The workshops will explore pathways to support educational offerings and research partnerships across professional and administrative services; manufacturing, food technology and logistics; agriculture, environment, aquaculture, forestry and mining; health and social services; and tourism, events and creative industries.
“It’s an opportunity for the community to share their hopes and aspirations with us,” Professor David Miron, UNE’s Director of Regional Development said. “We’ve had similar, very productive workshops in Tamworth and Taree that resulted in short courses tailored to local industry needs and critical research projects on water management and sustainability.
“The main driver behind these workshops are regional growth and innovation. We have partnered with Moree Plains Shire Council to deliver Moree-centric short courses. There would be immense value for Moree in accelerating access to learning that builds skills and innovative research to support high-growth industries especially those adding value to agriculture and delivering healthcare.”
Councillor Greg Smith from Moree Shire Council reiterated that opportunities for regional Australia post Covid need to be grasped if the town is to grow and drought-proof the shire.
“The exodus of people from cities will continue and we need to provide services to cater for their needs from hospitals to hospitality. Agriculture, the Special Activation Precinct (SAP) and Inland Rail have kick started our economic recovery post drought and the investors are arriving for the SAP. We need input from our industry sectors so UNE can tailor courses to suit our skills needs, so get involved in the workshops this week to help create a relevant education system,” Cr Smith said.
The series of discussions will expand UNE’s already robust capacity-building partnerships with Moree, which includes the Special Activation Precinct project - a five-year partnership between state government, local government and the University that was announced in May this year that aims to drive regional and economic growth through innovation with a special focus on regional workforces and skills, innovation and entrepreneurship, collaboration for regional economic development, and services within rural and remote communities - and a hub model of education that will aim to improve local educational outcomes, including for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students.
The University also supports new and emerging entrepreneurs in Moree, through its SMART Region Incubator, to grow their ideas from concept to enterprise.
“Local industry demands are only going to increase,” Prof. Miron said. “Developing adaptable educational facilities to relieve industry pressures is a logical next step. Together, Council and UNE can deliver a campus that will drive economic growth, increase social and cultural vibrancy as well as creating a job-ready workforce - a workforce that will retain Moree youth and attract new talent.”
