Skip to main content

'Shifting Our Gaze': Looking back at the Regions Rising National Summit

28 September 2023

 

On September 13-14, 2023 the RAI hosted its annual Regions Rising National Summit.  The theme of the event was 'Shifting our Gaze', a call to action for decision-makers to think about regional Australia.

Below are some of the key takeaway messages from the event.

Keynote Address - The Hon Catherine King, Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government

 Highlights: 

  • Regions are in a defining decade and are working hard to be liveable, prosperous and sustainable.
  • Need locally tailored solutions with collaboration between NFPs, RDAs and local leaders all working towards one goal. 
  • Government supports robust communities and building a better quality of life for regional communities – it is a down payment for the future generations. 

Regionalisation Ambition 2032  

Facilitator: Liz Ritchie – CEO, Regional Australia Institute

A year on from the RAI issuing the challenge to ‘Rebalance the Nation’, cross sectoral leaders unpack where progress has been made and where further attention is needed.

  • Dr Michael Fotheringham (Managing Director, Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute)
  • Luke Achterstraat (CEO, Council of Small Business Organisations COSBOA
  • Prof Peter Dawkins AO (Chair, Jobs and Skills Australia)
  • Cr Kylie King (Regional Capitals Australia)

Highlights: 

  • The power of collective thinking is vital to driving conversations forward.
  • The skills shortage in the regions should be viewed as an opportunity.
  • Without a population plan we are just drifting. Need to create a population plan around hotspots of innovation in regional areas and look to attracting and retaining people. 

Find out more

Keynote Address - Gavin Williams - CEO, Regional and Remote, NBN Co

Highlights: 

  • Digital Inclusion Index shows regional consumers are more reliant on digital infrastructure such as health services.
  • NBN want to work with the regions collaboratively to develop growth corridors.

From Little Things Big Things Grow  (sponsored by Bendigo & Adelaide Bank)  

Facilitator: Courtney Sloane-  Government Relations and Public Affairs Lead, Bendigo & Adelaide Bank

Trailblazers, who are tackling their communities’ biggest challenges with locally-led, place-based solutions that work!

  • Lisa Button (CEO, Community Refugee Sponsorship Australia)
  • Kate Sowden (Executive Director, Work & Stay)
  • Dr Cath Cosgrove (Creator Attract, Connect, Stay)
  • Sam Almaliki (Founder, Regional Angel Investor Network)

Highlights: 

  • Need to change the narrative around migrants and refugees to recognise the huge impact and benefit they can have and bring to regions.
  • Everyone in a regional community has a role to play in welcoming newcomers to their region. 

 

A Workforce in Transition (sponsored by Essential Energy) 

Facilitator: John Cleland- CEO, Essential Energy

What will the jobs and skills needed for the regions of the future be, and how well equipped are we to nurture these skills?

  • Tony Cook PSM (Sec Department of Education)
  • Rebecca Pickering (interim CEO, Inland Rail)
  • Kate Pounder (Chief Executive Officer, Technology Council of Australia)
  • Joe Collins (Research Assistant, Birchip Cropping Group)

Highlights: 

  • Young people can’t be what they can’t see.
  • 90% of jobs of the future will need some level of qualification either VET or tertiary education.

Close to Home

Facilitator: Kim Houghton- Chief Economist, Regional Australia Institute

A panel of experts share their diverse insights on the pressures of regional housing and what policy solutions are needed to overcome the challenges.

  • Rowena Johnston (Chief Credit Officer, National Housing Finance and Investment Corporation)
  • Greg Hoffman PSM (Executive Officer, North West QLD Regional Organisation of Councils)
  • Andrew Hall (CEO, Insurance Council of Australia)
  • Kasy Chambers (Managing Director, Anglicare)

Highlights: 

  • Solutions to housing crisis in the regions needs to be place and evidence based.
  • Great need for social and emergency housing. 
  • Challenge is to find a way for local councils to work with the federal and state governments to address the problem.

Infrastructure and Community Development (sponsored by Transgrid)

Facilitator: Craig Stallan- Executive Manager, Transgrid

A panel of experienced leaders discuss how, when done well, today’s decisions can leave a positive legacy for the next generation of regional Australians. 

  • The Hon Joel Fitzgibbon (former Federal Member for Hunter, acting CEO Australian Forest Products Association)
  • The Hon Bruce Billson (Ombudsman, Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise)
  • Dr Saranne Cooke (Chair, Royal Flying Doctor Service, Deputy Chancellor Charles Sturt University)
  • Di Somerville (Chair, Regional Development Australia Riverina)

Highlights: 

  • The community needs to come along for the journey – you cannot go where you are not invited.
  • Place-based, community-led solutions need to be enabled. 
  • People trained in the regions are more likely to stay in the regions. 
  • Communities need to understand their value, their ask and what they want as a legacy for their region.

Keynote Address - The Hon Peter Dutton MP, Leader of the Opposition

Highlights: 

  • Bi-partisan nature of the RAI, talking to both sides of politics, is the secret to its success.
  • With an ageing population and a slower growing economy there will be more pressure on government services which will mean more pressure felt in the regions. 
  • Need a population plan targeted to regions. 

Keynote Address - Mark Allison - CEO, Elders Ltd

Highlights: 

  • Elders is an intrinsic part of a regional community and contributes significantly to the sustainability of agriculture and is an active participant in local communities. 
  • Launch of Giveit Community Giving Project – grants of up to $20,000 across six areas – people; environment; innovation; healthy lifestyles; diversity; safety and people’s choice.

The Health of our Regions

Facilitator: Anna Stephenson- Education Director, Regional Australia Institute

As regional Australia’s population grows, so does the need for a bolstered health workforce.  Hear from leaders and those on the frontline on how to solve the problems of today and plan for the demands of tomorrow. 

  • Prof Steve Robson (President, Australian Medical Association)
  • Sonia Henry (GP and Author)
  • Megan Callinan (CEO, Marathon Health)
  • Susanne Tegen (CEO, National Regional Health Alliance)
  • Tayla Roberts (Universities Accord)

Highlights: 

  • Disparity between the regional economic contribution to the national economy and the investment in rural health.
  • Need hybrid models of care, with a supportive and caring workforce within communities to support the clinical workforce, including allied health, peer support and nursing. 
  • Education hubs, blended learning and mentoring will broaden the educational opportunities for rural students.

Leading by Example  

Facilitator: Kiim Limm- EGM Business Development, Elders Ltd

A group of experienced directors share how the interests of regional Australia can be advanced by the decisions taken around the boardroom table.

  • Barry Irvin (Chair, Bega Cheese)
  • Jacqueline Hey (Chair, Bendigo Bank)
  • Ming Long AM (Chair, AMP Ltd, Chair, Diversity Council of Australia)
  • Adam Davids (Director, CareerTrackers and Social Ventures Australia)

Highlights: 

  • If you are truly from the regions, you lead differently – you lead from behind and you lead with humility (Bary Irvin).
  • Change can be difficult – you need to build trust and set up mechanisms for communication for effective communication (Barry Irvin).
  • Equity and diversity impact investment attractiveness (Adam Davids).
  • Don’t just make an impact, measure it (Jacqueline Hay). 
  • Have a mindset of wanting to create something together; not working in isolation (Ming Long).

Our Regions and Machinery of Government 

Facilitator: Liz Ritchie- CEO, Regional Australia Institute

Leading bureaucrats discuss the role of place-based policy and investment in state and federal government departments.

  • Rebecca Fox – (Secretary, Department of Regional NSW)
  • Alison Lloyd Wright –(Deputy CEO, Department and Premier Cabinet SA)
  • Paul Issachsen –(Deputy Director General, Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development WA)
  • David Mackay – (Deputy Secretary, Commonwealth Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts)

Highlights: 

  • We have to learn to collaborate, not in an ad-hoc way but more formally.

Cultivating Regional Innovation

Facilitator: Sam Dimarco- General Manager Regional and Remote, nbn Co. 

A panel of entrepreneurs and innovators provide their insights into regional Australia’s innovation and technology ecosystem. 

  • Ben Barlow (Managing Director, New Edge Microbials)
  • John Barraclough (Founder and Executive Chairman, UAG Bio Nutrients)
  • Nick Sheehan (Founder and CEO, efex)
  • Julia Spicer (QLD’s Chief Entrepreneur)
  • Suzanne Campbell (Founder, Vennu)

Highlights: 

  • Regional Australians have the answers to the world’s problems (Julie Spicer).
  • An entrepreneur is a risk taker who has the capability to contemplate the big picture (Ben Barlow).
  • In addition to capital, the other big opportunity is culture, communication, and embracing change (Suzanne Campbell).
  • No is the most underutilised word in Australia and there are times when you have got to say no and bare the risk (John Barraclough).

The next RAI event will be Regions Rising NSW, which will be held in Orange on November 16, 2023.

Find out more