Chairman’s Message

The last few years have been a once‑in-a-lifetime experience for many of us, having gone through a global pandemic and a slow and steady re-entry into our new normal. The experts have said that this pandemic will continue to resurface, which means we need to continue to be adaptable to change.

It is easy to forget that even though we are remote in the Central and South West of Queensland, we are still part of a global environment. While the world, nation and state grappled with the pandemic and all its effects, here in our region, life went on, always cognisant of events unfolding around us.

The Central West and South West regions are areas typified by agriculture, tourism, some mining and resources, small business and the public sector. In these industries, we weathered the worst of the pandemic, probably better than other areas of the state and nation.

Our service region, however, is also one that has witnessed some decline from a population perspective. Recent census data and local observation suggest we have bottomed out, and the coming decade will see a reversal of this trend. That is my optimistic opinion anyway.

With the backdrop of the global environment reflecting on our nation, the issues confronting our region are no different to those facing the nation. We continue to experience housing shortages, despite the population decline. Access to skilled and unskilled labour has stifled the hospitality and the agricultural industry, particularly the sheep industry.

On the upside, we have welcomed much-needed rain over large parts of the region, with some areas revoking their drought declaration. With an expected La Nina period due to arrive, fingers crossed for this rain to continue, and the region will once again reach its full agricultural potential. Continuing that good news, more than anything else, we live in a part of the world typified by optimism, resilience and innovation, culture and values set personified by the RESQ+ team.

RESQ+ has continued its excellent service delivery during this period. We have continued to build our partnership with Red Ridge Interior, the region’s premier arts and cultural entity, and here, I would call out the Wangkangurru wangka-purru Language Dictionary.

The first dictionary of Wangkangurru wanga-purra language was launched in April this year, honouring the work of Elders and language keepers Anpanuwa ‘Joyce’ Crombie, Aulpunda ‘Jean’ Barr Crombie and Jim Crombie. This dictionary was an initiative of the Mobile Language Team and Two Sisters Talking (Joyce and Jean), supported by Red Ridge Interior Queensland Ltd, RESQ+ and the Queensland Government through the Indigenous Language Grants.

We have continued to support a wide range of community events and groups and improve our support, resources and tools for job seekers who remain at the core of the service. The following pages outline some of the demonstrated activities of RESQ+.

With the current contracts due to cease on 30 June 2023, and as a new federal government moulds a new policy approach, I hope the work of RESQ+ will be considered an example of service delivery that delivers outcomes—a win-win for government, community and clients.
In closing, I’d like to thank Chris, and his team spread across the Central and South West regions. They are the ones on the ground, in the communities, delivering with passion and enthusiasm.

David Arnold
Board Chair and Director of RESQ+
and Chief Executive Officer, Remote Area Planning and Development Board (RAPAD)

Message from the Chairman 

It is with pleasure that I offer this report to our clients, stakeholders, including government, fellow directors and their organisations, the CEO and staff.

In 2020, they said it was a year like no other. Well, 2021 has been much the same. Regional communities continue to respond to the wide-ranging and hastily imposed government measures in response to ongoing outbreaks of COVID-19 in the metropolitan areas.

Although there have been no incidences of the disease itself in Western Queensland, COVID-19 continues to present a major test of resilience to businesses in the region, particularly in the area of tourism.

The Outback has been the place to go this year as those tourists who normally go overseas have travelled to ‘the bush’ and beyond. An upsurge in visitors, when combined with a labour and skills shortage born of lower migration and backpackers, has certainly tested the mettle of many business owners.

As it has done in the past, RESQ+ has stepped in and worked with employers to help them address these labour shortages by matching job seeker skills with jobs and providing targeted training and development programs for the individual.

This year has seen many key achievements:

• Indigenous artist Kirk Mitchell’s first gallery showing. The event was held in the Cunnamulla Fella Centre Art Gallery
  and Museum and was kindly sponsored by the Paroo Shire Council. Kirk produced 27 pieces of art for the exhibition, selling six on opening night and most of his other works over the eight-week show.
• The Indigenous Business Incubator Pilot Program continues to be successful. The program now has two Indigenous businesses up and running in Cunnamulla and Mitchell, with two more in the pipeline.
• RESQ+ and Red Ridge in Blackall continue to deliver original and exciting initiatives. The Red Ridge the Label Indigenous fashion line recently marked the release of its second collection, the Georgina. Sales continue to be strong, replicating the successful performance of the Diamantina collection. Our most recent project, the creation of the Wangkangurru Language Dictionary, will when completed, prove to be a landmark achievement in the area of Aboriginal culture.
• RESQ+ supported the Longreach Show, as well as several sporting clubs and community events across our two regions.
• This year, instead of red benches, blue trees are growing everywhere. The Blue Tree Project encourages regional and rural communities to paint a tree blue to spark conversations about mental health. RESQ+ Supervisor Tim Sorensen led the projects and worked with other community groups to establish blue trees in Longreach, Barcaldine, Isisford and Yaraka.

In closing, I’d like to acknowledge our CEO, Chris Hamilton, who continues to demonstrate his excellent leadership and managerial skills on a daily basis, and equally, 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 Chris’s and our 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.

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.

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.

Read full report

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.

Read full report

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.

Read full report