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General Newsletter - 1 November 2024


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In this Issue

 

Welcome from the Chair

Russell Stewart - Chair

Dear Northern Inlanders,

I was please to travel to Tenterfield last week as our Committee gathered for our quarterly meeting. The historical significance and community spirit of Tenterfield is a special part of our region. We were pleased to hear of the progress of the Angry Bull Trails project from Joe and Caitlin who presented to the meeting. We are proud to support the Angry Bulls Trails project in the development of their business case and successful grant applications totalling $4.1M, as it will have a positive impact on the wellbeing of Tenterfield youth and provide economic growth. I was also happy to welcome our newest committee member, Fiona Barden from Walcha to her first Committee meeting. You can find out more about Fiona and her wealth of experience below.

The communities in our region are what makes it such a great place to live. Yet, it can be a daunting for new residents to take the step and move here. Providing support when people come to our region, often with a partner and young families, is key to not only the attraction of new residents and workers that our essential services need, but also to retaining them. We are pleased to welcome Emma Grant and Katrina George to our staff to provide The Welcome Experience in partnership with the Department of Regional NSW to the Armidale and Tamworth Regions and the Uralla Shire. If you are an essential worker who has recently moved to our region, or are thinking of doing so, you may be eligible for this service, and further details are available below.

As we all start to think about the gifts we plan to give our loved ones at Christmas, it is also a good time for employers to think about the impact they have on their employees every day. With one-in-six employees currently experiencing mental health issues, the NSW Government is offering free workplace mental health training to provide practical tools and skills for employers, and further details are available below.

Regards,

Russell Stewart
Chair

Meet Our Newest Committee Member – Fiona Barden

Fiona Barden

We are pleased to introduce our newest Committee member, Fiona Barden from Walcha.

Fiona is a passionate advocate for regional NSW, developing her career in business and economic development through owning and operating her own business, working with businesses in conjunction with Non-Government Organisations, and in Local and State government settings.

After a successful career managing economic development and destination marketing for the City of Coffs Harbour, Fiona and her artist husband moved to the New England area in 2023. Falling in love with the region, its natural beauty, artistic charm and myriad of opportunities, Fiona is excited to use her learned skills and experiences to work with both her local community of Walcha and the broader region, focused around business support and economic development. Her work experiences are matched with her academic skills in stakeholder management, financial planning, strategic planning and analysis, and innovation.

We are looking forward to Fiona’s contribution to the future of our region as part of our Committee. Further details about our Committee members is available on our website.

The Welcome Experience Comes to Armidale, Uralla and Tamworth

We are excited to be partnering with the NSW Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development to bring The Welcome Experience to the local government areas (LGAs) of Armidale, Uralla and Tamworth. The Welcome Experience is an initiative that was piloted in eight areas in New South Wales and due to the overwhelming success, has now been expanded to boost outcomes in regional areas across NSW.

Through the program, a range of essential workers and NSW Government employees that are moving or have recently moved will be welcomed and provided with free assistance to settle and enjoy the benefits of regional living. The support is tailored to the individual and includes assistance with ‘life stuff’ such as enrolling children into school and connecting with community groups. Government and non-government employees in specified occupations are eligible for the program, including general practitioners, aged care nurses, childcare workers, allied health professionals, teachers, health workers and emergency services workers.

Katrina George and Emma Grant have joined our team to provide the program for the Armidale and Uralla Shire LGAs and Tamworth Regional LGA respectively. Katrina and Emma not only have a wealth of knowledge about their communities, but also the lived experience of moving to our region with their families. The program has already had a positive response, with over forty people already being supported in Armidale, Uralla and Tamworth since it began four weeks ago.

“Moving to a new area is a daunting experience for anyone, and we are excited to be able to help make it easier for new residents to take that step and make the move to our region” said RDA-NI Executive Director, Nathan Axelsson. “The community spirit in our region is part of what makes our region an incredible place to live, work and raise a family, and we are pleased to be able to support new residents to share in that.”

This week, we hosted Co-Design Workshops in Armidale and Tamworth to connect and gain input to the program from representatives of the public sector, including health, education and emergency services as well as community service providers. With over fifty representatives attending, these workshops will influence the future direction and tailor The Welcome Experience to our region.

If you have recently moved to the Armidale Regional, Uralla Shire or Tamworth Regional Council areas, you can view the full list of eligible occupations and register for the program on the NSW Government’s website and select the Southern New England Region to be connected with Emma and Katrina. This program is also being provided in the Moree Plains, Inverell and Glen Innes, which are also available through the above link.

Funding to Boost Mobile Network Resilience

Mobile Network Resilience

Strengthening the resilience of mobile network communications in regional, remote and peri-urban Australia is key to keeping communities safer and better connected during, and after, natural disasters. As part of the Better Connectivity Plan for Regional and Rural Australia, the Australian Government is providing up to $20 million through Round 3 of the Mobile Network Hardening Program (MNHP).

The MNHP co-funds projects with mobile carriers and tower companies to deliver upgrades that reduce the risk of outages and improve restoration times, for example, portable generators, back-up power equipment and physical mobile tower hardening. Round 3 of the MNHP is open to projects located natural disaster-prone areas in regional and remote Australia and, for the first time, in the peri-urban fringe of 19 capital and major regional cities.

As part of the initiative, an online Project Noticeboard allows communities to provide advice to the telco industry on potential projects or locations until Friday the 13th of December. “I encourage local communities to speak with their Councillors, State, Territory and Federal representatives to identify potential projects or locations that could benefit from improved communications resilience.” said Michelle Rowland MP, Minister for Communications.

Funding for Round 3 of the MNHP will be provided to applicants from the telco industry under two streams:

  • $10 million (GST exclusive) ‘Regional and Remote Australia’ stream for Resilience Upgrade projects in regional, remote and very remote Australia; or
  • $10 million (GST exclusive) ‘Peri-urban Fringe’ stream for Resilience Upgrade projects in the peri-urban fringe of 19 capital and major regional cities.

The Grant Opportunity Guidelines are now available on GrantConnect, and a Round 3 - Eligibility Map is available on the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts’ website. Applications close on Friday, the 20th of December 2024.

Make A Positive Change with Free Workplace Mental Health Training

Workplace Mental Health

When work is good, it provides us with a sense of purpose, belonging, achievement and self-esteem. Due to the significant proportion of our lives spent at work, it can have a significant impact on mental health. Research shows that one in six workers are currently experiencing mental ill-health, and employers can make a difference by taking steps to support mental health in their workplace.

To help employers make a positive impact for their employees, the NSW Government are offering free training that provide practical tools to talk about and support mental health in the workplace.

Training programs are available as an interactive workshop or self-paced online training and there are three programs available:

  • Leading a Mentally Healthy Workplace - gives employers and executive leaders practical strategies to create a psychosocially safe and positive work environment.
  • Managing for Team Wellbeing - helps managers and supervisors develop their wellbeing leadership skills to create a mentally healthier workplace.
  • Your Mental Health at Work - gives sole traders and employees practical strategies to care for their own mental health at work and support others.

Employers are eligible for the free training if their workplace is a privately owned NSW business with less than 200 employees or a not-for-profit of any size.

Further information, including registration is available through the NSW Government website.

QantasLink to Continue Servicing Moree to 2030

QantasLink

QantasLink have successfully resecured the air services licence for the Moree to Sydney route for another five years until March 2030. The Moree to Sydney route is one of only two regulated routes in NSW, with Transport for NSW managing the licensing process.

Moree Plains Mayor, Cr Susannah Pearse, shared her delight at the NSW Government’s announcement. “This is a fantastic outcome for our community. We know how important the regular route to Sydney is and are delighted to welcome QantasLink back to the Moree Regional Airport for the next five years. Moree’s airport services the entire region, and this commitment from QantasLink supports our connectivity to the rest of Australia and the world, as well as economic, social and wellbeing outcomes for our residents and those in surrounding Shires.”

Mayor, Susannah Pearse added; “We would like to thank both QantasLink and Transport for NSW (TfNSW) for their dedication throughout this important licensing process. We would also particularly like to thank Minister for Regional Transport and Roads, The Hon. Jenny Aitchison MP, who has recently visited Moree and Mungindi and taken a strong interest in the region.”

“QantasLink has been flying to Moree since 1993 and we are pleased to be able to continue to provide these services for another five years. As part of our investment in our regional turboprop fleet, from mid-December, all QantasLink Moree flights will be operated solely by our larger Q400 aircraft which offer more seats, a faster flight time and will improve reliability,” commented CEO QantasLink, Rachel Yangoyan.

Moree Plains Shire Council has also been undertaking parking apron expansion and improvement works at Moree Regional Airport to ensure the airport has the capability to safely accommodate two Q400 aircraft at any one time. The route will be solely operated by the larger aircraft by mid-December for both morning and evening flights.

Moree Plains Shire Council will also begin airport master planning in 2025 to plan for future development and air service opportunities for the Moree Plains region.

Women’s Leadership Development Scholarships Now Open

Women & Leadership

For 20 years, Women & Leadership Australia (WLA)has been championing equity and empowering leaders in every aspect of life. In line with this mission, the WLA is currently accepting applications for scholarships to support women to access their world-class leadership and workplace skill development programs. WLA deliver career-defining leadership programs that bring together a focus on applied learning with the latest in leadership theory and practice.

The WLA programs are designed for a range of women, from those with limited leadership experience through to executive leaders and scholarships. Partial scholarships ranging from $1,000 to $6,000 are available to support women at all levels, from entry-level to senior executives.

They are currently accepting applications for scholarships for the following courses:

  • Skills for workplace impact - A ten-week program for women at all levels, designed to provide game-changing interpersonal and communication skills to improve impact and confidence at work.
  • Early career managers - A four-month, part-time program designed to enable the transition of aspiring and early career female managers into confident, capable and motivated leaders.
  • Mid-level managers - A seven-month, part-time program designed to stretch mid-level leaders and propel them towards executive level performance, behaviours and mindsets.
  • Senior and executive leaders - A nine-month, part-time program that is a high-impact and challenging developmental course for senior and executive leaders.

These scholarships are aimed at encouraging more women to increase their impact at work, progress their career and step up in leadership roles. Applications close at 5pm on Friday the 29th of November, and further information is available on the Women and Leadership Australia website.

Featured Grants and Funding Opportunities

Below are some featured grants and funding opportunities from the multitude of open grants listed in the Grants and Funding Opportunities area of our website. Our website is updated weekly with new listings and updates and all are applicable to our region, so it is a great resource if you are looking for funding for a specific project.

You can also sign up to our Business and Infrastructure Funding Opportunities and the Community Grants and Award Programs newsletters through the simple form located on the left-hand side of our website: www.rdani.org.au, to receive monthly summaries of currently open grants.

 

AFL National Schools Grants Program - 2024 - Term 4

Opens: 4th of November 2024 - 9:00 am
Closes: 15th of November 2024
Value: Up to $500
Run By: AFL NSW / ACT

The National Schools Grant program is designed to help schools facilitate AFL programs. It aims to:

  • Equip and empower schools to run quality AFL programs
  • Help provide a fair and equitable opportunity for AFL programming in all schools
  • Remove barriers that prevent involvement in programs or competitions

 

Anzac Community Grants - 2024
Closes: 11th of November 2024 - 5:00 pm
Value: Up to $3,000
Run By: NSW Department of Veterans Affairs

The Anzac Community Grants Program provides grants of up to $3,000 for projects that either promote appreciation and understanding of the service and sacrifice of military service personnel or support activities and services to enhance the wellbeing of the NSW veteran community.

Please note, funding is only provided for projects that are yet to take place, and not for costs already incurred. Applicants who have received funding from the Anzac Community Grants Program for three consecutive years will be ineligible for funding in the subsequent fourth year.

 

Clubgrants - Infrastructure Grants: Community Infrastructure - November 2024
Opens: 4th of November 2024
Closes: 25th of November 2024
Value: $50,000 to $250,000
Run By: NSW Office of Responsible Gambling

The objective of the Clubgrants Category 3 Infrastructure Grants program is to fund the costs of construction, alteration, renovation, completion and fit-out of buildings and community infrastructure to deliver outcomes for disadvantaged NSW communities including regional, remote and drought-affected areas, culturally and linguistically diverse, disability and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and disaster-affected communities. This grant is one of four Clubgrants Category 3 Infrastructure Grants administered by the Office of Responsible Gambling.

Who can apply

  • Not-for-profit organisations that will be responsible for operating and/or maintaining the infrastructure.
  • Schools - applicants must consider if and how the infrastructure project is accessible to the public outside school hours.
  • Local councils - applicants are required to cash-match the funding amount requested.

 

Small Business Fund Program
Closes: 29th of November 2024
Value: Up to $5,000
Run By: Moree Plains Shire Council

Moree Plains Shire Council is seeking to support start-ups and existing small businesses within the Shire under the Small Business Fund Program. Eligible small businesses which employ up to 20 employees will be able to apply for a one-off maximum payment of up to $5,000. The funds can be used for various business development purposes as outlined in the guidelines, from signage/façade improvements to marketing initiatives.

Who Can Apply?

  • The business must be located within Moree Shire Plains Shire with a registered ABN (or ACN) and has traded for at least 6 months.
  • An applicant must be over the age of 18.
  • The applicant must be a business and not a not-for-profit organisation. Not-for-profit organisations are encouraged to apply for financial assistance under Council’s Public Donations Fund.

 

Local Heritage Assistance Fund - 2024-2025
Closes: 30th of November 2024
Value: Up to $2,000
Run By: Glen Innes Severn Council

A Local Heritage Assistance Fund has been established by Glen Innes Severn Council with the aid of a grant from the NSW Heritage Office. Owners of heritage properties are now invited to apply for funding under the Heritage Assistance Fund.

Eligible projects are those which involve the repair, maintenance or reinstatement of missing items on heritage buildings. These include fences, verandahs, roof cladding and decorative detail, structural work through to final painting of projects.

Owners of buildings in the CBD are particularly invited to apply as priority will be given to these properties. Examples of the type of work which can be funded under this program include:

  • Stabilisation of buildings,
  • Painting in approved colour schemes,
  • Repairs to stumps, walls, roofs, doors and windows,
  • Replacement of guttering and down pipes and
  • Reinstating missing components, including verandahs, fences, roof cladding and decorative detail.

 

Regional Airports Program - Round 4
Closes: 18th of November 2024 - 5:00 pm
Value: $20,000 to $7.5 Million
Run By: Australian Government Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts

The Regional Airports Program – Round 4 provides grants to improve the safety, accessibility and climate resilience of airports and aerodromes in regional areas of Australia. It will support critical air infrastructure that will:

  • improve the safety of aircraft, operators and passengers using regional airports or aerodromes
  • facilitate improved delivery of essential goods and services such as food supplies, health care and passenger air services
  • improve the connectivity of Australia’s regions to domestic and global market opportunities
  • meet the operational requirements of aeromedical and other emergency services in the region
  • assist air services to transition to net zero aviation technology

What's On in the Northern Inland

Bike and Car Night
Friday 1st of November
Uralla

Nighttime Markets
Friday 1st of November
Moree

Rotary Book Fair
Friday 1st of November
Guyra

Tamworth Network Group’s Dance Party
Friday 1st of November
Tamworth

BAMM Art Groupies
Saturday 2nd of November
Moree

Glen Innes Cottage Markets
Saturday 2nd of November
Glen Innes

Lions Club Big Book Sale
Saturday 2nd of November
Tamworth

New England Garden Festival
Saturday 2nd and Sunday 3rd of November
Armidale

New England Peonies Open Days
Saturday 2nd of November
Arding

Palloween Disco
Saturday 2nd of November
Pallamallawa

Quirindi Country Markets
Saturday 2nd of November
Willow Tree

Rotary Book and DVD Sale
Saturday 2nd of November
Armidale

Hillgrove Halltel Socials
Saturday 2nd of November
Hillgrove

Narrabri Rotary Markets
Saturday 2nd of November
Narrabri

Spring Fling
Saturday 2nd of November
Woolbrook

Armidale Birdwatchers
Sunday 3rd of November
Armidale

High Country Markets
Sunday 3rd of November
Uralla

Moree Markets
Sunday 3rd of November
Moree

Narrabri Shire's Big Map Flood Exercise
Sunday 3rd of November
Narrabri

New England Garden Festival – Spring Garden Trail
Sunday 3rd of November
Armidale

Sapphire City Markets
Sunday 3rd of November
Inverell

The Yarn Bombing Project
Sunday 3rd of November
Tamworth

Torrington Market Day
Saturday 3rd of November
Torrington

BAMM Art Therapy
Tuesday 5th, 12th, 19th and 26th of November
Moree

Creative Play
Tuesday 5th of November
Tamworth

Knitting, Crafting, Spinning Day
Tuesday 5th of November
Tamworth

New England Garden Festival - Spring Garden Trail
Tuesday 5th of November
Glen Innes

New England Garden Festival - Spring Garden Trail
Wednesday 6th of November
Tenterfield

New England Heritage Festival
Saturday 9th and Sunday 10th of November
Armidale

Nundle CWA Art Exhibition and Sale
Friday 8th of November
Nundle

Barraba Museum Markets
Saturday 9th of November
Barraba

Bundarra Garden Festival
Saturday 9th of November
Bundarra

Black Gully Festival
Saturday 9th of November
Armidale

Garage Sale Trail 2024
Saturday 9th of November
Glen Innes

Nundle Art on the Street
Saturday 9th of November
Nundle

Nundle Twilight Christmas Market
Saturday 9th of November
Nundle

Tamworth Community Saturday Markets
Saturday 9th of November
Tamworth

Tamworth Powerstation Museum - 136th Anniversary
Saturday 9th of November
Tamworth

Coffee and Chat Car Display
Sunday 10th of November
Armidale

Armidale Farmers’ Market
Sunday 10th of November
Armidale

Walk n Talk for Life
Sunday 10th of November
Tamworth

Barraba Memorial Clock Centenary
Monday 11th of November
Barraba

Quirindi Community Hub Day
Wednesday 13th of November
Quirindi

Poets on the Mountain Festival
Friday 15th to Sunday 17th of November
Guyra

Walcha Motorcycle Rally
Friday 15th and Saturday 16th of November
Walcha

Tenterfield Farmers & Producers Market
Saturday 16th of November
Tenterfield

Walcha Farmers’ Market
Saturday 16th of November
Walcha

Coffee and Cars
Saturday 16th of November
Walcha

Armidale Waldorf School Spring Fair
Saturday 16th of November
Armidale

Gunnedah Markets
Saturday 16th of November
Gunnedah

Healthy Harvest and Homemade Fair
Saturday 17th of November
Moree

Khanacross
Sunday 17th of November
Armidale

Sapphire City Markets
Sunday 17th of November
Inverell

Tamworth Peel Street Markets
Sunday 17th of November
Tamworth

Let's Make Art
Tuesday 19th of November
Tamworth

Aged and Disability Access Roadshow Expo
Thursday 21st of November
Warialda

Calala Markets
Saturday 23rd of November
Calala

Glen Innes Men's Shed Car Boot Sale
Saturday 23rd of November
Glen Innes

Gunnedah MS Christmas Fair
Saturday 23rd of November
Gunnedah

St Mary’s Primary School Spring Fete
Saturday 23rd of November
Armidale

Markets in the Mall
Sunday 24th of November
Armidale

Christmas in the Highlands Markets
Friday 29th of November
Glen Innes

Narrabri Rotary Markets
Saturday 30th of November
Narrabri

Bingara Christmas Carnival
Saturday 30th of November
Bingara

Drake Village Markets
Saturday 30th of November
Drake

Quota Christmas Markets
Saturday 30th of November
Walcha

Woolomin Monthly Markets
Saturday 30th of November
Woolomin

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