- Fourth and final Far North Queensland Regional Community Forum of 2023
- Successful outcomes include film opportunities for young Queenslanders
- Expressions of Interest open for residents to participate in 2024-25 forums
Thirty young north Queenslanders are being supported to gain set-ready skills and movie industry credits as a result of the Queensland Government’s Far North Queensland Regional Community Forum, which meets for the last time for 2023 at Cairns on Monday.
Forum member Aaron Fa’aoso was selected as a representative on the Far North and North Queensland Screen Advisory Committee supporting Screen Queensland’s multi-year $4 million North Queensland Regional Program.
This led to the launch in August 2023 of the Film Intensive Script to Screen (FISS) program which will support 30 young people in Far North Queensland to gain set-ready skills and industry credits across camera, costume, lighting, production, and locations.
Economic diversification, with a focus on tourism and agriculture, housing accessibility and affordability, and reconciliation and the Path to Treaty are among the priorities of the Far North Queensland Regional Community Forum Action Plan.
Forum members will tour the Cairns Marine Precinct, visiting the Common User Facility site and visit the shipyards Norship, Austal and Tropical Reef.
Presentations include Queensland’s $89 billion Big Build, and an overview of the Regional Community Forum Action Plans.
Quote attributable to the Far North Queensland Regional Community Forum Co-Chair, Speaker of the Legislative Assembly Curtis Pitt:
“The Far North Queensland Regional Community Forum members have brought great knowledge and insights to the forums and in their work outside in the community and I thank them for their diligence and hard work.
“Aaron’s selection as the Fart North and North Queensland Screen Advisory Committee presents a great opportunity for the youth in the region.
“The Film Intensive Script to Screen program is an extraordinarily exciting opportunity for our local writers, storytellers, and film crew, especially those at the emerging level.
“With the new studio development well underway in Cairns, participants are being perfectly positioned to build their skill sets to take advantage of the new job opportunities that will come with this expansion in Queensland’s screen industry.”
Quote attributable to the Minister for Tourism, Innovation and Sport and Minister Assisting the Premier on Olympics and Paralympics Sport and Engagement Stirling Hinchliffe:
“Far North Queensland is the perfect setting for young filmmakers looking to hone their skills and get a start in the industry.
“Telling unique Far North Queensland stories to the world, set against the backdrop of the regions boundless iconic and spectacular landscapes, can help sell the Far North to international audiences as a holiday destination of choice.”
Quote attributable to the Far North Queensland Regional Community Forum Co-Chair, Assistant Minister for Tourism Industry Development Michael Healy:
“Far North Queensland is a thriving and stronger region thanks to all the hard work of the forum members, their input and direction has been important to Government and the future looks even brighter with the new members bringing their enthusiasm and talents to the role.”
Quote attributable to the Far North Queensland Regional Community Forum Co-Chair, State Member for Cook Cynthia Lui:
“Thank you to the forum members for their great work in supporting Far North Queensland throughout 2022 to 2023 and I look forward to working with the new forum members to drive the region forward.”
Quote attributable to Far North Queensland Regional Community Forum member Julia Leu:
“All the sessions were interesting and had region wide applicability, including the government updates, so thank you for the opportunity to be a forum member.”
Background
The forum is the eighth and last for the 2022-23 members. Expressions of Interest for Far North Queensland residents who would like to participate in the 2024-25 series of forums can be made at Regional Community Forums | About Queensland and its government | Queensland Government (www.qld.gov.au)
