RESEARCH

The impact of technology on jobs is the most significant emerging issue for regions. The RAI will identify how changes will impact on different regions and what we can do in response.

This Programme will focus on job creation, skills needs and fostering an entrepreneurial culture in regions.

In 2016, the RAI will develop a practical support tool for regional leaders to introduce discussion of the impacts and opportunities from technology change for their community. This tool will provide the template for areas in regional Australia to understand and own their own digital future.

The RAI will bring a practical, local focus to the discussion about the future of small regional towns. Our focus will be on identifying and sharing the best strategies being used by towns around Australia and internationally.

Thirty-one regional cities including Tamworth, Wagga Wagga, Newcastle, Geelong, Bunbury, Port Macquarie and Townsville are now collectively home for 4.5 million Australians. This network of cities is well placed to pursue city style growth opportunities while maintaining the best elements of regional living.

The RAI’s work will identify how we can best develop great small cities and the benefits that will accrue across regional Australia and nationally if we are successful. The RAI is now preparing an assessment of the potential of Australian Regional Cities. This will be supplemented later in 2016 by a framework to enable leaders to assess their city’s progress against the success factors and attributes of a ‘great small city’ – and mechanisms to improve areas where different cities require development.

REGIONAL JOBS OF

THE FUTURE

GREAT SMALL CITIES

We are at a turning point for our regions as regional Australia is again dealing with major economic changes on multiple fronts. The end of the mining boom, job losses due to technology change and fragile global economic conditions are impacting regions around the nation. A similar scale of transition in the 1980’s and 90’s led to significant hardship in regions and a sense of disconnection from the nation’s success. The RAI’s work shows regions that this experience need not be repeated. Using the right development strategy, proactive local leadership and smart policies regions can navigate these challenges and grow their contribution to the nation’s economy. Work by the RAI from 2016-21 will be concentrated in five programmes reflecting the areas where regional Australia must be successful. We will also deliver a capacity building initiatives to help locals lead change.

regionalaustralia.org.au

AGENDA

SMALL TOWN

CHALLENGE

OLDER AND SUCCESSFUL

REGIONS IN TRANSITION

regionalaustralia.org.au

The RAI will also look at innovative ways to improve services to small communities through a mixture of technology and local innovation. This work will help address the risks of decline for some communities and clarify future pathways.

In 2016 the RAI will initiate Innovation Watch to share stories of success from around regional Australia with policy makers and other regional communities. Building on the success of the Regional Online Heroes initiative, Innovation Watch will identify the most effective local strategies that towns are taking and share proven models of success in at least 6 areas including population growth and economic development.

The ageing challenge is coming to regional Australia first. The communities in 59 local areas are already aged beyond the level predicted for Australia in 2050.

The RAI’s work will help regions to identify how to activate older populations in the economy, secure growth and deliver high quality services. This work will also help regions to demonstrate how we can build a successful future as an ageing nation.

In 2016 RAI will examine anticipated workforce, housing and consumption patterns in our oldest regions. We will work closely with a number of regions to review their approaches to maximising the economic impacts of their ageing populations and help them develop tailored assessments and practical responses to the ageing challenge.

Most regions are in the midst of a long term economic transition reflecting the increasing dominance of services in the Australian economy. Work under this theme will enable RAI to help regional leaders assess the long term drivers of regional economies and provide a responsive agenda that helps regions with issues that emerge over the next 5 years. In 2016 the RAI will release modelling work identifying the likely relative performance of regions around Australia in response to macroeconomic conditions. This work will identify the regions that are most likely to perform well over the next 15 years regardless of economic conditions, those that will face volatility, those that are likely to be stable and those areas most likely to face significant economic transition. The work will provide advice to regional leaders on how to respond to their economic position with smart regional development strategies.

To learn more about the RAI’s Research Agenda, to become actively involved as a participant or to formally partner with us on one or more of these themes, please contact: David Spear – General Manager, Partnerships and CommunicationsRegional Australia InstituteT 02 6260 3733 | M 0427 524 215E david.spear@regionalaustralia.org.auLevel 2, 53 Blackall Street, Barton ACT 2600