2021 is now well underway and I have hit the ground running to ensure businesses understand and take-up assistance available through a number of Morrison Government initiatives.
As part of our post-COVID recovery, the Gold Coast has a new dedicated Employment Facilitator. Jodi Brackenbury's role is part of the Government's $62.8m Local Jobs Program which is being rolled out in 25 regions across Australia.
We have so many amazing businesses in our own backyard - employing locals and producing Australian made products. Garden of Vegan manufactures ready-made-meals in their Burleigh kitchen - delivering thousands of meals each week around the country.
Across the road, at AMEC Plastics I learnt about how they've been supplying locally made injection moulded products right across Australia and around the world for over 30 years.
It seems the sky is no longer the limit when it comes to Queensland manufacturing - with Jimboomba-based Black Sky Aerospace successfully launching the first rocket powered by Australian-made fuel! This is an extraordinary achievement for our local space industry, which is continuing to grow and create jobs.
Manufacturing jobs are being developed outside of the traditional sectors here in Australia. For example, at The ARM Hub (Advanced Robotics for Manufacturing) in Brisbane, they house UAP - who manufacture larger-than-life art, as well as produce the OSCARS statuettes!
It was thrilling to see so many female QUT STEM graduates working at the ARM Hub. It's a far cry from my days studying engineering with a very male-dominated cohort.
Aussies are brilliant innovators and at Naturo on the Sunshine Coast, they're changing the way we buy milk. The Federal Government has provided them with $1 million in grant funding to build a pilot manufacturing plant for world-first patented technology for processing milk that is nutritionally superior and has a longer shelf life.
If you purchase your milk and weekly groceries from Coles at The Pines in Elanora, you may have contributed to their amazing Christmas fundraising appeal. The local store ranked third in Queensland - with $8,204 donated by generous Gold Coasters.
I love being out within our stunning southern Gold Coast community and particularly look forward to presiding over the Citizenship Ceremony each year. The Lions Club of Mudgeeraba do a fantastic job in organising and this year more than 40 new citizens took the Pledge.
On Australia Day I also had the pleasure of presenting Palm Beach local Noah Connors with the Rotary Burleigh Heads’ Bravery Recognition Award. Congratulations Noah!
If you know a McPherson resident who goes above and beyond in their community work - please nominate them for a McPherson Community Award. Entries close on Friday 12 February.
Take care,
