The only issue with hand luggage when travelling on a dash 8 is the size of the bag. If it is too big, they just take it from you at the gate/bottom of the stairs and give you a ticket - they call it premium hand luggage. You then collect it on arrival on the tarmac immediatEly as it comes off the plane. Then you go to the usual luggage carousel to collect your checked baggage.
I have routinely boarded a Dash 8 connecting flight SYD-CBR after international with a bag or two of duty free, a winter coat and scarf, a handbag/tote bag and either a rolly suitcase or a ski boot bag, plus a ski helmet. They have only ever cared about the rolly suitcase or ski boot bag - and these usually just go into the hold.
as posters
@Hvr and
@HS-TQE have mentioned up thread about your passport maybe ending up in the hold, know this in advance and have your passport, money and computer (if you care) in a pocket or a bag that won’t go into the hold.
honestly, it works pretty well.