Building Bridges Between Classrooms and Co-Working: Capricorn Educators Visit the New Capricorn Business Hub

Rockhampton's innovation ecosystem took an exciting step forward this week as nine educators from across the Capricorn region gathered at the newly opened Capricorn Business Hub.

The visit brought together representatives from ICT Gateway schools, including Emmaus Christian College, Rockhampton State High School, and St Brendan's College Yeppoon, for a firsthand look at what is fast becoming Central Queensland's home for startups and innovative small business.

A Fresh Start for the Region's Innovation Ecosystem

The Capricorn Business Hub officially opened its in June 2026.

Our mission is ambitious yet clear: to re-establish and strengthen the startup and innovative small and family business ecosystem across the Rockhampton and Capricorn Coast region, providing a collaborative workspace and genuine pathways for entrepreneurs, innovators, and small business owners to thrive.

For the visiting educators, the timing could not have been better. With the Hub only just opening its doors, this was one of the first opportunities for local education leaders to step inside the space, meet the team, and explore how it might connect with their students and school communities.

Meeting the Team and Exploring the Space

The group was welcomed by CBH Director Matthew Doyle, who walked educators through the Hub's coworking space and shared the vision behind its establishment. Attendees heard about the Hub's plans to position itself as Rockhampton and Central Queensland's home of startups and innovative small businesses, offering everything from mentoring and workshops to accelerator programs designed to help local ventures grow.

Of particular interest to the education sector were opportunities such as startup weekends and work experience placements. These initiatives offer a genuine pathway for students to engage directly with the entrepreneurial community, gaining real-world exposure to business creation, innovation, and problem solving well beyond the traditional classroom setting.

Why This Connection Matters

Central Queensland faces a well-documented gap in entrepreneurial activity. Regional data shows that only a small fraction of Queenslanders are involved in startups, and many cite fear of failure as a key barrier to starting a business. Bridging the gap between schools and the local business and tech community is one practical way to shift that mindset early, exposing young people to entrepreneurship, digital skills, and innovation before they enter the workforce.

This is precisely where initiatives such as the ICT Gateway to Industry Schools Program (ICT GISP) play a vital role. Proudly funded by the Department of Trade, Employment and Training and facilitated by the Australian Computer Society (ACS) Queensland, the program is designed to grow the state's future tech workforce by connecting schools directly with industry. This week's visit to the Capricorn Business Hub is a strong example of that connection in action.

What Comes Next

With the Capricorn Business Hub only just getting started, this visit marks the beginning of what promises to be a valuable relationship between the region's schools and its emerging startup and small business community. Future collaborations, whether through work experience placements, mentoring opportunities, or joint events like startup weekends, offer real potential to inspire the next generation of Central Queensland entrepreneurs and innovators.

As the Capricorn Business Hub continues to grow, keep an eye out for more opportunities for schools, students, and educators to get involved in shaping the future of startups and small business across the region.

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Capricorn Business Hub is Proudly Funded by the Queensland Government