Waiben visit

In September, Jen McHugh visited Waiben (Thursday Island) as part of the TNQ Drought Hub, Sustainable Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Enterprise Program and her role as a Regional Activator for the Qld Social Enterprise Council (QSEC). She attended a Coffee and Yarn morning hosted by Murray Saylor (Tagai Management Consultants) and assisted Murray to facilitate a Keriba Building and Construction Program Business Workshop at the JCU Thursday Island Ngulaigau Mudh Campus.

Jen facilitated a social enterprise discussion with the screening of the film Tender. Directed by Lynette Wallworth, produced by Kath Shelper and filmed with the assistance of the Adelaide Film Festival, Australian Broadcasting Corporation, Australian Council for the Arts & Screen NSW. The film showcases the journey by Tender Funerals Australia and is at once a heartbreakingly beautiful and funny glimpse of an extraordinary community taking on one of the most essential challenges of human life; its end?

Following the screening Marg Yandell (Tender FNQ) joined online to discuss the opportunities that communities have to make funeral services more affordable. Elise Parup, the CEO of QSEC also joined online to answer questions around social enterprise opportunities in Queensland and Brian Norris from the Department of Employment, Small Business and Training (DESBT) discussed some of the focus for Social Enterprises. The event was attended by local community groups and JCU Business Students.

Jen’s visit coincided with the State Government’s Community Cabinet and took part in a campus tour with Minister for the Environment and the Great Barrier Reef and Minister for Science and Youth Affairs Meaghan Scanlon MP. Subsequently, Jen returns in October for Indigenous Business Month and the TNQ Drought Hub will support a Business Development event with the Department of Senior Disability Services Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships (DSDSATSIP) and DESBT.

Image: (above L-R) A/Prof Mills, JCU Business student Jordana Kris, Jen McHugh, Campus Coordinator Regina Turner and Hon Meaghan Scanlon MP with JCU medical students.