What if the next step in your business, your career, or your community project was just a few digital skills away?
Maybe you’ve been thinking about turning your handmade goods into an online store. Or you’ve got a community event to promote but no idea how to make it stand out. Perhaps you’re just tired of feeling left behind when it comes to digital tools that everyone else seems to use with ease.
Across Queensland, people are stepping into new possibilities—learning how to design, market, sell, and connect online—through a series of free digital workshops delivered by State Library of Queensland.
State Library's Growing Indigenous Knowledge Centres and Regional Digital Development projects provide digital learning opportunities to support people in regional remote communities to build confidence and capability in the digital space.
In Central West Queensland, a new workshop series offers a mix of online sessions and in-person workshops for Queenslanders who want to develop their careers and businesses, and upscale their community activities.
‘This is about more than learning how to use digital tools,’ says organiser Louise Gronold, Regional Digital Development Officer (RDDO) for the Central West.
‘It’s about helping people realise what they’re capable of—whether that’s launching a business, leading a community project, or finally feeling confident enough to share their ideas with the world.’
The series is flexible and accessible—a blended approach that’s essential in a region that includes some of the most remote places in the state.
‘Having online workshops in the mix means we can reach people wherever they are, so if you're in a town like Barcaldine or hundreds of kilometres away in Birdsville, you still have access to the same opportunities to learn, grow, and build your digital confidence,’ Louise explains.
What’s on offer?
The workshops enable participants to build skill sets step by step to unlock new opportunities, and move closer to personal, professional, or community goals:
Design and branding — building skills from the basics up
In a world where attention is hard to earn, clever design helps your message rise above the noise. Whether you're promoting a local fundraiser, launching a new product, or simply trying to look more professional online, knowing how to create strong visuals is a game-changer.
These workshops start with the essentials like learning basic design concepts using Canva. Even if you’ve never touched a digital design tool before, you’ll walk away with the confidence to create something that looks polished and purposeful.
For those ready to go further, advanced sessions explore Canva’s more powerful features—like setting up brand kits, using animation, and collaborating with others. And for anyone wanting to go beyond templates, the branding and digital design session helps you define your visual voice and apply it with clarity and consistency.
Marketing and promotion — learning to connect with purpose
Having a great idea is one thing—getting it in front of the right audience is another. That’s where the marketing-focused sessions come in.
Participants will learn how to create a sustainable social media strategy that avoids burnout while still delivering results. It’s not about being everywhere at once—it’s about being intentional, consistent, and clear on your message.
The in-person marketing workshops in Blackall and Barcaldine take this learning deeper, by exploring what makes a message resonate, how to connect with audiences, and how to promote your business or community project in a way that feels authentic and achievable.
Whether you're running a small business, managing a local event, or trying to grow a community initiative, these sessions help you build the skills to communicate with impact.
Selling and your online presence — be found, trusted, and make more sales
If you’ve ever wondered how to start selling online—or how to improve what you’re already doing—these workshops offer a clear, supportive starting point.
The selling online session walks participants through the basics of eCommerce: choosing the right platform, creating product listings, handling payments, and managing orders. It’s ideal for makers, creatives, and small businesses ready to take their products to a wider audience.
Meanwhile, the Google…Plus? session helps participants clean up and take control of their online presence. From managing search results to updating business listings, it’s about making sure that when people look you up, they find something that reflects your work and your values.
Together, these sessions help participants build trust, improve visibility, and take confident steps into the digital marketplace.
Digital productivity and confidence — clear the clutter, focus on what matters
Digital overwhelm is real—but it doesn’t have to be permanent. The digital productivity session, Clean Inbox = Clear Mind, will help participants take back control of their digital lives.
Through simple, effective strategies, you’ll learn how to manage your inbox, reduce digital clutter, and build healthier habits that support focus and wellbeing. It’s not just about email — it’s about creating space to think, plan, and move forward with clarity.
This session is especially valuable for anyone juggling multiple roles — whether in business, community work, or everyday life — and looking for ways to work smarter, not harder.
About the presenter
Workshop presenter, Holly Macdonald, is a regional digital specialist experienced in digital marketing, branding, communications, and web design. With a background in agriculture and rural event management, Holly brings clear, practical advice tailored to the realities of small business and community life, offering real examples, and tools you can apply straight away.
Learn online or in person
Workshops are available online with two in-person sessions in Blackall and Barcaldine, offering a relaxed learning environment and an opportunity to strengthen local connections.
Online workshops — join from anywhere in Queensland
Tuesday 21 October — Digital Productivity: Clean Inbox = Clear Mind
Declutter email and digital files with simple habits. Reduce stress, improve focus, and build sustainable, beginner-friendly productivity.
Friday 24 October — Google…Plus? Your Business Online
Clean up your online presence. Improve search results, update Google Business and key listings to get found by the right audiences.
Tuesday 4 November — Selling Online: Basics of eCommerce
Set up online sales: choose a platform, list products, take payments and manage orders. Practical eCommerce basics for small operators.
Friday 7 November — Canva Like a Pro: Extra Tips & Features
Unlock pro features: shortcuts, brand kits, animation, and collaboration. Work faster and create polished, professional graphics that stand out.
Tuesday 11 November — Canva Basics: Events
Design invitations, flyers, social graphics, and signage in Canva. Create consistent, professional assets to promote and run your event.
Tuesday 18 November — Canva Basics: Branding & Digital Design
Build a consistent visual brand with Canva. Define identity and apply colours, fonts, and layouts across your digital platforms.
Tuesday 2 December — Canva Like a Pro: Extra Tips & Features
Use shortcuts, brand kits, animation, and teamwork tools to speed up Canva and deliver polished, professional designs reliably.
In-person workshops:
Canva Basics & Beyond: Hands-on, Half-Day Workshop
Learn the essentials of Canva and build confidence in creating professional visuals, even if you're new to design. In this session, you'll work on creating a polished advertisement and develop the skills to use Canva’s powerful features to boost your brand or business.
Tuesday 28 October — Blackall
Friday 31 October — Barcaldine
Digital Marketing Essentials: Boost Your Online Presence
This half-day workshop will assist individuals, businesses, and community groups to build a stronger digital presence through practical strategies and tools. You'll leave with a tailored digital marketing plan and the confidence to connect with your audience online in a clear, effective way.
Tuesday 25 November — Blackall
Friday 28 November — Barcaldine
Book your place
Ready to take the next step? Book now through the Digital and You app or via Eventbrite.
Looking for a workshop in your local area — download the app to stay up to date on the latest workshops, make bookings and keep a handy record of your achievements.
State Library’s Regional Digital Development project is supported by the Department of Customer Service, Open Data and Small and Family Business.
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