Townsville poised to supercharge procurement
A three-year project to equip Townsville business and industry to buy local and create jobs has forged sustainable new opportunities – and challenged the region to shift procurement habits for good.
CQUniversity’s evaluation of the Queensland Government-funded Q-SEED (Queensland Social Procurement, Employment and Economic Development) project has highlighted its success establishing the new North Queensland Procurement Network, and more local-first, inclusive procurement processes at Townsville City Council.
It also recommends more mentoring and training, with 24 local entrepreneurs growing confidence and commercial partnerships through the big-impact Tender Ready Program.
Townsville City Council Chief Procurement Officer Karl Gill says the project will see more local and First Nations businesses winning tenders for major projects, and capitalising on the region’s ten-year, $40 billion investment and infrastructure pipeline.
Clear momentum
The research-informed evaluation report marks the final stage of Q-SEED, and was led by CQU Professor of Sustainable Innovation Olav Muurlink.
The Townsville project began in September 2023, with CQU, procurement specialists ArcBlue (now Proxima) and local activators Smart Precinct NQ.
Prof Muurlink found more than 100 local participants contributed to working groups, workshops, training and mentoring across the project.
“Q-SEED set out to address a genuine and significant challenge: $6.2 billion leaving the Townsville region annually, and risk that billions more in the infrastructure pipeline would – without deliberate intervention – largely benefit non-local suppliers,” he explained.
“The project set out to build connections, build capability, build systems, and over time redirect spend.
“While some of the most important outcomes are still unfolding, the evaluation can confirm Q-SEED achieved new collaboration between buyers, suppliers, social enterprises, government, First Nations businesses, and community organisations.
“The North Queensland Procurement Network is now meeting independently, led by Townsville City Council, which is also transforming its procurement approach.”
Mr Gill from TCC said key changes included contract segmentation, earlier market engagement with local and First Nations suppliers, and clearer procurement pipelines –directly influenced by Q-SEED.
‘Listening and evolving’
CQUniversity’s Social Impact Lab led the Q-SEED project, and delivered community-led blueprints to help shape procurement processes and inclusive employment.
The Townsville Impact Procurement Framework and Best Practice Youth Employment Toolkit were launched in May, and Social Impact Lab Program Manager Steve Williams said locals were passionate about shaping change.
“Q-SEED was an opportunity to listen to voices from government, business, industry, and community all in one room, and take a co-creation approach to building systems that empower and include local, social and First Nations businesses,” Mr Williams explained.
The document outlines Theory of Change processes to care for people, place and natural systems, to engaging respectfully with local First Nations community, and to support Townsville’s local economy.
Q-SEED particularly focused on youth and inclusive jobs, with input from local partners like Life Skills Queensland and Mission Australia’s Townsville Youth Foyer to the Q-SEED Youth initiative.
Social Impact Lab Program Manager Sara Brown said involving young people in co-design was a gamechanger.
“That’s informed this toolkit, and a collection of ideas, practices, and reflections to adapt to your business, and to each young person you employ,” Ms Brown explained.
“It’s actually co-designed with local young people, so you can be confident you’ll be connecting with an approach that’s best-practice for learning, listening, and evolving.”
Changing lives
Across 1-2 July, Ms Brown and Mr Williams will share Q-SEED’s community-connected model at the Social Impact Summit in Sydney, alongside Q-SEED Youth participants Nova Whitmore and Alime Ali, with General Manager Philanthropy at The John Villiers Trust Jodie Gosel Ågotnes.
The sessions will share co-design approaches for youth engagement, and regional impact.
Learn more at the Social Impact Summit website.
