Partnering With JCU For A Smarter Future

A Minute With The Mayor

This week marked an important milestone for our region, as Whitsunday Regional Council signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with James Cook University (JCU). While nothing will change overnight, this partnership is about building the foundations for new opportunities for our young people, our workforce, and our community in the years ahead.

For many in the Whitsundays, pursuing higher education has meant leaving home or missing out altogether. This agreement signals a commitment by Council and JCU to work together over time to improve access to education, support local students, and explore new ways of connecting university opportunities with regional communities like ours.

The MOU sets out a framework for collaboration in areas such as student placements within Council, workforce development, professional training, and research partnerships. These initiatives won’t happen all at once – they will take planning, resources and further discussions – but the agreement ensures we now have a pathway to explore them.

In practice, this could eventually mean things like students gaining experience with our planning or environmental teams, or research projects that look at local issues like coastal resilience or sustainable tourism. It could also mean professional development opportunities for Council staff and pilot programs that link our schools more closely with a world-class university.

What’s important to note is that this is a long-term partnership. The signing of the MOU doesn’t deliver immediate change, but it does position the Whitsundays as a smarter, more connected region. By aligning our local knowledge with JCU’s expertise, we’ll be in a stronger position to advocate for investment, attract innovation, and support opportunities for our community.

I want to thank Vice Chancellor Professor Simon Biggs and his team for their commitment to working with us. Together, we are laying the groundwork for a future where higher education, local government, and community aspirations move forward hand in hand.

The Whitsundays has always been known for its natural beauty. Through partnerships like this, we are steadily working towards a future where it is also known for opportunity, innovation, and learning.

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