Q-SEED connections delivering sustainable jobs
A social enterprise creating jobs for disadvantaged young people is making an impact in Townsville, with support from a new community-boosting project aimed at capitalising on the region’s $14 billion investment and infrastructure pipeline.
Q-SEED (Queensland Social procurement, Employment and Economic Development) project is led by CQUniversity and procurement specialists ArcBlue in partnership with Smart Precinct NQ. It’s aim is to increase youth job opportunities through local procurement.
The initiative is already making an impact, supporting social enterprise Civik, a infrastructure services specialist, to bring its model to Townsville.
Civik General Manager Dominiqe Bird was part of Q-SEED’s launch in Townsville in July, featuring on a social procurement panel.
Under his leadership, Civik launched in Cairns in 2023, recruiting an inaugural team from First Nations and multicultural community partners to work on the nbn® fibre upgrade project.
Over the past year the team received specialised training and hands-on experience setting them up for future success, and now the organisation is focused on bringing this model to Townsville and other regional areas.
Mr Bird said the initiative helped address regional labour shortages, and created jobs and career pathways for people who face barriers to employment.
“The skills shortage in Townsville and other regional areas is a remarkable opportunity for a social enterprise start-ups like Civik to tap into a pool of talented, motivated workers who simply require a chance to establish a career,” Mr Bird said.
“It’s changing the paradigm and creating resilient communities at a local level."
At the Q-SEED launch, Mr Bird presented alongside Leah Saltner, a Bindal and Birriah Traditional Owner from North Queensland and South Sea Islander, and specialist consultant in Indigenous Stakeholder Relationship and Project Management.
Since then, they’ve connected to create two jobs with Civik for local Indigenous young people Marcus and Kelcee. Mr Bird said two other culturally diverse young people have also secured roles, through the Townsville Multicultural Support Group.
Since the launch, local industry and business have signed on to procurement, supplier and youth engagement streams of the Q-SEED project. Stakeholders include the Port of Townsville, Intract, Mike Carney Group, Duratek, Wandarra, City of Townsville, Townsville Office and Safety Supplies, Civik, Youth RESET, Community GRO and James Cook University.
Across October and November, workshops with young people, youth organisations and employers will co-design supportive and sustainable jobs for people currently feeling shut out of existing roles.
