“We are a job creation machine, and seeing manufacturing and agriculture in your top five growth sectors is rare. That’s a dream scenario for a regional community.”Simon Kuestenmacher, Co-Founder of The Demographics Group
Our first Rising and Leading Series guests rose before the sun to gather at the Armitage Centre for what proved to be an energising and thought-provoking breakfast.
More than 150 members of the Toowoomba and Darling Downs community joined us to hear from leading demographer and data commentator Simon Kuestenmacher, whose presentation sparked fresh thinking about the decade ahead.
Australia on the Global Stage
Simon opened with a wide-angle view of where Australia sits in the world, and it was more optimistic than expected.
“You picked the right corner of the globe,” he told the room. “It is utterly impossible to keep Australia out of the top 10 countries on Earth. No matter how you filter it, we are a very stable, attractive destination.”
He pointed to Australia’s four core economic pillars — mining, agriculture, tourism and international education — and noted that none are at structural risk. But he also challenged regional communities to push beyond simplicity.
“We’re not a complex economy. We rank just after Uganda on the Global Economic Complexity Index. We could do with a bit more value-added manufacturing, in agriculture, in mining, in pharmaceuticals. There’s work to be done.”
Toowoomba’s Demographic Advantage
Turning his focus closer to home, Simon spoke to Toowoomba’s unique demographic profile.
“You are outrageously young for a regional town,” he said, noting that while many communities lose their young people and don’t see them return, Toowoomba does. “You’re doing quite a few things right in terms of attracting young families and young couples back.”
He described a familiar pattern of young people leaving for university or work, then returning with families to replicate the lifestyle they grew up with. “And that’s something you want to keep encouraging because the alternative of aging is quite shocking.”
Growth, Spending and Economic Shifts
Queensland is expected to grow by 750,000 people over the next decade, but that growth won’t be uniform.
Millennials are entering their peak spending years and the number of people aged 85 and over will double.
“This decade, the biggest generation is entering the most expensive phase of life — the mid-40s,” Simon said.
“Every dollar they earn goes straight back into the economy. Great for business, but terrible for the RBA. We’re going to keep consuming and that’s inflationary.”
Workforce Pressures and Skills Gaps
Simon didn’t shy away from the workforce challenges ahead. He outlined the impact of retiring baby boomers, a slowing pipeline of young workers and critical shortages in aged care, transport, vocational education and agriculture.
“Retention is the name of the game. Be nice to your staff,” he said. “And all those buzzwords, AI, automation, robotics, they are your friends. These technologies won’t lead to mass unemployment. We simply don’t have enough people to be unemployed.”
Toowoomba’s Strategic Opportunity
What stood out was Simon’s view of Toowoomba’s unique economic future.
“You are a job creation machine,” he said. “Healthcare, social assistance, yes, that’s a given. But manufacturing and agriculture in your top five growth sectors? That is extremely rare. It’s a dream scenario for a regional community.”
He challenged educators and industry leaders to show young people a clear pathway into those sectors. “Let them go frolicking in London, sure, but make sure when they come back, there’s a career waiting for them.”
Planning with Purpose
Simon closed with a compelling case for long-term infrastructure thinking, sharing the story of his hometown Munich and the decision to build a train network into undeveloped land ahead of the 1972 Olympic Games. The result was decades of well-planned growth.
“If you build it, they shall come,” he said. “Build before the people arrive, not after. That’s the difference between efficiency and chaos.”
He reminded us that Toowoomba’s inclusion in the 2032 Olympics, hosting equestrian events, may bring more than just sporting moments. “You get growing Brisbane. You get the overflow. If we plan well, that translates to long-term opportunity.”
What This Means for Education at TGS
Simon’s insights reinforce the critical role schools play in shaping the future of our region. At TGS, we are deeply committed to preparing boys not only for success in their studies but for meaningful, future-ready careers in a changing world.
Whether it’s developing communication and critical thinking skills, building pathways into industries such as agriculture, healthcare and manufacturing, or encouraging global curiosity and local impact, our focus is on ensuring that our students are well-equipped to lead in a region poised for growth.
The Rising and Leading Series is not just about hearing from leading voices. It’s about asking what comes next — and how we as a School can help shape it.
Looking to What’s Next
The Rising and Leading Series continues to bring meaningful conversations and influential voices to our community. We are delighted to announce our next two events, Rising and Leading in Medical Research on Tuesday, 22 July and Rising and Leading in Sport on Friday, 15 August. For more details please keep checking our School's website.
Latest Blog
Responding to Negative Peer Interactions
As we approach the end of Term 3, we find it is typically a time when boys start to get tired and emotional and are most likely to make poor decisions that can lead to relationship challenges between peers. Comments and humour shared between mates that may have been received without concern in the first week of the term may change as boys start to tire and their tolerance levels decrease. This may lead to boys reacting with heightened and overly emotional responses. This is normal as boys are…
Boarding is who we are
Our boarders make up nearly one third of our student cohort from Years 5 to 12, which enables us to consider the boarding experience in all that we do at the School. Every boarding experience at TGS is about equipping boys with the skills to function as a student and preparing them for their future.
Making a Positive Impact with Homework Assistance
The Anglicare Homework Assistance Program (HAP), run in conjunction with Darling Heights State School, sees many of our boys volunteer their time on Wednesdays after class to help many young refugee and primary school students facing challenging times with their homework, or to chat and play games. Our boys thoroughly enjoy meeting, supporting and learning about the lives of the younger children. This forges community connections and fosters inclusion for the Darling Heights students; it also…
Fresh Faces Guide - TGS Sportsmen into the Fray
With their dedication to excellence and player development, TGS athletes are in good hands as they navigate the challenges and triumphs of competitive sports.
Honouring Tradition, Preparing for the Future
They will invariably be inspired by effective teaching and the satisfaction of personal achievement will always be motivating. At Toowoomba Grammar School, the power of high-quality instructional practices has resulted in the development of a strong academic culture that has endured for nearly 150 years. Preserving core principles provides stability and continuity. However, we must be open to continuously adapting our methods so that our students are well-prepared for the ever-changing world…
We See You - Mitchell Wilkes
That was the heart-wrenching diagnosis for Year 10 student, Mitchell Wilkes, right on Christmas in 2021. Mitchell’s mum noticed he wasn’t reading properly and had a gut feeling that there was something wrong with his eyesight. A trip to the optometrist revealed a thinning in the retina, and further tests showed that Mitchell had a genetic condition called Stargardt Disease, a juvenile macular degeneration illness that results in slow central vision loss.
Correcting our School's official record commemorating World War I and World War II
On the eve of our 150th year, we're calling on the School's alumni, parents, past parents and greater community to aid us in correcting the record of our involvement in two watershed geopolitical events of the 20th century. For the last four years Toowoomba Grammar School Museum Volunteers, Mrs Ann Hallam and Mrs Sue Palmer, have been updating the School records on Old Boys, staff and Trustees for the World War I and World War II theatres of war. Over the years several staff and volunteers have…
A Pioneering Woman of TGS
My late husband was a teacher, and our four children are all teachers, which we encouraged them to do because it is the best job in the world. It’s hard to believe I’ve been here for 36 years, working under four Headmasters: Mr Bill Dent, Mr Hugh Rose, Mr Peter Hauser and now Dr John Kinniburgh. I still drive into the School each day and smile, looking at the beautiful place it is — magnificent ovals, gracious trees and historically significant buildings. It is difficult to express the…
NZ Rugby Tour success, more than winning matches across the Ditch
The teams were undefeated and it was a trip the players will never forget. This tour was years in the making and heralds a new era of touring and hosting different rugby schools to give our players opportunities for growth as athletes and as people. Head of Sport - Rugby, Mr Lincoln Clapham, explained they selected 46 students to take part in the ten-day tour and began training last year. From Term 1 onwards, the squad trained twice weekly on the oval plus two and sometimes three gym sessions…
