Emma Cam, Reporter, The Cairns Post
Moving to Cairns last year was a real leap of faith. I’d only visited once as a child, and three decades later, I had no idea what awaited me.
Until recently, I worked as an actress – not a particularly successful one, and you wouldn’t need to ask, “What have you been in?” Like so many people, the COVID-19 pandemic made me re-evaluate my entire life.
I realised I still felt drawn to tell stories – just in a way that felt meaningful and created tangible change.
I was chasing the dream in the US when I decided to trade scripts and American accents for uni assignments, enrolling in a Communications degree at Charles Sturt University.
Six months in, I spotted an ad for News Australia’s national cadet program. I nearly scrolled past it, but with a nudge from my tutors, I applied – and it changed everything.
After training in Sydney across The Daily Telegraph, news.com.au and Sky News, I chose The Cairns Post, excited to take on regional reporting. While it felt like a gamble, I knew it would challenge me – and that’s what I wanted.
A city growing up fast
Cairns, often called ‘God’s Country’ and now recognised as Queensland’s new growth capital, has long been seen primarily as a place to visit – a gateway to the Great Barrier Reef and the Daintree Rainforest; somewhere to escape southern winters, but not necessarily a city to build a life or a career. That’s changing fast.
Close to the tip of Australia, Cairns has become one of Queensland’s fastest-growing regions, fuelled by returning expats and families swapping city stress for space and opportunity.
Property still feels within reach for Millennials, and the laid-back lifestyle with easy access to rainforest trails and constant outdoor adventures is a major drawcard for those seeking balance between work and play.
Recent population trends show Cairns growing faster than many state capitals: a $300 million airport upgrade is underway, and major investment in renewable energy, healthcare, and higher education is reshaping the city’s future.
But the real story is how it feels to live here right now. There’s momentum everywhere – cafés and bars run by ex-Melburnians, remote tech workers tapping away from beachside apartments, and local innovators turning small ideas into national success stories.
Beyond tourism: a creative pulse
The town is not just a city of natural beauty and economic growth; it’s also home to many creative talents, highlighted by Indigenous designer Grace Lillian Lee, who made history as the first First Nations Australian to independently showcase her collection at Paris Couture Fashion Week this year.
Like many, the pandemic sparked a reset for me, and Cairns became a drawcard for starting my new career. There is a palpable shift as the region becomes more than just a tourism town.
It’s big enough to buzz, small enough to breathe. It’s a city that’s growing up fast, proving that “regional” doesn’t mean small-time anymore.
Inside the newsroom
The Cairns Post is a small but mighty newsroom. We’re a passionate team covering one of the most diverse patches in the country – from the reef to the rainforest, crocodile attacks to community campaigns. No two days are ever the same.
We’ve also taken out Best Regional Campaign two years in a row, a reflection of the talent and heart in the newsroom.
To any budding journalists reading this: if you take nothing else away from my story, remember this — move to a regional boomtown. You’ll learn faster, grow stronger, and be trusted with stories that truly matter. You make a real difference.
Where journalism meets community
I’ve found Far North Queensland to be a place that fits like a glove. When I visit big cities now, I often feel overstimulated and a little lost. Here, you’re face-to-face with the people behind the stories – the business owners, the judges, the local cops. You see them at the café, the footy, the school gate. Those in-person connections strengthen trust, something that’s too often missing in city life.
Regional journalism matters because it’s personal. You’re not reporting on strangers- you’re writing about your neighbours. When a devastating fire tore through a local paint store earlier this month, I saw that difference first-hand.
By morning, the town had rallied around the owners, flooding social media with messages of support and offers to help clean up. Covering that story as both a journalist and community member was humbling.
Making an impact
That sense of purpose carried into my biggest project yet – Critical Condition, a health campaign that exposed major care gaps across Far North Queensland. When a lack of breast cancer diagnostic services in the region left women waiting months for vital testing, my reporting restored services within weeks.
The stories also helped secure $27 million in federal funding for CQUniversity’s new health wing and a second paediatric cardiologist for Cairns, ending a crisis that had left hundreds of children waiting over a year for care.
The work was recognised with the Best Regional Campaign at the 2025 News Awards, and I was honoured to win New Journalist of the Year at the 30th Clarion Awards.
Despite those accolades, the real reward has been the lasting impact – improving the lives of people in regional communities.
Finding purpose in place
Cairns has given me a career, a community, and a sense of purpose. I’ve also been given a weekly column, Let Me Explain, where readers can laugh, vent, and connect with their local newsroom. It’s a space to share the lighter side of life and to remind people that journalism isn’t just about holding power to account – it’s about belonging and bonding through shared stories.
This work is proof that some of the most important journalism – the kind that changes the lives of those often “out of sight, out of mind” – happens in Australia’s booming regional heart.
By investing in strong local journalism, brands aren’t just supporting news – they’re investing in stronger, more connected communities. This is a golden opportunity for brands to put purpose into action.