PO Box 1943 Committee Secretary Qld 4655 Economics Reference Committee T 1300 79 49 29 Department of the Senate F (07) 4197 4455 PO Box 6100 E [email protected] www.frasercoast.qld.gov.au Parliament House ACT 2600 AUSTRALIA Email - [email protected]

Re: Submission - Inquiry into the Indicators of and impact of regional inequality in Australia

The Fraser Coast Regional Council (Council) welcomes the opportunity to provide a submission to the Economics Reference Committee into the Indicators of and impact of regional inequality in Australia.

Council administers essential services including roads, water and waste services; and plays a significant role in the social, economic and cultural development of the community and in improving local living environments.

Introduction

The Fraser Coast Local Government Area (LGA) is around 7,100 square kilometres and encompasses World Heritage Listed . The LGA has an estimated resident population of 104,0001 with an average annual growth rate of 1.0% over 5 years (compared with the average annual growth rate of 1.5% over 5 years). The region’s population is dispersed between the main centres of Maryborough (24,000) and Hervey Bay (57,000) and the 13 small communities of the hinterlands and coastal regions.

The Fraser Coast Local Government Area has a high socio-economic disadvantage. For example, the SEIFA Index places 59.4% of the Fraser Coast LGA’s population in the most disadvantaged quintile compared to 20% for Queensland; the youth unemployment rate in the Wide Bay region is currently 28.4% and Fraser Coast has an unemployed rate in excess of 10% compared with 6.1% for Queensland; and 41% of the population has the highest level of school of year 11 or 12 education compared with 48.9% for the Queensland population.

There is a need for an improved co-ordination of federal, state and local government policies and programmes and collaboration with community to deliver placed-based solutions to ensure an holistic approach to address regional disadvantage.

There is an identified lack of equal opportunity to tertiary (especially university) education in Maryborough and the outlying communities within the Fraser Coast. These regions are especially

1 Population estimates rounded to nearest thousand

vulnerable with a high prevalence of low socio- economic disadvantage, social isolation and the lack of easy and affordable regional transport.

In a region where 24% of the population are aged 65 years+ (Qld 15%), an improved co-ordination of federal, state and local government policies and programmes would provide opportunities to develop responses in relation to reducing social isolation. People living in the outlying communities face difficulties with access to services. As stated above, these communities require increased access to transport and services (eg education and health and wellness services).

It is acknowledged that there are constraints and challenges with delivery of services to regional and remote communities. Hence, the need to work with communities and seek innovative, place-based initiatives that respond to issues. Stacey’s Storey Example, what is not working? Stacey (name changed for privacy reasons) is a 21 year Systemic issues such as funding and a siloed approach are of primary old unemployed indigenous concern. There is a lack of consistency and collaboration between girl who left school in year 11 providers and levels of government to address socio-economic and has not been able to disadvantage, especially in the outlying communities within our region. secure employment. Stacey lives 20 kilometres from Accessibility to specialised health care remains a focus at stakeholder Maryborough. forums including the Fraser Coast Small Communities Advisory Group Stacey failed her learners Meetings and the recent Wide Bay Health Service Strategic Planning permit exam twice and Forums. The Fraser Coast Small Communities Advisory Group has believes the anxiety attacks representation from all 13 outlying communities on the Fraser Coast. during both exams prevented Members have reported residents are choosing not to access specialist her from passing. She now has a fear of driving. Stacey healthcare because some can no longer drive or afford to travel to has also dropped out of 2 to access the healthcare. Often residents live in the outlying courses because of the fear of communities due to the lower cost of housing and rentals. However, the failure. converse side of this are the issues with access to services and the increased likelihood of vulnerability and social isolation. In 2015 Stacey started volunteering as a self-care

measure to manage her Recently, there has been a marked increase in both state and federal depression and anxiety. government programmes focusing on regional skills and employability gaps However, Stacey has had to to address the high levels of unemployment, especially youth and the long- quit, as there are no public community transport options term unemployed. Both levels of government have the expectation that available to meet her needs. local government will be an active partner in promoting and facilitating delivery of these initiatives. Outlined below is an example of the current The lack of transport also framework that Council is operating in regarding skills and employment prevents Stacey attending development: regular health appointments and job active appointments;  Jobs Queensland – Fraser Coast Workforce Development Plan this is increasing her social isolation.  Department of Employment, Small Business and Training – Regional Skills and Investment Strategy  Queensland Government Department of Employment Small Business and Training – Training Reference Group

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 Australian Government Department of Employment – Youth Jobs Path Programme  General collaboration with TAFE, University of Sunshine Coast, and Secondary Schools  Various programmes administered by the job agency networks Local governments have extremely limited resources and capacity to effectively partner with all that is currently being asked. To address this, we are requesting all stakeholders to take a collaborative approach and develop a coordinated response to the complex needs of the unemployed in our region. However, it is difficult to bring stakeholders together as they are often constrained by the funding agreements to deliver specified outputs, have limited resources and capacity or they are not “in region”.

The ever-increasing reliance on technology for access to and delivery of services is an identified issue, especially in the rural communities with difficult internet and mobile access.

Examples of solutions

Strategic Collaboration Council plays an active role in several advisory and provider reference groups across the region to take a collaborative approach to address some of the issues identified above. These include (but not limited too):

 Jobs Queensland – Fraser Coast Workforce Development Plan (Advisory Group);  Queensland Government Department of Employment Small Business and Training - Training Reference Group;  Wide Bay Hospital and Health Services - Community Health Reference Group;  Queensland Police Services - Fraser Coast Community Policing Board;  Fraser Coast Small Communities Advisory Group.  General collaboration with the Community Services and Health Sector on an ongoing Local Government Area basis (eg Interagency)  Study Fraser Coast As outlined above, services tend to work in a siloed approach and are often constrained by systemic issues. Services also have a lack of capacity and resources to engage at the broader level. To respond to the complex needs of regional inequality, an holistic co-ordinated and collaborative approach with a high level of community engagement is paramount.

Fraser Coast Regional Social Plan In partnership with the Hervey Bay Neighbourhood Centre and Queensland Council of Social Services, Council is developing the Fraser Coast Regional Social Plan which has been funded through the Federal Government’s Building Better Regions Fund. This will reflect the demographic and social issues of the Fraser Coast, and provide strategies to respond to social and locational disadvantage through an implementation plan which is “owned” by the broader community.

The Community Builders’ Programme The Community Builders’ Programme is jointly funded under the We are Queensland small grants programme. Council is working with community to drive community change, learn new ways to build their community’s capacity and resilience and reduce the isolation in the 13 smaller communities on the Fraser Coast.

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A skilled facilitator is delivering intensive workshops over 8 months rotating with participating communities. Regional community leaders are participating. It is expected that each participant will gain the skills and support to lead a Community Asset Infrastructure and Social Audit and a community project unique to their own community’s needs – in essence a Community Plan which is owned and led by each community and continues to be supported by Council.

Transport Regional transportation is an identified priority issue which has been brought to the fore by the Fraser Coast Small Communities Advisory Group. Innovative solutions are currently being sought by the Fraser Coast and we are looking at what is working in other communities. For example, a small community in North East Victoria (Tolmie) has developed a Sustainable Transport Group with the idea of assisting Tolmie residents in accessing a lift to Mansfield and other destinations including larger regional centres for medical appointments. The scheme called TOAST (Tolmie Officers a Seat to Town) links residents who have a spare seat in their car with residents who require a lift. The aim of the scheme is to assist Tolmie residents in an area of identified need and to remove the isolation that would occur without access to transport.

Proposed Solutions

Opportunities for sharing infrastructure and services (eg tele-health and mobile outreach services) could improve efficiencies and contribute to the reduction of social isolation. The emphasis on improving services would be significant and will represent both a psychological and material enhancement to communities.

Accessible and affordable transport options that improve connectivity and access to services to outlying communities should be investigated and supported by government and stakeholders. As outlined above, Council has currently commenced this process through the Social Plan, Community Builders’ Programme and a focus on partnerships. The focus is to provide co-ordinated and sustainable responses to social and locational disadvantage and vulnerability.

Summary

A collaborative place-based approach is required rather than a siloed approach delivering short term outcomes. Structural and systemic changes are required that bring together multiple policy issues and cross-disciplinary streams.

In collaboration with stakeholders, community, State and Federal Governments, the Fraser Coast Regional Council is focused on delivering sustainable outcomes which will harness the existing and emergent opportunities and contribute to Building Better Communities in our region.

Contact Officer: Executive Manager Community & Economy - Louise Knol Phone: 1300 79 49 29 Docs Reference: #3546221

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