Mayors, General Managers and key staff from more than 530 Local Government Areas across the country are being invited to join a national conversation in Canberra – with the countdown now on for the Regions Rising National Summit on 4-5 April.
Hosted by the Regional Australia Institute (RAI), the Summit will place regional issues including jobs, population, health and education firmly on the agenda, as we edge closer to the Federal Election.
From Geraldton to the Gold Coast, Rockhampton to Renmark and every regional town and city in between, RAI co-CEO Liz Ritchie says this event will bring together some of the most influential and forward-thinking minds in the country.
“We have more than 42,000 vacant jobs right now in regional Australia, Year 12 students are less likely to finish school and our health sector is project to increase by 19 percent in the next 5 years – the biggest of any of our industries,” Ms Ritchie said.
“The Canberra event is the first of our national series that will delivers a platform for regional leaders to engage directly with key decision makers on important opportunities and challenges facing their regions.
“We have more than 9 million people living in regional Australia; and as we know, every community is different – so I encourage leaders to make sure your community has a voice,” Ms Ritchie said.
The two-day event will include a keynote address from Deputy Prime Minister, the Hon. Michael McCormack, where he will deliver his vision for regional Australia, a series of ‘policy-hacks’ with the outcome to be presented to both sides of government, and a Masterclass, where participants can learn how to best influence and agitate for change.
For more information about the Regions Rising Events Series, please go to http://regionsrising.regionalaustralia.org.au/ or phone 02 62603733.