News

Regional Development Australia Mid North Coast (RDAMNC) is calling on the Norfolk Island community to share their thoughts on the local food supply.

This project aims to better understand the current challenges and opportunities in the Island’s food system, helping to strengthen food security for the future. Community feedback will play a key role in guiding RDAMNC’s work to support and advocate for the Island’s needs.

Locals who complete the survey will go in the draw to win one of five $100 gift cards.

You can find the survey in this newspaper, online via the QR code, or by visiting: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/NIFood.

Paper copies are also available at Foodland, along with a drop box for completed surveys.

For more information, contact Karen Innes-Walker on 53969 or email: kareninneswalker@gmail.com.

To read RDAMNC’s media release, please click HERE.

Read RDAMNC’s full media release HERE.

A new study commissioned by Regional Development Australia Mid North Coast (RDAMNC) and conducted by Charles Sturt University (CSU) highlights the growing labour and skills shortages in the region, posing a significant barrier to economic growth. The 2024 Skills Audit, released today, identifies several critical challenges, including labour and skills shortages, skills gaps, limited vocational training, and infrastructure issues such as housing affordability and access to early childcare education.

Other key challenges highlighted in the report include the lack of affordable housing, insufficient childcare services, and inadequate infrastructure such as transport and digital connectivity, all of which hinder both workers and businesses.

The study presents several actionable recommendations to address these issues, including:

• The development of a cohesive regional housing strategy aligned with workforce planning
• Universal access to Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) to support workforce participation, particularly for women
• Strengthening the regional skills ecosystem through closer collaboration between employers, training providers, and community services
• Enhancing infrastructure to improve transport, housing, and digital connectivity across the region

View the 2024 Mid North Coast Skills Audit HERE.

View the Snapshot of the 2024 Mid North Coast Skills Audit HERE.

View the Media Release of the 2024 Mid North Coast Skills Audit HERE.

The Australian Government has announced the creation of a Regional University Study Hub on Norfolk Island, led by Regional Development Australia Mid North Coast (RDAMNC). This new initiative, the Country University Centre Norfolk Island (CUCNI), marks the first time island residents will have access to university-level education locally. Part of a $66.9 million national investment, the new hub is one of 10 Regional University Study Hubs designed to bring tertiary education closer to regional, rural, and remote communities. The hub offers new opportunities for young people and mature-aged students, enabling them to study without leaving home and pursue career or educational advancement in their own community. The CUCNI Board, including David Buffett, Sharon Nicol, Mary Christian-Bailey, Margaret Christian, Gaye Evans, Susan Prior, Chris Ronan (CUC), and Madeleine Lawler (RDAMNC), is dedicated to supporting Norfolk Island’s educational growth and ensuring residents have the same access to higher education as those on the mainland.

For additional information, read RDAMNC’s Media Release of the CUCNI.

Norfolk Island, known for its free-ranging cattle, faces serious agricultural challenges due to a 2015 legislation change that restricts the import of live cattle, sheep, and goats. This has led to declining livestock production, increased reliance on imported meat, and rising local beef and lamb prices, alongside concerns about inbreeding. In response, Regional Development Australia Mid North Coast (RDAMNC) partnered with stakeholders to implement an Assisted Reproductive Program (ARP). Launched in June 2024, the ARP successfully transferred embryos to over 40 cows and inseminated 30, achieving a 65% success rate for embryo transfers and 40% for artificial insemination, revitalising the island’s cattle industry.

A full copy of RDAMNC’s media release is available here.

Regional Development Australia Mid North Coast (RDAMNC) is pleased to share that we have been successful in securing the tender to deliver The Welcome Experience to three local government areas on the Mid North Coast, including Port Macquarie, Kempsey and Nambucca Valley. 

On 14 August 2024, NSW Premier Chris Minns and Minister for Regional NSW and Western NSW, Tara Moriarty announced that The Welcome Experience has been expanded from the pilot program to additional regions within NSW.  The Welcome Experience program is designed to offer concierge-like services to essential workers looking to relocate to Regional NSW. 

A full copy of RDAMNC’s media release is available here.

Regional Development Mid North Coast and Norfolk Island (RDAMNC & NI) in collaboration with the Norfolk Island Country Universities Board needs the support of the Norfolk Island community with their upcoming application for a Country University Centre on Norfolk Island. The Norfolk Island CUC Board members are David Buffett, Robin Adams, Mary Christian-Bailey, Margaret Christian, Gaye Evans, Sharon Nicol, and Susan Prior.

In November 2023, RDAMNC & NI, in collaboration with the NI CUC Board and Country Universities Centres, applied to the Regional University Study Hub grant funding. Unfortunately, the first attempt was not successful, and feedback received indicated that we need to demonstrate greater support from the Norfolk Island community.

It is expected that another round of funding will be opening in the coming months and so that the best possible application can be made, we need your support! We have prepared a survey for members of the community and businesses to complete, and we are also seeking letters (or emails) of support.

What is the Country University Centre?

• It is a dedicated learning and study space for students pursuing tertiary education – it is NOT a university.
• CUCs are owned, governed, and operated by their local communities through an independent Board of Directors
• The CUC model has been designed to support regional communities to provide equitable access to tertiary education.
• Allows for place-based learning solutions.
• Operate in regional communities where universities cannot or will not go.
• There are 22 CUCs around Australia.
  More information about Country University Centre can be found at https://www.cuc.edu.au/.

What are the benefits of a CUC for Norfolk Island?

The following are just some of the benefits to Norfolk Island if a CUC application is successful:

• Supported learning environment for students who do not wish to live in Australia (or elsewhere) to complete post-secondary education.
• Greater opportunities for residents who wish to complete further education or ‘up-skilling’, but current family, employment, or financial barriers preclude it.
• Builds capability and capacity of Norfolk Island to meet the skills needs locally without requirement to source from offshore.
• Businesses will have greater local support for apprentices and trainees undertaking the theory component of their training.
• Operation of a CUC on Norfolk Island will provide employment opportunities for residents of Norfolk Island with two staff members required.
• The CUC model is founded on place-based solutions and can be adapted to suit the learning and education needs of Norfolk Island.

How can you help?

There two ways in which you, or your business or organisation can help:

Complete the survey on the following page, or directly to SurveyMonkey at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/333RRHM. Completed copies of the survey on the following page can be emailed to Dianne Wall at operations@rdamnc.org.au (photo of completed form is fine) or dropped off at Norfolk Island Realty or the Knowledge and Learning Centre (KLC) for submission to RDAMNC&NI. Note: The KLC is open from 1.00pm to 4.00pm Monday to Friday – completed surveys can be slid under the door outside those hours.

By writing a letter or email of support and submitting it to Dianne Wall at operations@rdamnc.org.au. In writing the letter of support, you may wish to use some of the points above as a reference point as well as any additional benefits to you personally or professionally.

We need to be able to demonstrate as much local support as possible. If you are unsure about the CUC and would like more information, please reach out to Dianne Wall (operations@rdamnc.org.au) or to one of your local CUC Board Members.

Read the Media Release here

On Tuesday 21st May 2024, RDAMNC was fortunate to be given a tour of the new Forster Surf Life Saving club that is currently under construction.

This project has been a long time coming and it is fantastic to see that it has received support from the Federal and State Governments as well as MidCoast Council to finally come to fruition. This is an outstanding project for the Forster community and has been developed with future growth in mind.

The new club will include state of the art training facilities for their members, in particular, the Nippers – being a coastal region, the opportunities for children to be able to develop strong swimming and surf-life saving skills is critical.

We would like to acknowledge that while the entire MidCoast LGA is now within the remit of RDAMNC, prior to October 2023, Forster was supported by our colleagues at Regional Development Australia (RDA) Hunter . RDA Hunter provided support to Forster Surf Life Saving Club to successfully gain funding for this project and we thank them for our inclusion and opportunity to provide ongoing support for this project and the Forster community into the future.

Pictured are John Turner (RDA Hunter, Chair), Dianne Wall (RDAMNC Acting CEO), John Quinn (President, Forster Surf Life Saving Club) and Trevor John (CEO, RDA Hunter).