North West Queensland Regional Organisation of Councils grouped at Mount Isa Civic Centre on July 16-17 to prepare its 2020 State Election Strategy, to drive for fair government investment in the region.

Mount Isa City Council mayor Danielle Slade attended her first NWQROC meeting and said it allowed councils to develop a proposal of what each Council needed in the North West going forward.

"It was a great experience, I got to talk about issues facing our community and got to hear about the other shires as well," Cr Slade said.

"The big thing that I got out of the meeting was that Mount Isa is the big brother of all these communities and we need to do well to support them."

Cr Slade said fly-in, fly-out health workers was a topic discussed by all councils as an issue that needed to be addressed.

"Growing up as a kid I could name all the doctors in the hospital, can't do that now. I am lucky to see the same doctor in a few months. So I think it is a big issue for Mount Isa and any remote community in the North West," she said.

"We are quick to point out at the mine, and I agree COVID-19 has proved when they all stay in town Mount Isa does a lot better, but our health service has never been fly in and fly out until the last 15 years.

"I think the problem is that there is a shortage of doctors and specialists and it is hard to lure doctors out to the North West when they can go anywhere.

"When I was growing up anyone who came here on a visa, including me, came because there was a shortage of work in Mount Isa or wherever and that is why you got the job. You might have to spend two years here, but you got a job.

"If you're a teacher, if you work remotely for five years you get to pick where you want to work, you get your first preference. This is something that works well and is a great way to get teachers here, so the state government really needs to think outside the box to encourage doctors to rural areas."

Cr Slade said it was great to see that Councils were experiencing all the same difficulties and working together to find resolutions.

"Another problem that Mount Isa and surrounding communities face is trade shortage," she said.

"As a young person finishing school there were a lot of opportunities here, it's not so much the case anymore. Mount Isa Mines used to put on 200 apprentices every six months, now they put on 20.

"We also had a lot more traineeships and a lot more jobs going and it's not the same anymore and that's one thing I want the State Government to focus on going forward."

Cr Slade would like to see a university of mining established in Mount Isa.

"The mines outsource specialist positions that they can't source locally, but what if they could? Imagine studying mining in Mount Isa and having a world class mine where you could go and work once a week and get some experience there in four years.

"There is no point being in Brisbane or Townsville because you have access to nothing and here you could have mentors, and open up a mining school here, there are so many more ways to build on that.

"I know councillors have a lot of ideas surrounding other industries we can promote in Isa, but we need to start and we need to get going now. We have got to start throwing ideas out of what we would like to see and one thing is more opportunities for school leavers in Mount Isa."

READ MORE: Virgin Australia flights return to Mount Isa three days a week.

While you are here, subscribe to our weekly email delivered to your inbox every Tuesday and Friday.