CUC - Western Downs

18/03/2026

CUC Western Downs is proud to support Bridge & Beyond and their impactful 12-week program!

17/03/2026

FINAL REMINDER - To all returning students. Please complete your re-registration to keep your CUC study hub access!

❗ATTENTION - RETURNING CUC STUDENTS❗
Do not lose your Centre access!

If you are a returning CUC WD student in 2026, please complete your re-registration forms by 18 March to keep your Centre access. Details have been emailed to you.
If you have any questions or any issues with the re-registration forms please get in touch.

We look forward to seeing you back soon! 📚 ☕

16/03/2026

Today we welcomed five new nursing placement students to our CUC Western Downs community! We are so excited to be supporting them over the coming weeks and look forward to seeing them around the CUC as they settle in.

Wishing them all a fantastic placement with plenty of opportunities to learn and grow along the way! 🌟

University of Southern Queensland - Australia
SQRH - Southern Queensland Rural Health

13/03/2026

📣 IMPORTANT REMINDER - CUC Western Downs Students!

Studying again in 2026? Make sure you re-register by Wednesday 18 March to keep access to your CUC Western Downs study hub.

Re-registering is quick and easy!

❗️If you don’t re-register by the deadline, you’ll lose access to the study hub.

Check the email we recently sent for all the details. If you can’t find it, please check your junk/spam folder or contact us and we’ll resend it.

We look forward to supporting you in your studies! 🧡

11/03/2026

IMPORTANT - The Chinchilla Showgrounds has been set up as an evacuation centre. Please read the message from Western Downs Regional Council regarding the current situation and calls for residents to leave low lying areas immediately.

** This warning has been downgraded to 𝗪𝗔𝗧𝗖𝗛 𝗔𝗡𝗗 𝗔𝗖𝗧 - 𝗡𝗢𝗧 𝗦𝗔𝗙𝗘 𝗧𝗢 𝗥𝗘𝗧𝗨𝗥𝗡 as at 1.30pm Thursday 12 March 2026 **

𝗟𝗘𝗔𝗩𝗘 𝗜𝗠𝗠𝗘𝗗𝗜𝗔𝗧𝗘𝗟𝗬 - 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗹𝗲𝘆'𝘀 𝗖𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗸 𝗖𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗮 - 𝗙𝗟𝗢𝗢𝗗 - 𝗜𝘀𝘀𝘂𝗲𝗱 𝗮𝘁 𝟰.𝟰𝟬𝗽𝗺, 𝗪𝗲𝗱𝗻𝗲𝘀𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲.

> Residents in low-lying areas of Chinchilla are advised to 𝗟𝗘𝗔𝗩𝗘 𝗜𝗠𝗠𝗘𝗗𝗜𝗔𝗧𝗘𝗟𝗬 due to major flooding happening now.

> We are expecting floodwaters to reach 6.6m by 11.30pm this evening and by early morning possibly during darkness, a peak of 6.8m.

> 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗹𝗼𝘄-𝗹𝘆𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘀 𝘄𝗵𝗼 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘃𝘂𝗹𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗼𝗿 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗽𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿 𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝘀𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗲𝘃𝗮𝗰𝘂𝗮𝘁𝗲. Please go to family or friends, or to the Chinchilla Showgrounds, which is now set up as an evacuation centre.

> Those residents in the downtown area on the Miles side of Charley's Creek Chinchilla should leave now. Assistance is being arranged for these residents if needed.

> Doorknocking by emergency personnel is underway.

𝙄𝙛 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙡𝙞𝙛𝙚 𝙞𝙨 𝙞𝙣 𝙙𝙖𝙣𝙜𝙚𝙧, 𝙘𝙖𝙡𝙡 𝙏𝙧𝙞𝙥𝙡𝙚 𝙕𝙚𝙧𝙤 (000) 𝙞𝙢𝙢𝙚𝙙𝙞𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙡𝙮. 𝙄𝙛 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙧𝙚𝙦𝙪𝙞𝙧𝙚 𝙖𝙨𝙨𝙞𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙣𝙘𝙚 𝙩𝙤 𝙚𝙫𝙖𝙘𝙪𝙖𝙩𝙚, 𝙘𝙖𝙡𝙡 𝙎𝙀𝙎 𝙤𝙣 132 500 𝙞𝙢𝙢𝙚𝙙𝙞𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙡𝙮.

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘄𝗲 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴?
Flood levels are expected to remain at the peak heights for a prolonged period of up to 48 hours.
• Some homes will be completely isolated, and these residents should evacuate immediately. For your safety, and the safety of emergency personnel, please don't leave it until the middle of the night.
• If you remain in the area, you may become trapped in your home without power, water, and other essential services.
What you need to do:
• Take your medications, mobile phones, identification, cash, and keys with you.

𝗙𝗼𝗿 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗶𝗻𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻:
• Follow Council's disaster dashboard here https://disaster.wdrc.qld.gov.au/
• Listen to your local radio station (747AM).
• For power outage information go to ergon.com.au/network
• Check the latest river heights at the Bureau of Meteorology Queensland website https://www.bom.gov.au/qld/flood/rain_river.shtm
• Check road closures at the QLD Traffic website at https://qldtraffic.qld.gov.au/ or for phone service call 13 19 40

11/03/2026

🚨 Event Postponed Notice 🚨

Due to the current flooding in Chinchilla and surrounding areas, the Beer & Pizza Student Social Night has been postponed until further notice.

The safety of our students and community is our priority, and with the ongoing conditions we feel it’s best to reschedule the event.

A new date will be announced in due course, and we look forward to bringing everyone together once things have settled.

Thank you for your understanding, and please stay safe.

We’re also thinking of all our community members and local businesses who have been impacted during this time. Our thoughts are with everyone affected.💙

10/03/2026

Thanks WDRC for keeping us updated on the flooding and road conditions.
To all our students at the CUC WD stay safe and if you are affected by the flood waters, please let us know if you need anything.

> We're continuing to monitor flood water levels across the Western Downs.

> Charley's Creek Chinchilla reached the major flood level of 6.0m overnight last night and an Emergency Alert advising residents in low-lying areas to prepare to leave was issued.

> The water level at Charley's Creek has now reached 6.26m and BoM has advised that it is still expected to peak at 6.8m tomorrow - Thursday 12 March 2026.

> Cooranga Creek at Warra peaked below the bridge overnight. The flood level at Warra reached 3.3m and is now falling.

> The Leichhardt Highway has opened south of Miles early this morning.

> A detour for the Warrego Highway from Miles via Condamine to Dalby is now available. The Warrego Highway remains closed at Chinchilla.

>VMS signs along the Warrego Highway were updated at 5.20pm this morning to advise traffic the Warrego Highway is closed at Chinchilla, with a detour via Condamine.

> As water continues to move through our catchments, road conditions continue to change. It's important to plan and factor in potential impacts. View the latest road closures here: https://disaster.wdrc.qld.gov.au/

> Residents are reminded that even if waters are receding some areas, impacted roads and bridge crossings still need to be inspected to ensure they are safe to reopen to traffic.

> During this time, please limit travel as much as possible, obey all signage and directions, keep out of floodwaters, and stay updated via the Disaster Dashboard.

10/03/2026

A sandbag station is in operation at the Chinchilla State Emergency Service (SES) facility at 56 Bell Street opposite the Chinchilla Botanic Parklands.

If you have had issues with water on your property in previous weather events, make sure you come down and fill your sandbags ASAP.

For flood assistance, call SES on 132 500.
> View the latest warnings here: bom.gov.au/qld/warnings
> For the latest weather information and road closures, keep across Council's Disaster Dashboard: http://disaster.wdrc.qld.gov.au/

10/03/2026

** This warning has progressed to 𝗪𝗔𝗧𝗖𝗛 𝗔𝗡𝗗 𝗔𝗖𝗧 - 𝗡𝗢𝗧 𝗦𝗔𝗙𝗘 𝗧𝗢 𝗥𝗘𝗧𝗨𝗥𝗡 as at 1.30pm Thursday 12 March 2026 **

** This alert has been upgraded to an EMERGENCY WARNING to LEAVE IMMEDIATELY at Charley's Creek Chinchilla as at 4.40pm Wednesday 11 March 2026. **

WATCH AND ACT - Prepare Now - Charley’s Creek Chinchilla - flood update as at 10.00am Tuesday 10 March 2026.

> The Warrego Highway has closed at Chinchilla at Charley's Creek.
> Charley’s Creek in Chinchilla is rising resulting in multiple local road closures and water in yards.
> Residents in low lying areas are advised to remain vigilant over the next 36 to 48 hours as more water is expected to come down the catchment.
> As this water makes its way down the catchment through Chinchilla further water rises are expected.
> Chinchilla residents are advised to WATCH AND ACT. Residents should prepare to action their household emergency plans for possible water rises.
> Take the time during daylight hours to prepare your pets, property, and personal items. Prioritise your emergency plan and safety before night falls.
> There are a significant number of roads closures across the region, head to the Council’s Disaster Dashboard for information on local road closures.
> Stay informed to ensure the safety of yourself, your family and others.
> Do not drive through flood water. If it's flooded, forget it.

What you should do:
• Stay up to date because conditions could change quickly.
• Enact your flood emergency plan. Decide where you will go if flooding starts.
• Inform neighbours, friends and family in the area.
• If you are in a low-lying area, secure and lift possessions.
• Listen to your local radio station (747AM).
• Listen to directions from Emergency Services.
• Stay out of rivers, creeks and flood water.
> If your life is in danger, call 000.

For flood assistance, call SES on 132 500.
> View the latest warnings here: bom.gov.au/qld/warnings
> For the latest weather information and road closures, keep across Council's Disaster Dashboard: http://disaster.wdrc.qld.gov.au/

09/03/2026

We found this big fellow at our door today. It has rained so much even the frogs are taking refuge at the CUC Western Downs. 😂

09/03/2026

📣Attention CUC Western Downs Students - we are excited to invite you to a Beer & Pizza Student Social Night on Friday, 13 March at 6:00pm at Mayne Street Brewery, Chinchilla!

It’ll be a relaxed evening with:

🍕 Pizza and 🍻 drinks
🎱 Kelly’s pool and games
🎁 Prizes!

It’s a great chance to unwind, catch up with the CUC community, make new connections, and have some fun together.

RSVP is required by Thursday, 12 March so we can confirm numbers. Eventbrite link below for your convenience.

https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/beer-pizza-student-social-night-tickets-1984736501303?aff=oddtdtcreator

We hope to see you there!

07/03/2026

Happy International Women’s Day! Today, we celebrate the strength, resilience, and achievements of women everywhere -especially those in our regional and rural communities who inspire us every day here at CUC Western Downs.