The Talking Transport initiative has been delivered in April 2026 across four locations in South Coast Victoria – Hamilton, Portland, Warrnambool and Colac – bringing together communities, employers, service providers and stakeholders as part of the South Coast Victoria Workforce Australia Local Jobs initiative.
Facilitated in partnership with Kelly Mason from Bounce Global, the sessions used a strengths based Appreciative Inquiry approach – shifting the conversation from “what’s broken?” to “what’s possible?”. While transport was the entry point, it quickly became clear the issue runs deeper. In regional communities, transport is more than movement – it is access to jobs, education, health services, social connection, and the dignity of choice and independence.
Across the sessions, 98 participants shared lived experiences of resilience, creativity and determination in the face of long distances and limited options. A strong and consistent message emerged: opportunity often exists, but access remains the major barrier. With up to 60% of people looking for work lacking access to a car, “getting there” is one of the most significant challenges to workforce participation and retention.
What stood out most was not constraint, but readiness. Communities are solutions focused, deeply understand their local context, and are ready to act. The Talking Transport sessions created the space to surface practical ideas, build shared understanding, and back what is already working.
Insights from these four sessions will inform five formal Bounce Global reports, capturing key themes, place based challenges, and actionable recommendations. The next phase of this work is the establishment of a Transport Taskforce to drive implementation of the priority recommendations – ensuring momentum is maintained and insight is translated into tangible outcomes.
Talking Transport has demonstrated a clear mandate for action. As the work transitions from conversation to delivery, stakeholders are encouraged to stay involved and connect with the Job Coordinator to understand next steps and opportunities to contribute.
Photo: Job Coordinator Angela Williams, right, with Job Coordinator from Wimmera Mallee at the Hamilton Talking Transport Appreciative Inquiry session.
