🤱JCU brings Midwifery to Mackay
Mackay's first-year Doctors | World's first trillionaires | 2025 AI QLD Leaders | Australia Day 2025 events and more!
Welcome back to The Mackay Minute, It’s January 23. Today's newsletter is 1,138 words and a 6-minute read.
In today's email:
One Big Thing: JCU brings Midwifery training to Mackay
Indigenous Art: Takes centre stage at ArtSpace
Mackay welcomes: First-year Doctors
Trending: New and vibrant Mural 🎨
Around the web (Snippets): Indigenous Art at Artspace Mackay, Moon listed as threatened cultural site and heaps more!
Upcoming events
🚨 Public Holiday Alert: This coming Sunday, January 26, is Australia Day; therefore, Monday, January 27, is a full day off
You beauty 🇦🇺!
Whatever you think of Australia or January 26, and given it feels like there is a lot of division around the world right now, and what sometimes feels like is being pushed on us here the last few years, it’s probably healthy to try and remember that there’s much to love about living in this beautiful country that we can enjoy together.
Schools and universities, world-leading technological advancement in agriculture, medicine and science, democracy, natural wonders (probably thousands), sophisticated infrastructure, a common-law system that upholds justice and individual rights, a hospital and public health system, and a unifying sporting culture, just to name a few.
A lot of places don’t have this stuff.
Anyway, have a ripper weekend, whatever the plan. 🙌
Mackay Weather - Weekend Forecast
The Weekly Dream Gig
👨👩👧 Department of Child Safety, Seniors and Disability Services is hiring a Child Safety Service Manager and earn $142,760–$150,874 p/a. Drive meaningful change by managing a Child Safety Service Centre, leading teams, and building partnerships to protect and empower children and families.
If you’re a proactive leader passionate about safety, belonging, and wellbeing, apply now and make a lasting impact in your community! 💼
Need to advertise a job? Contact us here👇
Live National Housing Price Index
1. One Big Thing: JCU brings Midwifery training to Mackay
What’s Happening?
JCU’s new Graduate Diploma of Midwifery in Mackay trains 15 nurses over 18 months to address midwife shortages.
Why It Matters:
The program improves regional healthcare by upskilling nurses locally, reducing the need to travel to Townsville.
By the Numbers:
15 nurses enrolled.
18-month course covering all aspects of midwifery.
Accessible for remote areas like Emerald.
Local Impact:
“This is a significant step for JCU and the Mackay region,” said Dr Maude Chapman.
Future Outlook:
Graduates in mid-2026 could pave the way for expanded regional healthcare programs.
Check out full article. ⬇️
2. Indigenous Art takes centre stage
The 'I, Object' exhibition is currently open at Artspace Mackay, running until 30 March 2025.
Featuring over 60 works from QAGOMA’s Indigenous Australian Art collection, it highlights themes of identity, culture, and the impact of object collection, with pieces by artists like Vernon Ah Kee and Fiona Foley alongside historical objects such as shields and boomerangs.
This ongoing exhibition connects Mackay residents with Indigenous heritage while sparking meaningful conversations about history and culture. Discover more about the artworks in the 'I, object' Education Resource
Visitors can also enjoy three additional exhibitions at Artspace, including works by Thea Anamara Perkins, Danish Quapoor, and Anneke Silver.
3. Mackay welcomes first-year Doctors
What’s Happening?
31 first-year doctors have joined Mackay HHS this week, training under a new framework offering hospital and general practice experience.
Why It Matters?
The program strengthens Mackay’s healthcare workforce while preparing interns for diverse medical careers.
By the Numbers
31 interns started this week.
38 total interns will train in 2025.
Experience across 11 clinical areas, including cardiology and mental health.
What The People Say
“These doctors are building careers that will serve Queensland for decades,” said Mackay HHS Chief Executive Susan Gannon.
Looking Ahead
This training equips interns with skills to address regional healthcare needs and encourages retention in Mackay.
The full article👇
⁉️Local Fun Fact: Here we were are thinking double demerits only came about around public holidays..
However, in Queensland, did you know that they now apply all year round!
Yep.
Double demerit points are now applied for second or subsequent certain offences committed within 1 year of the previous offence.
Including:
offences for speeding more than 20km/h over the speed limit
mobile phone offences
driver seatbelt offences
driver failing to ensure passengers under 16 are appropriately restrained
motorcycle helmet offences.
You don’t have to commit the same offence a second or subsequent time to receive double demerits —the offence simply needs to be within the same offence group.💸
4. Trending
5. Around The Web (Snippets)
The Tassie Tiger: De-extinction program just achieved mid-gestation marsupial embryo development, enabling at-scale rewilding
Council staff will begin: Scheduled maintenance of palm trees in Mackay.
Sam Altman and Elon Musk take to: Social media to fight over Stargate (the enormous infrastructure project to build data centres for OpenAI across the U.S.)
The world’s very first: Trillionaires are close, with five people set to make the cut soon (How embarrassing to be a billionaire..)
An East Mackay woman charged: with attempted murder after a traffic incident.
Mackay Road Runners: revamp offseason with Biathlon.
The Moon was added to a list of: Threatened cultural sites for the first time
2025 AI QLD Leadership announced: Kirra Tully for Mackay.
The self-proclaimed: ‘Stable genius’ has spoken... 👇
6. Upcoming Events
🏊♂️ Australia Day Aquathon: 26 January, Get moving this Australia Day with an aquathon for all ages and abilities. The free event will kick off at 7:30 am and will include a kids race, enticer race and sprint race, each with run/swim segments.
👨👩👧👦 Family Australia Day Celebration at Armies Beach Shack!: 26 January, Bring your family and friends for a day of laughter, competition, and great Aussie spirit. Don’t miss out on the fun!
🏖️ Aussie Day at Eimeo Beach: 26 January, Activities will include family sand castle competition, thong throwing competitions, prizes, beach cricket and music from 4pm.
🍖 Mackay Contract Bridge Open day: 26 January, Fun introduction to the game of contract bridge. BBQ lunch will be provided with soft drinks, tea and coffee.
🩴 Aussie Day Mackay beach party: 26 January, Dive into Australia Day and bring the kids to this amazing Aussie themed event with live music, treasure hunt and more!