Green hydrogen and clean energy transition inspiring parents, young people to remain in Gladstone
By Sourced Externally
July 11, 2022
Transforming Queensland’s industrial heartland into a green technology capital could be the key to tackling regional brain drain and inspire younger generations to chase their career dreams on home soil, a central Queensland mayor says.
Key points:
Gladstone is slowly transforming into Australia’s green hydrogen capital with a range of investments in the emerging industry in the local area
The city’s leaders are hopeful this could attract young people to stay in the region
A demographer says new industries are on the way to help retain young people
Gladstone mayor Matt Burnett said like a lot of regional centres, Gladstone suffered from an exodus of teenagers when it came time to pursue higher education, and many did not return home from bigger cities.
But Mr Burnett and local school leaders are on a mission to stop their regional brain drain in its tracks and lure young people back to the fold.
For local mother Emma Smith, the industrial transition Gladstone is going through gives her hope for her family’s future.
“It gives me a lot of joy to think that kids who are finishing school have got the potential to go into industries that even 10 years ago we didn’t even think would be a thing,” she said.
