The Regional Skills Attraction Project aims to develop a regional ability to collaboratively address skills shortage issues through a number of complementary initiatives.  The project is overseen by a Steering Committee made up of key industry representatives and regional stakeholders.

Project components:

Coal to Coast Jobs website

The Coal to Coast Jobs website was designed to provide a strategic coordinated approach to the marketing of the Mackay-Whitsunday-Isaac region.   The goal was to create a vibrant and professional website for the advertisement of jobs and lifestyle opportunities in the Mackay-Whitsunday-Isaac region and the provision of quality marketing information aimed at attracting and assisting individuals considering relocation to the region.

• To view the Coal to Coast Jobs website click here
  
  
• To view Coal to Coast Jobs website usage statistics click here
  
  
• To view the Coal to Coast Jobs promotional video 'How about now?' created by CQUniversity design team 'Mackay Regional Design', click here
  
  
• To view the Coal to Coast Jobs promotional video 'Injury' created by CQUniversity design team 'Mackay Regional Design', click here


• To view the Coal to Cost Jobs promotional video created by CQUniversity student Clifford Power, click here 

Coal to Coast Liveability Prospectus

The Coal to Coast Liveability Prospectus works hand in hand with the Coal to Coast Jobs website, providing a printed source of lifestyle and relocation information for prospective residents.  Together these strategies form a suite of promotional media to be distributed and marketed at various job expos, plant closures and other events in order to promote the region as an attractive location in which to live, work and play. To order copies of the Liveability Prospectus, download an order form here.

Regional presence at skills attraction events and expos

REDC regularly coordinates a regional presence at lifestyle and careers expos both interstate and overseas aimed at trying to attract potential residents to the region and facilitate the recruitment of skilled workers.  Click here for more information.

Hidden workforce strategy

The Hidden Workforce project aims to maximise the region’s workforce through increasing the adoption of employment arrangements attractive to the ‘hidden workforce’.  The hidden workforce is defined as regional residents able to work who are not in the labour force but that also do not identify as unemployed. Examples of individuals in this category include stay at home parents, retirees, university students, persons with disabilities, injured workers, migrants and tourists.

In order to identify the barriers preventing/deterring the hidden workforce from seeking or remaining in employment, REDC conducted a survey.  Results indicated that the most common barriers to finding employment for the hidden workforce are: family commitments, long absences from the workplace, a lack of confidence and skills and an inability to find part-time/flexible work arrangements. To see a copy of the results, please click here.

Getting Back into the Workforce Events

As a follow up to the Hidden Workforce survey, REDC created the Getting Back into the Workforce Events. Getting Back into the Workforce Events are casual, no-pressure, interactive information sessions where jobseekers have the opportunity to speak face-to-face with employers with part-time/flexible jobs on offer and service providers about jobs and the free programs available to assist them with issues such as job readiness, improving confidence, gaining skills & qualifications etc.  The first event (August 2009) was such a success that REDC will now be holding the events quarterly.

Seasonal Labourforce Attraction & Retention Strategy

As a result of funding under the Federal Government’s ‘Get Communities Working’ scheme, REDC and Mackay Canegrowers will join forces to develop a regional response to the attraction and retention of seasonal workers in the agricultural industry.  The project will include a number of complementary initiatives including the creation of a new Certificate II Agriculture and a study into the feasibility of creating a rotational workforce for the agricultural and horticultural industries.

Non-monetary skills retention strategy

The non-monetary skills retention strategy aims to encourage the use of non-monetary retention strategies, particularly in high risk industry sectors. Research was conducted to identify high-risk industry groups and successful non-monetary retention strategies.  Click here to view the report.

2020 Skills Statement

The 2020 Skills Statement will identify skilled labour requirements to 2020 and will identify likely communities for employees and families to reside. Ckick here to access the report part A (p.1-20) and click here to access the report part B (p.21-40).

Regional Response to Plant Closures

REDC will engage with industry, industry associations & government to develop an effective regional response to plant closures both within and outside the region.  This component will link in with the Government’s Rapid Response Team to ensure that information packages and initiatives maintain currency.

For more information, please contact Laura Sorensen