Program
WQAC 2025
St George, 19-20 August
8:00am - 9:40am
Registrations Open
Balonne Shire Cultural Centre
112-118 Victoria Street, St George
8:15am - 9:30am
Optional Town Tours
Tour 1: The Hub Library, Community Centre and Country University Centre
Got some time before the Assembly starts? Come join a walking tour of Balonne Shire Council’s award winning ‘The Hub’ Precinct. Learn how council brought its vision to reality; and how this community asset now serves a multitude of purposes across different aspects of the community.
Tour 2: Balonne Shire Council Town Tour and Major Projects Overview
From industrial precincts, splash parks, airport masterplans, water security projects and major road and flood mitigation upgrades, there’s a lot happening in the Balonne Shire. This tour will take participants around the major projects of St George and highlight the challenges and lessons learned along the way.
9:30am - 9:45am
MINI MORNING TEA
9:45am - 10:00am
Welcome to Beautiful Balonne and Acknowledgement of Country
Cr Samantha O’Toole, Mayor - Balonne Shire Council
Traditional Custodian Acknowledgement of Country
10:00am - 10:45am
Session #1: As the Seasons Rise and Fall – How can we best shape futures in a changing world?
1. Transitioning Mount Isa for the Next Economy
Cr Peta MacRae, Mayor – Mount Isa City Council
2. From Outback Highways to Outback Skyways!
Ms Juliette Vicaire, Project Manager Australia – Flying Whales
10:45am - 11:15am
Keynote Address: Bush Wellbeing - Why communities making it #OK2SAYNO are creating social sustainability across Western Queensland
Ms Shanna Whan (AM), Founder – Sober in the Country
11:15am - 11:35am
The Power of One - Someone to talk to, something to do! Supporting the Wellbeing of young people in Cunnamulla
Mr Jarib Branfield-Bradshaw, Youth Support Officer – Paroo Shire Council and 7NEWS Young Achiever of 2025
11:35am - 11:55am
State Opposition Update
Ms Nikki Boyd MP - Shadow Minister for Local Government and Water
11:55am - 12:05pm
Sponsor Presentation: RAPID Platform
12:05pm - 12:55pm
LUNCH
12:55pm - 2:00pm
“The Bush hath Moods and Changes, as the Seasons Rise and Fall, And the people who know the bush-land -- they are loyal through it all” (AB Paterson 1892) - Protecting the Mental Health of Western Queensland Communities
Presentations and Panel Session
Presentations by:
Ms Sandy Gillies, Chief Executive Officer – Western Queensland Primary Health Network (WQPHN) & Adjunct Professor, Murtupuni Centre for Rural and Remote Health, James Cook University
Ms Alexandra Donoghue, Clinical Psychologist & Occupational Therapist - Rural Psych Practice Principal
Panel discussion facilitated by Shanna Whan AM, with
Cr John Ferguson, Mayor – Bulloo Shire Council
Cr Ernie Camp, Mayor – Burke Shire Council
Ms Sandy Gillies, Chief Executive Officer – WQPHN
Ms Alexandra Donoghue, Clinical Psychologist & Occupational Therapist - Rural Psych Practice Principal
Mr Jarib Branfield-Bradshaw, Youth Support Officer – Paroo Shire Council
2:00pm - 2:35pm
Federal Ministerial Address
The Hon Kristy McBain MP - Minister for Emergency Management and Minister for Regional Development, Local Government and Territories
2:35pm - 2:45pm
Sponsor Presentation - Local Government Mutual Schemes (LGMS)
2:45pm - 3:15pm
AFTERNOON TEA
Improving Policy Synergies across Drought Management and Clean Energy Transition – how can Western Queensland prosper as the Seasons Rise and Fall?
Professor Ben Lyons, Director, Southern Queensland Northern NSW Drought and Innovation Hub (Rural Economies Centre of Excellence) – University of Southern Queensland
Dr Brent Finlay, Managing Director - Finlay Agricultural Industries
3:15pm - 3:55pm
Federal Priorities for Bio-security Defence in the Regions – What can Western Queensland Expect?
Senator the Hon Anthony Chisholm - Assistant Minister for Regional Development; Assistant Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry; Assistant Minister for Resources; and Deputy Manager of Government Business in the Senate
3:55pm - 4:20pm
4:20pm - 5:30pm
As the Seasons Rise and Fall – what will be the Olympic size tourism opportunities for Western Queensland?
Presentations by:
Ms Denise Brown, Chief Executive Officer – Outback Queensland Tourism Association (OQTA)
Mr Barry Weare, Director of Operations – Cooee Traveller
Mr Mark Mason, Project Manager, Olympic Strategy and Legacy, Toowoomba and Surat Basin Enterprise (TSBE)
Panel Discussion
With presenters above and:
Cr Tony Rayner, Mayor – Longreach Regional Council
5:30pm - 6:00pm
Empowering Local Engagement in the Olympic & Paralympic Movement – What’s planned for Brisbane 2032?
Ms Jessica Reid, Chief of Staff to the President - Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games Organising Committee
6:00pm
Close of day one
6:00pm - 7:30 pm
WELCOME FUNCTION AND NETWORKING OPPORTUNITY
Kindly sponsored by: Queensland Treasury Corporation
Venue: “The Hub”, Balonne Shire Council, 112-118 Victoria Street, St George
Please note this function is outside and will become cool during the course of the evening – please bring a jacket, jumper or coat as appropriate.
Platinum Sponsors
Gold Sponsors
