 |
QORF Newsletter - June 2009
In This Issue
 | Message from the CEO | |
QORF Project & Development Officer role - CLOSING SOON | |
The Drumley Walk presents The Little Red Book | |
Service Skills Australia Survey | |
New Feature - Grow Your Business | |
Small Business Advisory Services - Brisbane Bayside South and Redlands | |
Brisbane Valley Rail Trail Survey - NOW OPEN | |
BVRT Coominya to Esk Trail Opening | |
Call for Consultants | |
Logan City Council Recreation Trails Strategy |
|
Message from the CEO
Much has happened in the last month that needs our attention and awareness. As indicated in a mail out on June 3, the State Government has announced a proposal for the sale of Forestry Plantations Queensland. While the proposal indicates that the land for recreation purposes will remain in State hands and therefore access rights will be maintained, history has shown us that the best laid plans can sometimes go awry. Please keep informed on this topic and help us to keep the issue of access for outdoor recreation as a positive message and on the political and bureaucratic agenda. This might include talking with your local member, maintaining records of the use you make of State Forests for recreational purposes (with groups or independently), making a submission to:
|
...or sharing your ideas on Q2 initiatives to increase land for public recreation purposes.
Whilst on the topic of State Government announcements, the State Budget 2009-10 has been delivered and the outdoor recreation industry is impacted in a number of ways. With the Department of Communities, where Sport and Recreation Services now sits, there is acknowledgement from the Hon Phil Reeves that the budget “will help Queenslanders to get active and address obesity levels. This year, more that $142 million has been allocated for sport and recreation infrastructure, programs, activities and services to enable Queenslanders to lead active, healthy lifestyles”. As you won’t be surprised, the focus of this continues to remain on “sporting clubs” and “supporting elite athletes” however there are specific positives for us to note. Budget highlights from the Department of Infrastructure and Planning & Department of Environment and Resource Management indicate they will:
• Undertake a statewide inventory of land for public recreation & develop & implement strategies to deliver on Q2 green target – 50% more land for nature conservation & public recreation;
• $3.6 Mill to develop Brisbane Valley Rail Trail & Boonah to Ipswich Trail;
• $1.2 Mill for feasibility study and development of new Great Walk fro Daintree to tip of Cape York Peninsula
• 4 new long distance walking tracks due for completion 2010 in Cooloola, the Conondale Range, Carnavon Gorge & the Whitsunday Islands.
On other matters, thanks to those who responded to the survey on your use (or otherwise) of the Outdoor Leaders – State (Qld) Award which is going to be consumed by a super award under the Federal Governments amalgamation and streamlining of Industrial Relations. On a very short timeline we had sufficient responses to help us create a submission to the Australian Industrial Relations Commission. Anyone interested in reading that submission may find it at:
|
Again, our newsletter provides you with information on surveys you can complete, workshops that are forthcoming and of course an invitation to attend our conference at the end of July. While we are a relatively small industry and there is always much to do, we are only going to get stronger where we build on each other’s strengths, so again, I would encourage as many of you as possible to come to conference to share your ideas, interact with industry, government and stakeholders, and to have your say on how Queensland needs to progress in the future if we are to take advantage of the opportunities that are currently available.
Regards,
Donna
|
QORF Project & Development Officer role
The closing date for Expressions of Interest for a full time Project and Development Officer with QORF has now been extended - Applications will now close WEDNESDAY JULY 1ST.
QORF are looking for a person with outdoor industry knowledge and a passion to learn to join their work team.
If you are interested in reading more about this role or submitting your expression of interest, download the Position Description below...
|
The Drumley Walk presents The Little Red Book
Curious about local culture, community and personal growth?
The Drumley Walk urges you to take up the challenge and start training for their annual adventure now!
Year after year hundreds of people retrace the steps of a local legend on a journey that stretches over sixty-kilometers and takes four-days to complete.
The fifth Drumley Walk starts in eight weeks – and participants can start preparing now with a unique Little Red Book.
Youth worker, fitness trainer and cancer survivor Sally Baisden has created the pocket guide to answer the tough questions for walkers of all ages and fitness levels.
|
Service Skills Australia Survey
How do workers benefit from training?
Service Skills Australia is calling for workers in the service industries to participate in a survey and contribute to the future direction of accredited training in Australia.
In 2008, Service Skills Australia conducted an online survey in which 90% of respondents stated that their business provides on-the-job training. But do employers and workers have different views on what training really means?
Service Skills is seeking to answer this question, and explore how workers benefit from training. The survey will provide information to the service industries about the value and uptake of on-the-job training and the awareness of accredited qualifications and certificates.
It only takes 5-10 minutes to complete and you may also be eligible to enter the draw to win a $250 gift voucher. You must be employed in the service industries to be eligible to win the gift voucher.
To participate go to:
|
Who should participate?
Workers in beauty, community pharmacy, hospitality, events, funeral services, tourism, sport, fitness and recreation, hairdressing, floristry, holiday parks and resorts, wholesale and retail industries.
|
New Feature - Grow Your Business
Each month, QORF will be bringing you four new business tips from Andrew Griffiths, an entrepreneur with a real passion for small business and author of "101 Survival Tips".
These survival tips offer a great checklist for any small business owner to ensure they are maximising their business' potential.
Tips for July:
1. Know what type of help is available
2. Know when you need help
3. Embrace technology and save time
4. You might be eligible for a grant
|
Small Business Advisory Services - Brisbane Bayside South and Redlands
Need some advice about a business issue?
The Small Business Advisory Services program is a $46 million Federal Government program to maximise the growth potential, prosperity and sustainability of small businesses. It provides enhanced access to information and advice on issues important to sustaining and/or growing small business in response to the current global financial crisis.
In the Greater Brisbane region two local Chambers of Commerce have been successful in receiving funding for this program.
If you are a small business and wish to access the service, contact your nearest service provider:
Wynnum and Districts Chamber of Commerce
Phone: 07 3893 2628 or email the Wynnum Chamber: chamber@wynnumchamber.org
Redland City Chamber of Commerce
Phone: 07 3824 3845 or email the Redland City Chamber: info@redlandcitychamber.org.au
You can also visit the Wynnum Chamber website and Redland City Chamber website - links below
|
Brisbane Valley Rail Trail Survey - NOW OPEN
Since November 2007, parts of the Brisbane Valley Rail Trail (BVRT) have been open for multi-use purposes - walking, mountain biking and horse riding. To ensure the trails have plenty of use and are valuable to participants and the community, the Queensland Outdoor Recreation Federation (QORF) needs to know who is using the trail, that is: when are you going, what are you doing and what things make the trail great...or could make it better?
The Qld Outdoor Recreation Federation (QORF) and the Department of Infrastructure and Planning (DIP) are inviting you to participate in this Brisbane Valley Rail Trail User Survey.
Through this survey, you can express your opinion and experiences of the trails and offer any suggestions for improvements. The BVRT User Survey will help us understand the demographics, motivations and experiences of the current users which will provide us with information for future growth and management.
|
BVRT Coominya to Esk Trail Opening
On Saturday 25 July, the official opening of the Coominya to Esk section of the Brisbane Valley Rail Trail will take place at Esk as part of the Esk Multicultural Festival.
Brisbane Valley Heritage Trails Inc are inviting interested organisations to participate in the information and displays in the Lyceum Hall on the day.
On behalf of the Outdoor Industry, QORF are looking for participants to be part of this event. If you would like to offer a display or have brochures/ information that you think would be relevant to present during this time, please make contact with us indicating:
what you would like to do, the information/ experience you would plan to share, who could be part of the day on your stand.
The stall and/or display will need to be set up by 8.45am so we can attend the Esk Section of the Brisbane Valley Rail Trail which will be officially opened at the Brisbane Valley Multicultural Festival 2009 at 9.00 am. This will coincide with the Bush Poets Breakfast and of course a sausage sizzle.
Please make contact with John Guise from QORF at john@qorf.org.au if you are interested and/ or available BY July 9, or if you would rather 'go it alone' make contact with Libby DeLacy at edelacy@westnet.com.au with contact details of your organisation by Friday 10 July information stall/display.
For more information on other events on the day visit the Esk Multicultural Festival website:
|
Call for Consultants
QORF are continuously looking for better ways to do our job and be more efficient. Occasionally we have the opportunity to apply for special projects to do with recreation planning, research on participation and recreation impacts, economic impact studies, trails planning etc. Realistically our small staffing base and skill set does not allow us to always take advantage of these opportunities, and we have a history of working with casual contractors to assist us in achieving some projects and leaving time for us to do what we know best.
We are currently looking for expressions of interest from people with qualifications, skills or experience in a variety of areas including:
• Recreation planning
• Legal documentation
• Qualitative and Quantitative data gathering and analysis
• Report Writing
• Graphic Design
• Marketing
If you are occasionally available, have an interest and demonstrated capacity in a combination of the above areas and would like to go on our database for special projects (or just find out more) please send an email to admin@qorf.org.au addressing the following:
• Qualifications
• Skills
• Experience
• Interested areas
|
Logan City Council Recreation Trails Strategy
Logan City Council is undertaking a Recreation Trails Strategy that aims to identify a number of key land and waterbased trail opportunities. What do we mean by a recreation trail? For the purpose of this survey it is defined as any corridor, route or pathway for non-motorised recreation, such as walking, mountain biking, canoeing or recreational horse riding, which passes through or has a strong connection with the natural environment, open spaces and cultural heritage.
Have your say and tell us where you want to see trails and how you want to use them.
You can fill the survey online:
|
For further information please contact consultants Mike Halliburton Associates on 07 3411 5563 or email: mikehalli@optushome.com.au
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
