Building resilient regional and remote Queensland communities.
Our Stories
The Power of the Right Partner: Lessons from a Decade-Long Investment in Education
When it comes to long-term investment, especially in community programs, few decisions are as important as choosing the right partner.
Over a decade ago, the QCoal Foundation set out to create a scholarship program that would do more than just help cover tuition. The QCoal Foundation Scholarship was established with the primary goal of upskilling the regions by supporting talented students from regional and remote communities who demonstrated a genuine passion to contribute meaningfully to regional and remote communities after graduation, to access tertiary education.
This is why we partnered with James Cook University (JCU) – a university whose mission and values align with ours. Our partnership with JCU was an intentional choice based on the university’s strong commitment to regional workforce development and high-quality education, as well as their dedication to supplying talent back into regional and remote Queensland.
Over the past decade, the QCoal Foundation Scholarship program has delivered significant impact by investing over $322,000 in 19 individual students from 14 regional and remote Queensland communities to pursue their tertiary education goals.
If you’re interested in reading more about the profound personal, financial and wider community impact of the QCoal Foundation Scholarship CLICK HERE.
Choosing the Right Partner: Why It Matters
When selecting the right partner, it is vital to be intentional and take the time to gain a deep understanding of what you’re looking for, the values of your partner organisation and if you are aligned.
The QCoal Foundation believes that data is an important signifier of an organisation’s true commitment to achieving their goals. Taking JCU as an example, data indicates that they are the No. 1 university in Queensland for producing regional, rural, and remote health professionals[1]. Additionally, JCU’s continued commitment to addressing workforce needs outside metropolitan centres is clear with 74% of recent graduates being employed in outer regional and remote locations, while 80% of students who were from outer regional locations stayed to work in outer regional communities.[2] This level of impact indicates that JCU is deeply invested in the future of regional Queensland, a focus that aligns with the mission of the QCoal Foundation Scholarship.
JCU’s mission, as articulated in their National Regional, Rural and Remote (RRR) Education Strategy, also reinforces this strong alignment:
“JCU plays a vital role in the economic development of RRR communities throughout northern Queensland and beyond, by providing opportunities to participate in higher education as well as encouraging students to live and work in the region as part of the professional workforce.”[3]
For these reasons, partnering with JCU for the QCoal Foundation Scholarship ensures that recipients receive high-quality education and are encouraged to return to regional, rural or remote communities, helping to build a stronger regional workforce for the future.
The Strength of Shared Commitment
As JCU’s Vice Chancellor Professor Simon Biggs shared with us:
“Working with a Foundation like QCoal sends an important signal about our shared commitment to improve the lives of people in these regions. The provision of a scholarship enables them to come and live and study with us and really take the full opportunity of being a student at JCU.”
The longevity and impact of the QCoal Foundation Scholarship is a testament to what’s possible when partners are aligned, not just on what they want to achieve, but on why and how they’ll get there. This shared commitment sits at the heart of any successful, long-term partnership.
The right partner doesn’t just strengthen your shared work but also amplifies your mission, making it more compelling and credible within the wider community. This, in turn, can also improve your advocacy and outreach efforts.
Reflections on a Decade of Partnership
As we reflect on 10 years of our partnership with JCU, we are reminded that sustainable impact isn’t achieved through short-term wins or transactional relationships. It’s built on shared values, mutual trust, and a genuine commitment to walking the journey together.
Our experience has led us to focus on identifying partners with an existing, proven track-record in our areas of interest and using philanthropic funding to amplifying existing excellence rather than replicating efforts through unnecessary reinvention.
Our long-term partnership has shown us that discernment and flexibility are central to meeting the evolving needs of program beneficiaries. Creating open feedback loops with those we support has been an important part in the continual improvement of the program, and keeping both partners grounded in the shared mission. By listening and adapting together, we’ve ensured the scholarship remains relevant, resilient, and true to its purpose.
Whether you’re investing in people, projects, or places, choosing the right partner can make all the difference.
Considering a New Partnership? Here’s What Matters Most:
The right partner doesn’t just deliver outcomes; they help you deepen your impact and stay true to your mission. If you’re exploring a new partnership, here’s what we recommend keeping in mind:
- A shared commitment to your purpose, goals, and vision
- A respected organisation with a proven track record of delivery and impact
- Open, clear communication for genuine collaboration
- A mutual dedication to the people you’re aiming to support
The right partner will walk alongside you and help amplify not just your outcomes, but your values. We’re proud of what we’ve achieved through our partnership with JCU, and we hope our reflections offers valuable insights for others pursuing long-term partnerships for lasting community impact.
[1] Social Research Centre Graduate Outcomes Survey (2016-2020)
[2] JCU Workforce Impact Report (2016-2023)
[3] Department of Education, JCU National Regional, Rural and Remote Education Strategy (2020)
