Weekly update - Friday 8 August 2025

Published on 08 August 2025

Download PDF of news for Friday 8 August >(PDF, 2MB)

LEARNING HUB PLAN

With support from the Victorian Skills Authority to establish sustainable vocational education in our Shire, we’ve started a “Study in Maryborough” pilot program delivering the Certificate IV Training and Assessment online in the co-working space at Maryborough Railway Station.

It’s part of ‘Upskill Regional Victoria’, a plan to ramp up local tertiary education best suited to the demand from local employers in the early childhood, aged care, health, manufacturing and education sectors.

Last week local employers, educators and State Government jobs and skills leaders met to assess the progress of the pilot and further develop its expansion into more courses next year.

With assistance from consultant Dr Sarah Lambert, each stage of the pilot will provide evaluation data essential to secure further grant funding to build and sustain a localVocational Training and Community Study Hubfor the Central Goldfields Community.

To register your interest for further study as part of the pilot program, visit:

https://forms.cloud.microsoft/r/FbvmzecM5K

FLOOD REPORT

It's great to see our disaster response efforts during the 2022 floods recognised.

La Trobe University has released a research report into the Northern Victorian Emergency Management Cluster, which includes Central Goldfields.

The research found that resource sharing increased the capacity and capability of all local governments in the Cluster.

Relationships across the Cluster were consistently described as being highly valuable in staff being able to perform their roles on a daily basis.

The report says many participants discussed the pressure on emergency management staff and burnout during the disaster was a common problem. The Cluster provided space for participants to lean on each other and receive support.

Central Goldfields Shire Council was pleased to contribute to this important research, which captured our local experience and the collective strength that emerged across the Cluster during the flood response. Being involved has deepened our understanding of collaborative emergency management and reinforced the value of shared systems, trusted relationships, and coordinated planning.

We know through hard experience that natural disasters leave a much longer legacy than the event itself.

The report discusses issues related to resource constraints and climate change, and the importance of local knowledge. It makes six recommendations, including "training to build capabilities and contribute to the development of emergency management as a career".

We welcome this in-depth analysis of our shared experiences in 2022, and as a contributing council, we support the finding that legislation and policy should set the agenda and promote collaboration.

The research report is available online at: http://bit.ly/458iiqR

ENERGY FOOD

Our premier event, Energy Breakthrough attracts over 17,000 students, teachers and parents, with 5,000 children (Grade 3 to Year12) camping onsite - and they get hungry!

This award-winning 5-day event is operated by a small team of staff and an army of fantastic volunteers - plus a host of community groups providing food and drink.

Expressions of Interest are now open for community groups to get involved in catering, helping a vital community event and generating much needed fundraising for their local groups/clubs.

Applications are open until 22 August. To find out how you can carve out a slice for your group or club, visit:

www.centralgoldfields.vic.gov.au/EBcatering

RURAL ZONES ON DISPLAY

You’re invited to attend one of our community workshops about the draft Urban Residential Land Opportunity Study - a review of our rural living zones to identify new housing potential for our growing population.

Daytime and evening sessions:

• Carisbrook and Flagstaff - Wednesday 13 August from 6pm to 7.30pm and Thursday 14 August from 10am to 11.30am at Carisbrook Senior Citizens
• Maryborough - Thursday 14 August from 6pm to 7.30pm and Friday 15 August from 10am to 11.30am at the Maryborough Community Hub

Registration: strategicplanning@cgoldshire.vic.gov.au

This document is coupled with our Draft Land Use Framework Plan, looking closely at higher density urban infill and broader industrial land uses across our Shire.

You can also review documents and give feedback online until Tuesday 26 August.

Visit: www.engage.cgoldshire.vic.gov.au/landuseframeworkplan

LEARNING ART

VCE Art students from Maryborough Education Centre and Highview College attended classes at Central Goldfields Art Gallery this week, learning about the processes behind running a Gallery.

In partnership with the Art Gallery of Ballarat Education Unit, the Year 11 and 12 students were shown the systems of safe storage of artworks, their curation and the methods of display.

The work of local students will be showcased at the end of the year at the Gallery’s annual Emergent Exhibition.

POSITIONS VACANT

For our current career opportunities, please visit:

www.centralgoldfields.vic.gov.au/currentvacancies

TENDERS

Tender documents can be downloaded from Vendor Panel, accessible at www.centralgoldfields.vic.gov.au/tenders