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Lismore News

Business and Enterprise degree provides unique opportunity for Lismore students

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Business and Enterprise degree provides unique opportunity for Lismore students

Southern Cross University will champion innovation and entrepreneurship in the Northern Rivers through a new business degree at its Lismore campus.

The Bachelor of Business and Enterprise will be offered in 2023 on campus and online, connecting students with one of the most remarkable commercial shifts in northern NSW.

The aftermath of the February and March floods across the region has seen businesses connect and interact in an unprecedented way.

Even the Southern Cross campus has evolved rapidly into a commercial centre of education, health, business and community partners.

Associate Dean (Research) of the Faculty of Business, Law and Arts, Professor Darshana Sedera, said fostering business skills was central to recovery efforts for the Northern Rivers.

“The only way to recover is to enable a ground-up approach through entrepreneurship and innovation,” Professor Sedara said.

“The region has the capacity; the region has shown resilience. There is support from both the federal and state governments and the private sector to foster new businesses coming through.”

The Bachelor of Business and Enterprise is a course that focuses on running a modern-day business, according to Professor Sedara.

“It is a multidisciplinary business-oriented course but also includes elements of technology, digital transformation, and sustainability,” he said.

Students will have the opportunity to develop their entrepreneurship skills through the University’s partner programs. The employability program INTERCHANGE builds career confidence for graduates through theoretical and practical learning. Participants develop entrepreneurial skills by creating a simulated start-up. Additionally, a partnership with the NSW Environment Protection Authority will focus on the role entrepreneurialism can play in developing environmental solutions.

Students also have the opportunity to connect with the local business and industry as part of their studies, with around 20 organisations now calling the Southern Cross Lismore campus home.

Northern Rivers Business Hub – a collaboration between the University and Business NSW – has been running out of Lismore campus for several months, providing space for businesses to work, access internet, host meetings, and receive advice and support.

Business NSW Regional Director Northern Rivers Jane Laverty said the Business Hub had been a lifeline for local businesses.

“The Hub has demonstrated the connection that can be created between business and industry and the University,” Ms Laverty said.

A new survey from Business NSW found nine out of 10 businesses are hiring, with 50 per cent of those positions calling for experienced or qualified workers.

“Businesses will be excited to know that there’s a pathway to grow their skill sets through a relationship with the University,” Ms Laverty said.

“If we can be growing our own talent to support the growth and viability of Northern Rivers businesses, then I call that a success.”

 

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Ballina News

“Australian lightweight champion from lil ol’ Swan Bay”

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Sunny McLean with his coach, Scott Smith. Boxing Northern Rivers News
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“Australian lightweight champion from lil ol’ Swan Bay”

 

By Samantha Elley

Maddog boxing’s Sunny McLean has been going from strength to strength this past year, grabbing titles from each of the events he has been fighting in.

Sunny McLean and his coach, Scott Smith, who runs Maddox Boxing, were recently picked to represent Queensland as the fighter and coach team to compete in the national titles in Gosford.

Sunny won all his elimination bouts and beat the NSW champion in the gold medal fight, to become the newly crowned Australian champion in the lightweight division.

They were surprised with a visit from Jason and Andrew Moloney, world champion professional boxers.

“Every state in Australia was there with all the best fighters and the (Moloney brothers) came to support us, so we felt so special,” said Scott.

“They came to help me prepare Sunny for his last two fights in this event.”

Sunny was competing for Queensland as he already holds the title of QLD/NSW interstate champion.

“His first opponent, the referee stopped the fight in the 3rd round,” said Scott.

“His second opponent was the favourite from Tasmania and Sunny won that fight to go through for the gold medal against the NSW champion.

“Andy (co-trainer) and I worked out a plan to beat him and Sunny did exactly what he was asked and never last control of the situation.

“He is now the Australian lightweight champion from lil ol Swan Bay.”

 

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Lismore News

Resilient Lismore Reports Highlight Continued Recovery Needs in Northern Rivers Community

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Resilient Lismore Reports
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Resilient Lismore Reports Highlight Continued Recovery Needs in Northern Rivers Community

 

By Jeff Gibbs

Resilient Lismore has published two vital reports underscoring the ongoing need for community disaster recovery support in the Northern Rivers. The findings reveal both the unmet needs of flood-affected residents and the positive impact of Resilient Lismore’s Repair to Return property repair initiative.

In a statement, Resilient Lismore Executive Director Elly Bird explained, “These reports provide valuable insight into how people in the Northern Rivers are faring more than two and a half years after the disaster.”

The Lismore Flood Zone Survey and Outreach Report is the result of a comprehensive outreach effort led by Resilient Lismore in July 2024. Supported by Social Futures, Uniting Recovery Support Services, Lismore City Council, the Red Cross, and Lismore Business Chaplains, the survey involved door-to-door visits across Lismore’s flood zones. Surveyors assessed residents’ recovery progress, repair needs, and preparedness for future events.

Key findings from the survey reveal that more than 2,000 residents in over 1,000 households have not fully recovered from the 2022 flood and remain vulnerable to future disasters.

“This report highlights the gaps in recovery support, especially for households that fall outside the reach of existing programs,” said Ms. Bird. “Many residents are facing additional challenges, such as financial strain or disabilities, which complicate their recovery efforts.”

Social Impact Report: Demonstrated Benefits of Community-Led Disaster Recovery

In partnership with Huber Social, an independent social impact evaluation specialist, Resilient Lismore has also released its Social Impact Report. This report evaluates the outcomes of the Repair to Return project, as well as its impact on volunteers and workshop participants. Since early 2023, Huber Social has conducted rigorous assessments of the program’s effects on participants’ wellbeing.

Ms. Bird noted, “This report confirms what we already knew—that our programs do more than repair homes; they improve the wellbeing of those we support. There are measurable improvements in participants’ feelings of hope, community connection, and even sleep quality.”

While the findings are encouraging, Ms. Bird cautioned that overall wellbeing among respondents is still lower than the national average, highlighting the need for continued support for Northern Rivers communities.

The Repair to Return project, funded by the NSW Reconstruction Authority with contributions from the Lismore Diocese and Goonellabah Rotary, underscores the value of a community-led, place-based approach to disaster recovery.

To read the full reports, visit:

These reports serve as a testament to the resilience of the Northern Rivers community and the ongoing work needed to ensure sustainable recovery.

 

For more local news, click here.

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Lismore News

Lismore Young women and Teen Showgirls announced

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Lismore Young women and Teen Showgirls announced

 

By Samantha Elley

For the first time since the 2022 floods the North Coast National Young Woman and Teen Showgirl titles were able to be held at home at Norma’s Kitchen in the Lismore Showgrounds.

And what an event it was, with seven young women vying for the two titles.

Maddy Dillon and Rose Mills both walked away with the title of Young Woman and Teen Showgirl respectively.

North Coast National President John Gibson said it was great to be home.

“It gives us a lot of confidence to promote our show,” he said.

“And we’ve had an increase in sponsors.”

Winners and runners up of the Young Women and Teen Showgirl competitions

Young Woman

For the Young Woman title, there were four ladies, from office worker, to disability support worker, to farmers, who shared their dreams and hopes for their community and the reasons why they entered the competition.

The girls were Charlie Murray, Lucinda Downs, Maddy Dillon and Eliza O’Toole.

“I had always seen the competition and wanted to give it a crack,” said Young Woman winner, Maddy Dillon.

As a young dairy farmer from Coraki she is up at 4am to milk and talk to the cows.

“In five years time I would like to have an investment property and a couple of kids,” she said.

She received $1,000 from the Far North Coast Law Society, a prize from the Jewellery Design Centre and a Mortgage Choice sponsored deportment course.

Runner up was Charlie Murray who works at the Casino Food Co-op and is very involved being with cattle.

“My dream is to go to Canada to see how beef is done there,” she said.

“I’d also like to go to the Calgary Stampede.”

Young Women winners

Teen Showgirl

The three competitors for the Teen Showgirl were Isabella Johnson, Shenae Flanagan and Rose Mills.

Winner, Rose Mills said she wants to study human rights law.

“I really like the concept that everybody is equal and we are all God’s creation,” she said.

When asked what change she would like to see, Rose wanted more opportunities for the younger generation.

“We are going to be the future,” she said.

“We need more jobs, places to go and things to do.”

She won $250 from Warren Innes Contracting.

Runner up Teen Showgirl was Shenae Flanagan who is studying beauty therapy and has a dream to work in the movies as a make-up artist.

The change she would like to see is less empty houses in the area and less homelessness.

“You can see many of our houses are empty and people living in caravans and pods,” she said.

“I would love to have the government get them back in their homes.”

Teen Showgirl winners

The judges Jeri Hall, Lyndall Gordon and Joe Martin.

Both Maddy and Rose will now go on to the zone level of the showgirl competition.

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