Program launch in Central West a success

SpeakOut’s recent Creative Pathways in the Central West program and remote office launch has been heralded an initial success by participants, partners and community groups.

On 7th April, SpeakOut opened a remote office in Blackall to service the delivery of 22- Creative Pathways in the Central West.

The intent of the program is to establish creative industries based training, employment and enterprise opportunities in Central West Queensland.

Creative Pathways in the Central West seeks to support communities to access services that are not currently available and open pathways to diversify from traditional rural engagement towards creative and knowledge-based industries.

Directly transcribed below is a recent article from the Barcoo Independent – 17th April 2008, by Sally Cripps.

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SpeakOut project gets underway in Blackall

A week filled with energy, creativity and inspiration marked the start of SpeakOut’s delivery of creative industry employment training in Blackall.

Based at Blackall’s Memorial Hall, 10 young people from Blackall, Barcaldine and Longreach explored activities ranging from movie making and screenprinting to digital photography and stencilling in a week of intensive tutoring.

Sammy Jo Marshall of Barcaldine said the concept really appealed to her from the start and the week hadn’t disappointed.

“I thought it was going to be people telling us what to do and having set criteria but this is so different,” she said.

“You don’t think in a world of black and white, you’re allowed to explore.

“I’ve really gained an insight into the world of film.”

Her comments were echoed by Claire Rawlins from Longreach.

“I was originally going to study psychology at uni but I’ve gotten over that,” Claire said.

“Now I’m thinking of something to do with art, something I can really get my teeth into.”

The former Blackall Shire had engaged in long term negotiations with SpeakOut to establish an ongoing presence in the town that would bring about a creative industry base for the central west.

Called “22 Creative Pathways in the Central West”, the initial program aims to attract 22 young people from the region to engage in diverse creative skills development over a series of intensive workshops from April through to July.

With two intensive training sessions still to come in May and July, places are still available for newcomers.

“I’ve been talking to mates and lots want to do it now,” said Longreach’s Bree Monaghan.

“We’ve been putting in the effort and getting tired but it’s good effort.”

Participants are all working on personal projects, with common themes of community, identity and place, and self expression, expressed via short animations, photographic essays, digital stories and mixed media explorations.

A showcase of the first week of work was attended by 40 people at the Memorial Hall last Saturday evening, and a community drop-in workshop session is planned for May 17, to enable people to find out more about the project.

SpeakOut is also employing Hayley Judd as its community project support officer to provide on-ground program delivery, when she will operate out of the Memorial Hall on Tuesday mornings and Thursday afternoons.

Blackall-Tambo Regional Council spokesperson Louise Campbell said the Blackall Shire had wanted to find ways to diversify into new industries for both economic and social outcomes and to provide solutions for youth capacity building.

“The long term aim is for creative enterprise and economic development, to skill, employ and retain young people, to encourage the return of skilled young people back to the region, and to develop e-commerce and technology industry awareness in the region,” Louise said.