Uni of Southern Queensland’s relevant research for regional Australia

Global pandemic pressures and geopolitical tensions are dramatically heightening the responsibility of educators and researchers to support and help build capacity in Australia’s regional communities and industries.

Attention is turning to regional Australia: a growing recognition of secure lifestyle benefits in line with Regional Australia Institute’s “Move to More” campaign; the search for answers to climate debates and urban population pressures; the path to new energy futures; and food and water security for domestic and international consumers. It is particularly regional communities and industries that must lead the charge in embracing growing environmental and social governance (ESG) demands.

As a leading regional research institution, the University of Southern Queensland (USQ) has a robust track record in education excellence, world-class research and real engagement with the regions it supports. As regional industries and communities, together with the three tiers of government, rightfully demand community and industry-led research, development, extension, adoption and commercialisation supported by strong collaboration between research providers, USQ is delivering.

USQ’s Institute for Resilient Regions (IRR) leads the university’s Regional Development flagship by focusing on social science research supporting regional communities to embrace change, adapt to change and innovate, all while maintaining their identity.

Change is ever-present. International supply chain disruption is focusing attention on regional sovereign manufacturing capabilities; telecommunications technology adoption and utilisation fast-tracked by Covid realities is paving the way for a new era of regional health services; and infrastructure needs (road, rail, water, education, health) have come to the forefront of political priorities around the nation – all while the ESG demands of worldwide consumers and international financiers are finding an eager audience in regional food, fibre, energy, manufacturing and construction industries.

In the face of these global challenges and opportunities, the adage of think global, act local applies to regional Australia more than ever. In fact, this is at the core of USQ and IRR’s strategic plans – regional engagement, educational excellence and research that addresses problems that matter. IRR’s three research centres are doing just that:

● The Centre for Health Research is focused on health and wellbeing in regional communities – from adolescent mental health support, to cancer prevention strategies, to the battle against chronic health conditions such as heart disease and diabetes.

● The Centre for Heritage and Culture recognises the importance of storied landscapes – most especially through the Indigenous lens – that provide knowledge and learning through archaeology, anthropology and the arts, regarding our past and future potential.

● The USQ-led Rural Economies Centre of Excellence (RECoE), a research collaboration between USQ, UQ, CQU and JCU, assists rural economic development and diversification through entrepreneurship, technological development, innovation and new models of business and marketing.

USQ’s research across these themes – health and wellbeing, heritage and culture, and regional innovation – is at the heart of recent achievements, current efforts and future plans to support communities and industries.

Under the federal government’s $5bn Future Drought Fund (FDF), USQ is leading the new Southern Qld / Northern NSW Drought Innovation Hub, one of eight national hubs building drought preparedness and resilience in regional Australia. Through nodes at Longreach, Roma, Stanthorpe, Narrabri, Armidale (with UNE) and Lismore (with SCU), researchers are tasked with co-designing and developing solutions that meet community identified needs.

USQ/RECoE is also a proud partner in the FDF’s Drought Resilient Leaders Program with the Australian Rural Leadership Foundation and the Foundation for Rural and Regional Renewal and is now engaged by the Queensland government to facilitate statewide Regional Drought Resilience Planning with the local government sector.

Be it research and engagement with the Ipswich and Toowoomba Chambers of Commerce; the AgTech & Logistics Hub; the Darling Downs and South West Queensland Mayors’ Forum; regional innovation ecosystem development in Goondiwindi, Quilpie, Wide Bay/Burnett, Roma or Longreach; leading edge waste-to-energy technology in beef processing; or the next generation of global precision agricultural technology with the John Deere Corporation; USQ is unashamedly focused on applied practical research to actively support regional Australia. Community, industry and all levels of government are insisting USQ does so.

Global uncertainties are amplifying the need for regional Australia to be proactive for our social, economic and environmental future. USQ is up to that challenge and so too are the regions, communities and industries it is proud to support.

Professor the Honourable John McVeigh is Executive Director of the Institute for Resilient Regions and the University of Southern Queensland.