Get ready Gippsland, the Festival of Big Ideas is on its way!

Known affectionately as "FOBI", the Festival of Big Ideas is
an expression of Gippsland's creative energy.

It's an opportunity for us to share ideas, reflect on what is possible,
and celebrate our region.

Hey, What's Your Big Idea?

BIG IDEAS

Gippslanders - join the conversation, share your passion, be inspired, exchange ideas, contribute to the future of your region.

BIG PROGRAM

The 2024 Festival of Big Ideas has a very different look from last year. Rather than an extravaganza of a weekend, we now have the bigger, broader magnificent MONTH OF FOBI. Put simply, the festival has taken over June!

The program is a blockbuster, featuring events, workshops and activities designed to inspire, entertain, involve and challenge.

BIG OPPORTUNITIES

There's something for everyone and we're pleased to offer an exciting lineup of speakers (pictured above L-R) including:

Inventor and expert in recycling science - Professor Veena Sahajwalla
Eco-explorer and founder of charity ClimateForce - Barney Swan
Inspiring speaker and facilitator - Lucy Bloom
Compulsively creative Gippslander - John Calabro
Martial arts Sensei, author and speaker - Nadine Champion
AND MORE!

🤓 Guaranteed to be a month of opportunity, fun, creativity and a splash of mayhem 🤓

Take a look at June's FOBI 2024 program of events

FOBI is proudly presented by the Latrobe Valley Authority, Mine Land Rehabilitation Authority and Federation University and involves event organisers and supporters from across the whole of Gippsland.

KEEP TRACK OF THINGS ON FOBI SOCIALS

Jobs Expos - Recipe for Success

The LVA - adding new flavours to improve old recipes since 2016.

The Gippsland Jobs Expos have a format that's proven to be the 'right mix' when it comes to connecting job seekers with employers. It fits with the goal of growing, developing and retaining a skilled workforce in Gippsland.

Each expo has been highly successful, cost effective, engaging, and fruitful. A key component is ensuring that businesses attending have meaningful and genuine job opportunities ripe for the picking.

All involved have worked hard to create an approach that has delivered encouraging outcomes that include:

15 events delivered across 6 LGAs since 2022
450 businesses offering a total of 1,400 job vacancies
2,800 job seekers

This means that, conservatively, around 30% of the job vacancies presented were filled by the attendees to the expos!! Success - the proof of the pudding is in the eating and we think that's a pretty fulfilling result! 🤣

Celebrating Giving to Gippsland

Latrobe Health Advocate farewell

The LVA was delighted to be part of a beautiful farewell for Jane Anderson the Latrobe Health Advocate.

A Gippslander to her boots, Jane has been an outstanding voice for the region and put heart and soul into working towards better health outcomes for the people of the Latrobe Valley.

We're grateful for Jane’s contribution to the development of the Latrobe Valley and Gippsland Transition Plan through strategic insights, community engagement and simply leaning in and supporting the process when it counted.

Pictured: LVA CEO Chris Buckingham: Jane Anderson: Tracie Lund, Morwell Neighbourhood House; and Jules Cole, LVA Director Regional Strengths and Community Engagement.

40 years of Kindness in the House

Congratulations to the Morwell Neighbourhood House for 40 years of service, support, leadership, connection, nourishment, empowerment, and, importantly, kindness.

We applaud everyone involved over the past four decades and we recognise the hard yards, the goals kicked, the inroads made, and the mountains climbed that have contributed to the success of this fabulous model that prioritises community.

In true MNH style, what better way to celebrate four decades of unwavering dedication and profound impact in Morwell and the broader Latrobe community than with a Kindness Matters Luncheon 😍

LVA

Collaboration and Innovation in Agriculture and Horticulture

Showcasing Vertical Farming and Controlled Environment Agriculture

The idea of farming going up in the world is nothing new, but the technology to enable vertical farming and controlled environment agriculture (CEA) is ever evolving, particularly when it comes to the impact of climate change on food production.

To better understand this rapidly growing sector, a Vertical Farming Showcase was hosted by Food and Fibre Gippsland and the LVA on 15 May brought which bought together a diverse group of stakeholders, innovators, horticulturalists, and technical experts.

The event provided a platform for sharing knowledge and expertise and demonstrated the strong collaboration between technology providers in the sector. 

Pictured: A representative of Plant Factory showing their technology to Lesia Goodwin, General Manager, Gippsland Forestry Hub.

Find out more about the Vertical Farming Showcase

LVA acknowledges that true reconciliation is a journey that cannot be achieved through a single action.

We have a long-standing commitment to work across Gippsland to strengthen relationships, heal the past, foster understanding and work in partnership with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, communities and organisations to advance truth telling, self-determination and Treaty.

We acknowledge and respect the histories, cultures and practices of Traditional Custodians, Gunaikurnai Land and Waters Aboriginal Corporation (GLaWAC), and First Nations Peoples across Gippsland, and the continuing connection of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to Country.

Now More Than Ever – National Reconciliation Week.
Now More Than Ever – every week.

Learn more about National Reconciliation Week and Reconciliation Australia

LVA Worker Support Program - Opal

The Worker Support Program is available to Opal staff and their family members.

The program provides 1:1 case management to connect workers and their family members to a range of supports including information, employment support, training, health and wellbeing support and referral to services as needed.

Find out more about the program by visiting the LVA website

CE in Gippsland's Food Manufacturing Industry

The Gippsland Circular Economy Hub (GCEH) is offering two events as part of the June's Festival of Big Ideas.

Thursday 20 June - Bairnsdale or online - bookings open
Circular Economy & Gippsland Food Manufacturing
Focus: Non-dairy Sector

Friday 21 June - Korumburra or online - bookings open
Circular Economy & Gippsland Food Manufacturing
Focus: Dairy Sector

These GCEH forums will bring focus to the circular economy in the food manufacturing sector by looking at leading examples, emerging opportunities (energy, packaging, valorisation), and CE tools and resources in action. Keynote presentation by Dr Dylan Liu - Federation University.

Tourism and Events - Funding Opportunity

We know Gippsland is an awesome place to live, work and play, and it's a sensational tourist destination. Here's a great opportunity for operators and businesses to access grants for new and innovative tourism infrastructure projects.

Applications close at 2 pm 19 July 2024.
Find out more about eligibility and grant streams

Connecting job seekers and employers

We've joined Jobs Victoria, Solar Victoria and Maxima in an initiative that purposefully connects job seekers and employers.

It's for those looking for work, planning a career change change or keen to transition from a traditional industry to the new energy sector. Find out more about Jobs Victoria's Earn and Learn.

Newsletter - May 2024

contact@lva.vic.gov.au