• RAPAD Employment Services 2019-2020 Annual Review

    August 5th, 2020 | by
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    Chairman’s Message

    It has been another rewarding year for RESQ Plus. Before going further, I’d like to recognise the outgoing CEO, Tony Rayner, and the incoming CEO, Chris Hamilton. Tony handed over a very effective and professionally run operation. Chris has since picked up where Tony left off. Behind these two,
    however, is a very competent staff, some of whom have been with the organisation since inception. I would like to pass on my recognition of all staff equally. This year has seen a number of key achievements. We welcomed Sue Bylett, our new Regional Manager for the South West Queensland (SWQ) region. Other SWQ achievements of note include:

    • The Indigenous Artist in Residence Project in Cunnamulla.
      Two of our Indigenous job seekers were employed over six
      months using funding from the National Indigenous Australians
      Agency (NIAA) to create artwork and deliver art classes to other
      job seekers.
    • The Business Incubator Project. To date, this program has
      connected seven Indigenous job seekers with new business
      ventures based on their own ideas. These businesses have now
      established a steady client base and are generating income for
      all involved.
    •  A landscape supply business that collects and cuts firewood for
      locals is looking into developing a landscape service throughout
      the warmer months. So far, four job seekers are involved in
      setting it up.

    We continue our operations in the Central West Queensland (CWQ) region with equivalent dedication and enthusiasm. Activities of note include:

    • The partnership with Red Ridge in Blackall continues to go from strength to strength with the refurbishment of the old Commonwealth Bank of Australia building. Red Ridge is a success story in its own right, commencing as an outcome from the CICADAS@RAPAD arts program many years ago to become a sustainable and innovative arts and cultural group.
    •  RESQ Plus supported the Outback Watersports Club with the setup of the Premiere Outback Paddle Regatta last year, which was a huge success locally.
    • RESQ Plus also supported the Outback Food, Wine and Music Festival, helping set up last year’s premiere event at the Cattleman’s Bar & Grill.
    • With support from the Red Rose Foundation, RESQ Plus commenced the Red Bench Project, an initiative to raise awareness about Domestic Violence and encourage victims and their families to seek support.

    Again, I’d like to acknowledge all of our staff who carried on with activities as normal, despite the impacts of COVID-19 on the business and our communities. Now, more than ever, an effective job seeker support program is important.

    The organisation’s achievements are a testament to the staff’s dedication and commitment, not only to the organisation but to the clients and regions we serve. In closing, I also give recognition to my fellow directors, without whom, the effective governance of the organisation would not take place.

    David Arnold,

    Chairman’s Message David Arnold, Chief Executive Officer of RAPAD, Chairman of RAPAD and RESQ.

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  • RAPAD Employment Services 2018-2019 Annual Review

    August 5th, 2020 | by
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    RESQ Plus is a new joint venture between RAPAD Employment Services Queensland (RESQ) and our two Indigenous partners, Central West Aboriginal Corporation in Barcaldine and The MaraWay in Cairns.

    Established in 2018, RESQ Plus builds on the work delivered by RESQ since 2013, strengthened by our new Indigenous partnerships.

    With Indigenous ownership and Board representation, we’re able to keep growing our services and deliver real job outcomes for our Indigenous clients. Our training programs are targeted to ensure they align with the cultural aspirations of our job seekers.

    Across western Queensland, the ongoing drought has seen populations decline in all communities. With people moving away from the area, community organisations have struggled to find volunteer support.

    RESQ Plus has actively worked with our communities to identify the priority areas where assistance is required. Our job seekers have supported numerous events in towns throughout the region.

    Visitors and residents see our job seekers actively undertaking supervised activities in each town—at showgrounds, pony clubs, museums, churches, schools, cultural sites of significance and town commons. Job seekers are seen assisting with beautification, renovation and general maintenance.

    These activities help job seekers build skills, confidence and pride in their local community. And it’s through the reward and satisfaction of achieving results that they transition successfully into employment.

    This year’s Annual Review highlights the success of the Community Development Program (CDP) delivered by RESQ Plus. We celebrate the program in moving job seekers into meaningful employment and contributing to the health of the local community.

    I would like to acknowledge everyone who has contributed to the success of our work this financial year. We are deeply grateful to our partners in helping build strong, sustainable communities.

    David Arnold,

    Chairman’s Message David Arnold, Chief Executive Officer of RAPAD, Chairman of RAPAD and RESQ.

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  • RAPAD Employment Services 2017-2018 Annual Review

    August 5th, 2020 | by
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    Message from the Chairman

    On behalf of my fellow Board members and the RESQ team, it is with great pleasure that I present RESQ’s Annual Review for the 2017–18 financial year.

    RESQ was established in 2013 to deliver the Community Development Programme (CDP), helping communities in rural and remote Queensland address the challenges of finding employment.

    As we pursue greater opportunities for our job seekers, we also deliver growth for our other stakeholders: our communities, governments, employees and partners. Our activities aim to bring long-term benefits to the places where we live.

    Our regional communities are diverse and face many social, economic and environmental challenges. While our focus is on unemployment, we’re proud to champion projects and programs that also benefit local communities, economies and natural value

    RESQ remains committed to generating positive change for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in our communities. Respect for the diverse backgrounds and cultures of Australian people is key to RESQ’s core values, as exemplified by the collaborative partnerships we have forged.

    Looking ahead to the next year, we’re proud to be partnering with The MaraWay and Central West Aboriginal Corporation (CWAC) in a joint venture to deliver the CDP and Vocational Training and Employment Centres (VTEC). I would like to acknowledge everyone who has contributed to the success of our work this year. We are deeply grateful to each partner who supports RESQ in our mission towards building strong, sustainable communities.

    Rob Chandler,

    Chairman’s Message Rob Chandler Mayor of Barcaldine, Chairman of RAPAD and RESQ.

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  • RAPAD Employment Services 2017 Annual Review

    August 5th, 2020 | by
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    Chairman’s Message

    RAPAD Employment Services Queensland, better known as RESQ, was developed over four years ago through a joint partnership and has been successfully delivering the Australian Government’s Community Development Programme (CDP). Over this time RESQ has had strong employment outcomes in Queensland’s central west with over 250 job seekers placed in employment while servicing over 700 participants.

    These achievements have been made possible through the development of high quality activities that provide training and employable skills; providing job seekers with the self-confidence and life skills to keep their new job. One of our newer achievements has been facilitating casual paid employment that can transition into permanent full time work.

    Ongoing programs such as Weeds of National Significance and the Wild Dog Exclusion Fence have provided long term benefits to program participants, job seekers, employers and communities. These programs are unique in their longevity and multi-partner participation.

    At this time I register my sincere thanks to retiring Board Members Chris Martin and Chris Hamilton who have helped steer the organisation to these successes. We welcome Andrea Jackson and Alicia Gibson to the Board and look forward to their fresh ideas along with extensive experience in community services management and governance.

    Reading about our achievements in the region through this Annual Review brings our achievements to a personal level, proving again that a job creates a productive and content life. Our success has been further celebrated with our invitation by the Office of the Prime Minister & Cabinet to guide our neighbouring CDP region of South West Queensland from April 2017. To date our focus has been on training and providing systems to deliver more effective services. We are proud to include our new team and communities in this Annual Review.

    Our efforts have been welcomed and appreciated by participants, employers, communities and funding partners. In 2017 and 2018 we will continue to advocate for consistent long term solutions for training and employment across the Central West and South West, educating decision makers on our challenges and needs. Our focus will concentrate on building partnerships through collaboration including with local Indigenous groups and organisations of the Central and South West, to ensure the greatest spread of benefit across our regions.

    Rob Chandler,

    Chairman’s Message Rob Chandler Mayor of Barcaldine, Chairman of RAPAD and RESQ.

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  • RAPAD Employment Services 2015 Annual Review

    August 5th, 2020 | by
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    Chairman’s Message

    RAPAD Employment Services Queensland, better known as RESQ, was developed through a joint partnership between The Remote Area Planning and Development Board (RAPAD) and Employment Service Queensland (ESQ). Our RESQ partnership has been delivering a successful program to service the Australian Government’s Remote Jobs and Communities Program (RJCP), and more recently, its Community Development Program (CDP). 2015 saw its joint venture partners and funding models change but, RESQ has continued to meet the needs of our 15 communities while buffering job seekers and employers from the discomfort of these changes. This has been made a smoother transition through the strong supportive attention of our Federal government partners. It’s still all about improved school attendance, real jobs and safer communities for both indigenous and non-indigenous people of the Central West. The Board is proud to lead our highly skilled staff, with General Manager Tony Rayner providing the strategic link between our direction and the implementation of RESQ programs and activities.  As testament to our sound management and good outcomes, we have been continually invited to participate in other programs that aim to grow employment in our communities. I am very proud to see our programs attract larger partners and often multipartner support, providing leverage for our community partnerships through a variety of resources. The Thomson River Weed Project and Ngai Mulli Gooka at Barcaldine demonstrate how these programs can provide strong outcomes for individuals, communities, landholders and the environment, across the entire Central West. Reading about successful job seekers in this Annual Review brings our achievements to a personal level proving again that a job creates a productive and content life. It is fitting in 2015, the centenary of the battle at Gallipoli, that RESQ has been entrusted with seven seedlings originating from seed of the original Lone Pine tree on the Gallipoli Peninsula in Turkey. We will support the establishment of Gallipoli Anniversary Gardens in seven schools in Birdsville, Windorah and Longreach. Each giving promise to a good and optimistic future, just as the young men who fought at Gallipoli believed in a better future. In 2016 we will continue to advocate for consistent long term solutions for training and employment across the Central West and persistently try and educate decision makers on our challenges and needs.

    Rob Chandler,

    Chairman’s Message Rob Chandler Mayor of Barcaldine, Chairman of RAPAD and RESQ.
  • RAPAD Employment Services 2014 Annual Review

    August 5th, 2020 | by
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    Chairman’s Message

    The Remote Area Planning and Development Board (RAPAD) in Longreach, in a joint venture with Employment Services Queensland (ESQ), was tasked in 2013 with establishing a successful program to service the Australian Government’s Remote Jobs and Communities Program (RJCP) across Central West Queensland.

    I am pleased to report RAPAD Employment Services Queensland (RESQ) came alive as the carrier of the RJCP and is effectively meeting the needs of our 15 communities within just one year of operation. For practical reasons Longreach is our operational hub. It’s all about improved school attendance, real jobs and safer communities for both indigenous and non-indigenous people of the Central West. The Board is proud to lead our highly skilled staff, with General Manager Tony Rayner providing the strategic link between our direction and the implementation of RESQ programs and activities.

    Our first year of operation has seen us establish a strong well-staffed and well-managed organisation. We have good personnel, financial management and governance. Our newly appointed chartered accountants gave RESQ a clean audit result which reinforces the Board’s confidence in the organisation. As testament to our sound management and good outcomes, we have been continually invited to participate in other programs that aim to grow employment in our communities.

    I am very proud to see our weed eradication program showing potential to provide strong outcomes for communities, landholders and the environment, across the entire Lake Eyre Basin. As a Board it is important that we help facilitate solid community programs through healthy partnerships. In 2014 and 2015 we will continue to advocate for consistent long term solutions for training and employment across the Central West and persistently try and educate decision makers on our challenges and needs.

    Rob Chandler,

    Chairman’s Message Rob Chandler Mayor of Barcaldine, Chairman of RAPAD and RESQ.

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