Funding for sport and recreation event project and hosting, and country sport projects are now open until 5pm 26th February 2024. Details about eligibility can be found at the Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries website.  

The WA Government has released the Collie Tourism Prospectus, calling on business operators to become a part of Collie’s tourism evolution.
Tourism has been a very successful part of the efforts to transition the region away from a coal-based economy to a more diverse and sustainable future.  Since the transition work has begun, visitor numbers in Collie have increased by over 73%.
The iconic Wellington Dam mural continues to attract local and international visitors, and the final stage of the $10 million Adventure Mountain bike trails in the Wellington Forest is to be open in Summer 2023-24, it is expected these numbers will continue to rise as Collie’s reputation as a premier adventure destination in WA’s South West grows. The success of these attractions means that Collie is now facing high demand for new accommodation, and food and beverage offerings. Some of the future tourism-friendly offerings may include:
» Accommodation: upmarket couples and family accommodation
» Boutique brewery
» Accommodation support industries
» Café/restaurant style eateries
» Mountain biker friendly offerings
» Aboriginal cultural offerings
» Eco/nature tourism offerings
» Heritage, arts and culture offerings

View the prospectus here

The full program for West Tech Assemblage 2024 has been announced, with FutureNow CEO Julie Hobbs proudly acting as MC for the half-day conference. The event will be hosted from 2-8pm at the Australian Institute of Management in Floreat, and will feature a ministerial panel, civic leaders panel, and a section dedicated to voices from the community. The West Tech Assemblage focuses on digital literacy, diversity, and inclusivity, reaching Indigenous communities, seniors, and individuals with disabilities. This event brings stakeholders together to drive digital inclusion. It's an opportunity to plan and ensure collective progress for an inclusive digital future.

You may book tickets here

National Jobs and Skills Council (JSC) for the digital technologies industry, the Future Skills Organisation (FSO), have released the final version of their initial Workforce Plan. The Plan , or WFP1, highlighted the following key observations: 

• The demand for technology occupations and skills constitutes significant components of Australia’s economy, having experienced substantial growth over the last 40 years, a trend expected to persist. 
• Skills needs are evolving rapidly, leading to a growing demand for specific skills and occupations. 
• Simultaneously, the supply of skills and workers is not keeping pace with the increasing demand.  

The report proposes that these issues can be attributed to multiple factors, with five key themes being identified: 

• Training Suitability
• The Digital Capability Gap
• Impact of Emerging Technologies
• Pathways
• Enhancing VET practitioner relevance and currency

You may access the full report here

Grants of up to $50,000 are being made available for Aboriginal not-for-profit organisations to undertake on the ground works that protect and preserve Aboriginal sites, promote Aboriginal cultural heritage and provide social and economic benefits to local communities.  Past successful projects have included remediation of registered Aboriginal sites, development and installation of interpretive and truth-telling signage, and employment and training opportunities for Aboriginal people in delivering on-the-ground projects. 
The grants program is administered by the Department of Planning, Lands and Heritage.
You may read Minister Buti's full media statement here​

FRINGE WORLD Festival runs from 19 January to 18 February 2024. The festival set to bring hundreds of thousands of people to more than 100 venues around Perth. It is the third largest Fringe Festival in the world in terms of tickets sold. The festival commenced in Perth in 2011 and is filled will joy and surprise and will delight audiences once again with comedy, cabaret, dance, circus and theatre performances.
This year's festival features more than 550 events and over 2,500 artists. Local WA artists feature alongside key international acts including brand new offerings "Bernie Dieter's Club Kabarett" straight from London's West End, "Fruits de la Passion" from New Caledonia and "Only Bones v1.9", a soundscape, acrobatics, clown and Kung Fu show by international artist Matt Pasquet.

Access the Fringe World Program here 

China Eastern Airlines is to launch special non-stop flights between Shanghai and Perth which will begin as a Chinese New Year holiday service. Fourteen inbound flights are scheduled over the Chinese New Year period - 20th January to 18th February 2024 - with three services per week. 
​The resumed connection with Shanghai follows a successful trial in 2020 before services ceased due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The special service will be used to explore options for a permanent direct aviation connection with China.

As part of the recent State Government 2023-24 Mid-Year Review, the following tourism attractions are to benefit:

• additional $10.7 million to enhance safe and ongoing access to Rottnest Island, under the Rottnest Island Main Jetty refurbishment and upgrade project;
• additional $5.2 million to deliver improved facilities at Karijini National Park including sealed road and car park access to the most popular gorge and visitor sites;
• $4.6 million for the replacement of the Hamelin Pool boardwalk in the Shark Bay World Heritage Area;
• $2.7 million to undertake repairs and upgrades to the Cape to Cape track in the South West region, including updates to signage; and
• $2.7 million to improve access to the Wellington National Park and pedestrian access to the Wellington Dam Mural.

Public submissions are being sought by the Federal Government on how a Skills Passport could help workers promote their skills and qualifications, and support businesses to find more skilled employees. Scoping of a Skills Passport was announced ahead of the Employment White Paper in September 2023. This consultation is an opportunity for the public to help define the scope, outcomes and benefits of a Skills Passport. Consultation will inform the development of a business case for the proposal.
Submissions should be made no later than COB AEDT 18th February 2024.
​More details on the consultation paper may be found here

Reconciliation Australia have released their 2023 Impact Report, highlighting the progress and growth achieved in linking First Nations people to opportunities across Australia. With data from 1,873 RAP organisations across the network, the 2023 report found:

• Over 5 million people now work or study in an organisation with a RAP.
• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in leadership positions in RAP organisations have increased. 
• Over a hundred thousand employees of RAP organisations participated 9 in face-to-face cultural learning.
• More than $3.5 billion worth of goods and services were procured by RAP organisations from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander-owned businesses.

You may access the full RA 2023 Impact Report here
You may access FutureNow's RAP here