PRESS RELEASE

Not too late to put young professionals into regional businesses.

The Brolga Project offers a novel way to plug the rural skills drain, and is looking for host agencies in regional communities to help absorb young professionals wanting to try country life.

Building on the knowledge that young people from urban areas, given the opportunity to experience life and work in a regional community often enjoy the experience enough to remain there, the Brolga Project strives to give university students a chance to sample the lifestyle through work experience, encouraging them towards a regional career after graduation.

Administrators of the 20-month-old project are hoping to place 100 of the more than 700 students they have on their books for the July midyear semester break, and the Project’s manager Mr Richard Cowley said students were pouring in.

“There’s been enormous interest from students, it’s not uncommon to get half a dozen students a day wanting to participate, being given the chance to work in a regional area is very appealing to these students,” said Mr Cowley.

The scope of students’ study fields is diverse too,  with over 40 different disciplines represented, including married mature age students willing to move their entire families if their placement is as good as they’re expecting.

“We’re still trying to raise awareness of the project across regional communities,” Mr Cowley continued, “and if we can get 100 students out for the mid-year break, we’ll be able to move more later in the year.”

Mr Cowley lauded the students’ professionalism too, saying they often undid the notion that a ‘work experience’ student would be a drain on the host business’ capacity.

“Time and again we hear that these young professionals are essentially walking into their first day on the job, making themselves a cup of tea and settling straight into work, offering new ideas and insights into modern practices and opportunities the host agency may not have had the time to research, review or adopt.

“Where previously rural drift has been a drain on regional development, through the Brolga Project that same conundrum now offers enormous opportunity, because there are so many young professionals who are very, very, enthusiastic about building themselves a regional career,” he concluded.

Commercial enterprises, non-profit organisations and government departments interested in finding out more can complete expressions of interest online at www.brolgaproject.com.au or call 07 3366 1005 or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

…ends

For more information please contact:

Brolga MEDIA WORK EXPERIENCE STUDENT Brooke Morcus 07 3366 1005 E This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Richard Cowley, Manager, The Brolga Project., 07 3366 1005 E This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Lorena Ocrospoma, Campaign 100 Manager, 0422 667 181 e This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it