Western Downs Futures

The First Progress Team meeting was convened on 5 June 2023 to continue the dialogue around regional collaboration.

This meeting aimed to (1) revisit some key concepts from the Summit, (2) share new information and examples of collaborative partnership governance arrangements, (3) provide activities that enabled participants to start to experience real collaboration and decision-making in practice, whilst starting to land some key elements of the work.

Click here to view or download the meeting summary.(PDF, 2MB) 

Two working groups were formed to finalise the Vision Statement, Principles and Governance Design for our place-based strategy. 

These groups met in July with the objective to take back their work to the Progress Team meeting #2. 

Click here to view or download the Vision Statement Working Group meeting summary(PDF, 571KB)

Click here to view or download the Governance Design Working Group meeting summary(PDF, 2MB)  

The second Progress Team meeting was held on Tuesday 8 August 2023 at the Tara Soldiers Memorial Hall.

This meeting aimed to (1) continue learning from other examples of place-based change initiatives, (2) review the work that was progressed by the 2 x working group's established at the previous progress team meeting, (3) continue design work on the governance structure, principles and vision.

Click here to view or download the meeting summary.(PDF, 2MB)

The third Progress Team meeting was held on Tuesday 17 October 2023 at the Chinchilla RSL.

This meeting aimed to (1) continue to deepen the understanding about what is needed for genuine collaboration, (2) create a shared understanding and language on how to hold multiple perspectives in shared decision making, role and authority, and to (3) finalise input on principles.

A project plan working group was formed at this meeting to submit a funding application to Advance Queensland as a step towards standing up an initiative under the Western Downs Futures.

Click here to view or download the meeting summary.(PDF, 3MB)

The fourth Progress Team meeting was on Tuesday 20 February 2024 at the Dalby Events Centre.

This meeting aimed to (1) provide a progress update on funding applications, (2) activate the leadership component of the governance arrangements, (3) action planning for the incoming program manager and leadership team, and (4) establish working groups.

Click here to view or download the meeting summary.(PDF, 3MB)

Over a 12 month term, the Interim Steering Committee is responsible for (1) Standing Up the Leadership Team and Community & Business Connector Team, and (2) Developing the Regional Strategy that will guide our collective impact for the next 10 years. 

The Housing Working Group aims to identify, accelerate, enhance, and promote housing opportunities across the region. The members represent government, industry, and community working collaboratively through the Western Downs' Local Housing Action Plan. 

02.2024-Final-WDRC-LHAP.pdf(PDF, 3MB)

The Employment Working Group are collaborating to reduce the percentage of a regional skills gap via a multipronged approach which would include – workforce multiskilling and upskilling, enabling employment pathways and workforce attraction and retention. 

The Education Working Group is collaborating proactively to enhance educational and life-long learning opportunities across the Western Downs region.

The Health Working Group is working collaboratively to improve access to healthcare in the Western Downs region. 

This group was established at a leadership program of the same name with the Australian Rural Leadership Foundation. The members are collaborating to understand, manage, and respond to the impacts and opportunities of renewable energy to ensure a community-driven transition.

Some of the early wins from the Western Downs Futures Group include: 

Queensland Police Service

• 18 police and ancillary staff are being recruited to the region. 

Local Housing Action Plan 

• The Department of Housing fast-tracked the Local Housing Action Plan for our region with Local Government Association of Queensland and Western Downs Regional Council, with input and support from the Western Downs Futures. 

Department of Corrective Services

• Have increased presence in the Tara region since the Futures Summit. Corrections are also working with WDRC on establishing an office and a permanent staff member in the Tara region. 

Skilling Queenslanders for Work Program 

• Western Downs Regional Council in partnership with Tara Shire State College and Tara Neighbourhood Centre were successful in their funding application with DYJESBT to provide 10 traineeship and upskilling opportunities for jobseekers in Tara.

Support Finder Launch 

• Through our partners in Western Downs Futures Western Downs Regional Council, Queensland Police Service, and Darling Downs Health joined forces to launch an online support directory for Western Downs residents in need. Check it out: SupportFinder.org.au

Health Workforce 

• 10 more General Practitioners are being recruited to the region. 

Shape Your Energy Future Leadership Program 

• 7 members of the Progress Team were successfully selected to attend the Australian Rural Leadership Foundation's "Shape Your Energy Future" program on 5-9 February. 

Interim Steering Committee Stood Up! 

• After four full day workshop meetings over nine months, on 20 February 2024, the Progress Team reached consensus to stand up the Interim Steering Committee. This committee incorporates 8 community and industry representatives to work with the Program Manager and lead the initative through it's first 12 months. 

Recruited Program Manager

• On 19 March 2024, the interview process for the Western Downs Futures Program Manager was completed and the assessment panel (Daniel Fletcher, Ken Riddiford, Geoffrey Woolcock, Belinda Walker and Louise Judge) announced that the successful candidate for the Program Manager role was Renee King. The Program Manager role is funded by Western Downs Regional Council for a 12 month term, to steer the backbone team and support developing the early-stage governance structures required to build the vision of Western Downs Futures. 

Funding Approved

• In July 2024, the Department of State Development Infrastructure Local Government and Planning awarded Western Downs Futures $400,000 under the Regional Economic Futures Funding (REFF) to support the community and industry to understand, manage and respond to the impacts and opportunities of renewable energy generation. Western Downs Futures is thrilled to announce this significant win will support projects under "Operation Transition Navigation" to April 2026. 

Local Housing Action Plan 

In partnership with the Department of Housing, Local Government Association of Queensland, and Western Downs Regional Council, the Local Housing Action Plan ("LHAP") was endorsed in February 2024. Western Downs Futures will support monitoring and evaluation of the collective impact of initiatives under the LHAP through the recently established "Housing Working Group". 

Click the image below to view or download the document 

(PDF, 3MB)

CRISP Initiative 

The Collective Recruitment, Integration and Sustainable Placement(PDF, 2MB) (CRISP) Initiative was co-developed with the Progress Team members aimed at attracting individuals to our region, integrating them into our local community, and addressing the critical issue of workforce skill gaps in local industries. Rather than simply increasing job numbers in the region, CRISP focused on effectively filling the persistent job vacancies in the region. 

(PDF, 2MB) 

Skilling Queenslanders for Work 

10 jobseekers in the Tara region completed the foundational job skills training in March 2024 delivered in partnership between Tara Shire State College, Tara Neighbourhood Centre, and Western Downs Regional Council, funded by the Department of Small Business and Training. This collaboration would not have been possible without connection between community, industry, and government, forged at the inaugural Regional Futures Summit in 2023.