s Future.

This amazing day celebrates the best and brightest in our region and paves the way towards a new economy.

Conference Coordinator Nicky Swan says the Conference is all about regional branding and market – ready solutions.

“Austropex is first and foremost by and about industry,” she explains.

“Austropex is all about supporting, connecting and promoting tropical industries.”

“In turn this will put our region on the map as the home of tropical expertise.”

There are around 35 presenters at the Conference covering issues from Tropical Pasture to Digital Marketing.

“We have an amazing cross section of tropical specialists at this, our first ever Austropex Conference,” Nicky says.

“We warmly invite everyone to attend – you can network, learn and find where your business fits into the rapidly growing tropical expertise sector.”

The collaborative development of the TNQREP is almost complete and the plan will be released following the final round of Community Consultations.

Advance Cairns Regional Development Officer Margaret Darveniza said the Community Consultations were an important part of the TNQREP development process.

“The TNQ Regional Economic Plan is in the final stages of development and before we launch it, we have one more vital step; we need to make sure that we have heard what people have had to say about their goals, dreams and vision for the future of our region,” Ms Darveniza explained.

“We certainly have had plenty of feedback and input to date and this has proven invaluable in the overall process.”

“Our final process will be to hold a number of public forums to give members of the community the opportunity to find out what the collective voice of TNQ has suggested as its Regional Economic Plan.”

The development of the TNQREP is considered an integral component in the overall planning processes being undertaken throughout Tropical North Queensland in the past 12 months and it is considered the economic blueprint for the region’s future.

“This is a high level strategy and we need to explain how it will be used, particularly the Action Plan and what it means to the people of TNQ now and into the future. We are hoping to attract as many people as possible to the forums to see what our collective regional voice has identified as the unified TNQ of tomorrow and the path we will take to get there,” Ms Darveniza said.

Community Consultation Forums:

CASSOWARY COAST – Tuesday 26^th July 2011

Time – 1.30pm – 3.30pm

DEEDI (SJ DPI)

Boogan Road, South Johnstone

TABLELANDS – Thursday 28^th July 2011

Time – 1.30pm – 3.30pm

Board Room, Tablelands Regional Council

Mabel Street, Atherton

COOKTOWN – Friday 29^th July 2011

Time – 9am

Cook Shire Council Offices

CAIRNS – Monday 1^st August 2011

Time – 10.30am – 12.30pm

Civil Reception Room

Cairns Regional Council

Spence Street

A copy of the draft TNQREP will be available for comment on the Advance Cairns website on Friday, July 29, 2011.

A media briefing document will also be available at the same time on the Advance Cairns website.

Public feedback on the TNQREP will close on Monday, August 15, 2011.

Further meetings may be held around the region if there is sufficient community interest.

RSVP: Margaret Darveniza on rdo@advancecairns.com.

Executive Chef from the Cairns Hilton Nathan Johnson at the Taste Paradise event

Federal Tourism Minister the Hon Martin Ferguson will celebrate the success of Taste Paradise and the development of the Local Food Network at Jonsson’s Farm Market next Tuesday.

The event will see the Minister presented with a signed copy of Clare Richards’ Tropical Cuisine cookbook, a Taste Paradise ‘Paddock to Plate’ cooking demonstration featuring Jervoise organic beef by Cairns Hilton Executive Chef Nathan Johnson and Rose Wright, Advance Cairns’ Food Project partner from Southern Cross University, welcome the Local Food Network’s first Corporate Partner Jonsson’s Farm Market.

The Local Food Network is an industry driven collective which supports, connects and promotes the Tropical North Queensland food industry.

Part of the Local Food Network’s job will be to oversee the Taste Paradise accreditation process.

Producers, suppliers or restaurants who want to brand their produce Taste Paradise (a brand developed by the Advance Cairns Food Project and its partners Southern Cross University to mark quality Tropical North Queensland produce) will have to undergo a strict accreditation process.

Acting CEO of Advance Cairns Margaret Darveniza said the event was a red-letter day for the project.

“We’re extremely excited about Minister Ferguson’s visit – it will be a chance to personally thank him for his support of the Advance Cairns Food and Agritourism Project,” Ms Darveniza said.

“We genuinely believe that promoting our region’s amazing produce will add resilience to our economy, support our agricultural community and bring foodies to Tropical North Queensland. The promotion of the Tropical North Queensland food industry is the way of the future.”

“The Taste Paradise and Local Food Network initiative needs industry to get involved and to take this forward.”

“We encourage anyone who’s passionate about local food to get in touch and get involved in the Local Food Network.”

‘This is an Australian Government funded initiative under TQUAL Grants’

Wednesday 13 April 2011

In my previous roles as a Business Banker and Finance Broker in Cairns, I was surprised to constantly meet business people who were all chasing income growth without any thought or plan as to what the impact of this growth would be on their bottom line.

So, when times were good in Cairns there was growth for the sake of the growth. This would mean some of the foundations of good business practice such as strategic planning and customer service were overlooked by business owners.

With the impact of the GFC and the subsequent economic slow-down in Cairns, many of these high performing businesses have become unsustainable, their inherent weaknesses have become evident and this is reflected in their performance.

It has been said, people don’t plan to fail, they fail to plan.  Failure to plan is widespread and is reflected in the increasing numbers of Cairns business’s asking me, “What can I do?”

My advice: formulate a plan and write it down.  By documenting your thoughts, you are able to clarify key issues and determine whether your ideas are feasible.

Then do the numbers and understand the processes needed to make them work.  You may find that your idea sounded good but is not financially feasible.

If it isn’t, start again and keep working through the solutions until you are satisfied with the result.

Once you have formulated your plan, get a second opinion.  What makes sense to you may not make sense to someone else and by workshopping your ideas you may find a solution.

In some cases you may actually need the assistance of other business partners including Accountants, Solicitors or even your Bank to carry out your plan.

By taking the time to plan, you increase your chances of success regardless of what’s happening in the wider economy.

Strategic planning allows you to adjust your positioning strategies, align your workforce, manage your margins and increase your competitive advantage through exceptional customer service and minimise the economic impact to their bottom line.

Remember that in some cases and despite all best efforts some businesses will falter so ensure you have a clear exit strategy.

This does not necessarily mean closing down, but perhaps handing over to a new generation whether external or other family members.

New ideas and fresh motivation can be a lifeline for a faltering business.

Having had many experiences with small business over the years, the opportunity to lead the Cairns BEC is an exciting and positive step for me.

This service will allow me to assist small business in many ways so that they can find their own way to success.

Just remember, whilst it’s easy to get caught up in the day to day struggle of running a small business, it’s important to have clear business goals and put the plans in place to achieve them.

Otherwise, why are you working?

Please email Kim on bec@advancecairns.com to find out more about the BEC or to book an appointment.

‘The services provided by Advance Cairns Limited are partially funded by the Australian Government’