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The Regional Australia Institute, Unit 10, 18 National Circuit, Canberra (2026)

03/09/2026

📣 𝗨𝗣𝗗𝗔𝗧𝗘: We knew our Regions Rising National Summit ticket giveaway was a fantastic opportunity - and the response from regional not-for-profits and students confirmed it.

To every NFP and student who put their hand up - thank you. The incredible work you're already doing for your communities is exactly what 𝗣𝗘𝗢𝗣𝗟𝗘 𝗣𝗢𝗪𝗘𝗥 is all about.

🎉 𝗧𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗸𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗽𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗲 - 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗼𝘀𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗼𝗳 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗦𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗻𝗲𝗿𝘀 Airbnb, Optus, Telstra, Bendigo Bank, Commonwealth Bank, ViewJobs and Transgrid - we're thrilled to be sending 40 NFPs and regional students to Parliament House on 14 September, coming from:

📍Victoria: Porepunkah, Swan Hill, Beechworth and Wodonga
📍New South Wales: Lightning Ridge, Bellingen, Mudgee, Gunnedah, Shoalhaven, Bega, and the Eurobodalla region
📍Queensland: Goondiwindi, Bollon, Maryborough, Kingaroy and Alpha
📍Western Australia: Albany and the Augusta Margaret River region
📍Tasmania: the Far South
📍Northern Territory: Alice Springs
📍South Australia

⏳ With less than two weeks to go until the Regions Rising National Summit 2026, if you haven't secured your seat in the Great Hall yet, now's the time - take your seat and be part of turning regional opportunity into national momentum.

Register here: 🔗 https://regionalaustralia.org.au/Web/Conference2026/National-Summit.aspx

Proudly supported by NBN Australia, National Series Partner of the Regions Rising National Event Series.

02/09/2026

𝗥𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗟𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗲𝘁𝘀 𝗨𝗽𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗲 – 𝗝𝘂𝗹𝘆 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲.

Regional job vacancies increased in July, with most regional areas recording monthly growth even as employment and participation softened slightly elsewhere in the data.

📊 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁'𝘀 𝗵𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗲𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝗻 𝗿𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗹𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗺𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗲𝘁𝘀?

Regional vacancies increased to 𝟲𝟵,𝟱𝟬𝟴 in July, up 𝟰.𝟬% from June. Most regional areas experienced a monthly increase, with the strongest growth in:

Southern Highlands & Snowy (+10.5%)
Blue Mountains, Bathurst & Central West NSW (+8.5%)
Geelong & Surf Coast (+7.6%)

👷 𝗪𝗵𝗼'𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗱𝗲𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗱?

The top three most in-demand occupations were:

▪ Professionals (29%)
▪ Technicians & Trades Workers (15%)
▪ Clerical & Administrative Workers (12%)

At a more detailed level, demand was strongest for:

▪ Medical Practitioners & Nurses (6,645)
▪ Carers & Aides (4,692)
▪ General-Inquiry Clerks, Call Centre Workers & Receptionists (4,469)

📉 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗸𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗰𝗲 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗽𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗲𝘀 𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗸

The regional labour force eased to 𝟱.𝟭𝟮 𝗺𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗽𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲 in July, while employment fell to 𝟰.𝟵𝟬 𝗺𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗼𝗻. Participation dipped slightly to 𝟲𝟯.𝟭%, and the unemployment rate rose to 𝟰.𝟮%, though this remained below the metropolitan rate of 4.5%.

📍 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁: 𝗖𝗮𝗶𝗿𝗻𝘀, 𝗤𝗟𝗗

Located in Far North Queensland, Cairns continues to show a strong local labour market. The local participation rate was 𝟲𝟳.𝟱%, above regional Queensland's average, while unemployment remained low at 𝟮.𝟵%. Across the wider Far North Queensland region, demand was strongest for General-Inquiry Clerks, Call Centre Workers & Receptionists, Automotive & Engineering Trades Workers, and Medical Practitioners & Nurses.

Explore the full Regional Labour Markets Update – July 2026: 🔗https://regionalaustralia.org.au/Web/Web/Toolkits-Indexes/Regional-Jobs-Update/Updates/2026/Regional...

Powered by Australian Bureau of Statistics and Jobs and Skills Australia data, this monthly update is brought to you by the Regional Australia Institute.

01/09/2026

📢 𝗖𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗿𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲𝗺𝗮𝗸𝗲𝗿𝘀!

Applications are now open for the 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲 𝗜𝗻𝗻𝗼𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗻𝗯𝗻® 𝗚𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗺 - and we can't wait to see what regional Australia brings this year.

$𝟭𝟮𝟱,𝟬𝟬𝟬 𝘂𝗽 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗯𝘀 across seven categories: AgTech and Environment, Arts, Culture and Tourism, Education, First Nations Business, Health and Wellbeing, Innovation for Productivity (new for 2026), and Women in Regional Business.

Category winners each take home $𝟭𝟱,𝟬𝟬𝟬, with one overall Champion collecting an extra $𝟮𝟬,𝟬𝟬𝟬 on top!

This is your moment to be recognised and supported for the work you're doing to drive innovation, boost digital participation and strengthen local economies.

To be eligible, you'll need to:

✅ Be connected to the NBN Australia network
✅ Have an ABN and an Australian bank account
✅ Be located in regional Australia
✅ Apply for one category only

The Regional Australia Institute 𝗶𝘀 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗻𝗲𝗿 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 NBN Australia 𝘁𝗼 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗺𝗽𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗿𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗶𝗻𝗻𝗼𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 - let's help great ideas grow right where they're needed most.

Applied before but didn't win? 𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗹𝘆 𝗮𝗴𝗮𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝘆𝗲𝗮𝗿 🙌

👉 Apply now: https://regionalaustralia.org.au/Web/Web/Projects-Campaigns/Innovate-with-nbn-grants-program.aspx?hk...
📅 Applications close: 12 October 2026
📣 Grant recipients announced: 16 November 2026

31/08/2026

📣 The 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲 𝗥𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗥𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗡𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗦𝘂𝗺𝗺𝗶𝘁 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗺 is now live!

On Monday 14 September at Parliament House in Canberra, PEOPLE POWER will bring together government, industry and community leaders to shape the next decade of regional growth.

𝗥𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗔𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗮 𝗶𝘀 𝗵𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗮𝗹𝗺𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝟰𝟬% 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻'𝘀 𝗚𝗗𝗣 - proof the regions are already powering the national economy, and exactly why the people driving that growth are at the centre of this year's Summit.

The day's sessions cover:

🏗️ Enablers of Regional Productivity - skills, housing, infrastructure and digital connectivity
⚡ Regional Transition and Growth: People + Planning + Energy - navigating population growth and the energy transition
🤝 Innovation: Community Capital is a Competitive Advantage - why strong communities drive real economic outcomes

With keynote contributions from:

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗛𝗼𝗻. 𝗞𝗿𝗶𝘀𝘁𝘆 𝗠𝗰𝗕𝗮𝗶𝗻 𝗠𝗣, Minister for Regional Development, Local Government and Territories
𝗗𝗿 𝗖𝗮𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗕𝗮𝗹𝗹, Founder, Vox Meriden
𝗞𝗲𝗻 𝗛𝗲𝗻𝗿𝘆, Economist and former Secretary to the Australian Treasury
𝗘𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗲 𝗦𝘄𝗲𝗲𝗻𝗲𝘆, CEO, nbn Co
𝗟𝗶𝘇 𝗥𝗶𝘁𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗲, CEO, Regional Australia Institute
𝗦𝗮𝗿𝗮𝗵 𝗛𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿, Chief Economist and Assistant Governor (Economics), Reserve Bank of Australia
𝗗𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗲 𝗪𝗼𝗼𝗱, Chair, Productivity Commission - National Summit Dinner keynote

✨ This is the premier national event for those committed to advancing regional Australia - offering insights, inspiration and the opportunity to connect with peers and leaders at the highest level.

🎟️ Places are limited - view the full program and secure your spot today.

📄 Program:
https://regionalaustralia.org.au/common/Uploaded%20files/Conference/WEBSITE%20National%20Summit%20Program%202026%20-%20Public%20270826.pdf

🎫 Register: https://regionalaustralia.org.au/Web/Conference2026/National-Summit.aspx

Proudly supported by NBN Australia, National Series Partner of the Regions Rising National Event Series.

28/08/2026

📢 Great to see the Australian Local Government Association (ALGA) backing the findings of our recent Regional Productivity Solutions report.

ALGA's response makes a clear case for what we already know: 𝗶𝗻𝗳𝗿𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲, 𝗵𝗼𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴, 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗰𝗲 𝗰𝗮𝗽𝗮𝗰𝗶𝘁𝘆, 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 are central to stronger regional economies 🏗️🏘️ - and councils need the funding certainty to deliver on them.

🔗 Read ALGA's full response here: https://alga.com.au/media-release-lift-regional-productivity-invest-in-the-councils-that-deliver-in-regional-australia/

🔗 If you missed it, you can download the report here: https://www.regionalaustralia.org.au/Web/Web/Research-Policy/Research-Paper/Regional_Productivity_Solutions.aspx

26/08/2026

People Power is at the heart of a resilient, future-proofed regional workforce.

We are pleased to spotlight 𝗠𝗲𝗴𝗮𝗻 𝗟𝗶𝗹𝗹𝘆, 𝗗𝗲𝗽𝘂𝘁𝘆 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗶𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗲𝗿 𝗮𝘁 𝗝𝗼𝗯𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗦𝗸𝗶𝗹𝗹𝘀 𝗔𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗮, as a speaker at the 2026 Regions Rising National Summit.

Megan brings more than two decades of leadership in education, training and workforce development. She joined Jobs and Skills Australia in September 2024, following a distinguished career at the Australian Industry Group (Ai Group), where she served as Executive Director of the Centre for Education and Training. Megan is currently Deputy Chair of the WorldSkills Australia Board.

Megan's collaborative approach and deep expertise have earned her recognition across government, industry and education sectors, and she holds a master's degree in educational policy and administration, reflecting her commitment to lifelong learning and system-wide improvement in workforce development.

At the Summit, we will explore what People Power looks like in practice - a regional workforce with the skills, training and opportunities to grow. As more Australians consider a move to the regions, having the right skills, in the right places will be vital to sustainable growth.

Megan Lilly will bring a practical, national perspective on how skills and workforce planning can help regional communities meet the demands of a changing economy.

📍 Parliament House, Canberra, ACT
📅 14 September 2026
🎟 Register now: https://regionalaustralia.org.au/Web/Conference2026/National-Summit.aspx

Proudly supported by NBN Australia, National Series Partner of the Regions Rising National Event Series.

25/08/2026

📣 Calling all 𝗿𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗻𝗼𝘁-𝗳𝗼𝗿-𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗳𝗶𝘁𝘀 and 𝗿𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝘀𝘁𝘂𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 invested in the future of your region.

Regional Australia's brightest ideas come from the people on the ground 🌱, including the 𝗻𝗼𝘁-𝗳𝗼𝗿-𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗳𝗶𝘁𝘀 𝗱𝗼𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗱 𝘆𝗮𝗿𝗱𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝘀𝗺𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝘁𝗼𝘄𝗻𝘀, and the 𝘀𝘁𝘂𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝘄𝗵𝗼'𝘃𝗲 𝗴𝗿𝗼𝘄𝗻 𝘂𝗽 𝘄𝗮𝘁𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗿 𝗿𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲.

🙌 A huge thank to our Supporting Partners - Airbnb, Optus, Telstra, Bendigo Bank, Commonwealth Bank and ViewJobs - who are not just backing the Regions Rising National Summit 2026 - 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘆'𝗿𝗲 𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗱𝗼𝗼𝗿 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝟮𝟬 𝗻𝗼𝘁-𝗳𝗼𝗿-𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗳𝗶𝘁𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗿𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝘀𝘁𝘂𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗷𝗼𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗺 𝗶𝗻 𝗖𝗮𝗻𝗯𝗲𝗿𝗿𝗮 𝗼𝗻 𝟭𝟰 𝗦𝗲𝗽𝘁𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝗮𝘁 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝗹𝗶𝗮𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗛𝗼𝘂𝘀𝗲, seated at their tables in a room alongside federal ministers, senior policymakers and industry leaders shaping the conversation on regional Australia's future.

🗳️ Are you excited for the chance to be a part of the conversation? 𝗦𝗲𝗻𝗱 𝘂𝘀 𝗮 𝗗𝗠 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗻𝗮𝗺𝗲, 𝗽𝗵𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗻𝘂𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗼𝗿𝗴𝗮𝗻𝗶𝘀𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 (𝗶𝗳 𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲) - 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗯𝗲 𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗹𝘂𝗰𝗸𝘆 𝗻𝗼𝘁-𝗳𝗼𝗿-𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗳𝗶𝘁𝘀 𝗼𝗿 𝘀𝘁𝘂𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝗷𝗼𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝘆𝗲𝗮𝗿'𝘀 𝗦𝘂𝗺𝗺𝗶𝘁.

Spots are limited, so don't wait ⏳

👋 Know a regional NFP or student who'd make the most of this opportunity? Tag them below - let's cast the net as wide as we can.

Proudly supported by NBN Australia, National Series Partner of the Regions Rising National Event Series.

24/08/2026

🚀 Innovate with nbn® is BACK!

𝗥𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗯𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗸𝗯𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗔𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗮'𝘀 𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗼𝗺𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀. They drive innovation, create local jobs, and deliver resourceful solutions suited to life in regional Australia.

That's why we’re 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗻𝗲𝗿 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 NBN Australia 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗜𝗻𝗻𝗼𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗻𝗯𝗻® 𝗚𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗺, now in its seventh year.

With $𝟭𝟮𝟱,𝟬𝟬𝟬 𝗶𝗻 𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝗮𝘃𝗮𝗶𝗹𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗮𝗰𝗿𝗼𝘀𝘀 𝘀𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻 𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗴𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀, this program celebrates the ingenuity of regional and remote businesses using digital tools to make a difference.💡

🗂️ The categories: AgTech and Environment, Arts, Culture & Tourism, Education, First Nations Business, Health and Wellbeing, Innovation for Productivity (new for 2026), and Women in Regional Business.

🏆 Category winners take home $15,000, with one overall Champion receiving an additional $20,000.

Past winners have shown just how far a good idea can go - from a 𝗧𝗮𝘀𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗮𝗻 𝗹𝗶𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘆 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗺 𝘀𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝘀𝗼𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗳𝗮𝗿𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗳𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗲𝘀, to a 𝗙𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁 𝗡𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘀𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗶𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘄𝗶𝗱𝗲, and a 𝗺𝗼𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗲 𝘀𝘄𝗶𝗺 𝘀𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗼𝗹 𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘄𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝘀𝗮𝗳𝗲𝘁𝘆 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗼𝘂𝘁𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗸. Each one using the nbn® network to reach communities that would otherwise miss out.

✅ To apply, businesses need to be connected to the nbn network, based in regional Australia, and hold an ABN.
📅 Applications open 𝟭 𝗦𝗲𝗽𝘁𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿.

Find out more here: https://www.nbnco.com.au/campaigns/innovate-with-nbn-grants-program

20/08/2026

Regional Australia is no longer a side story in the national economy. It is central to Australia's future.

We are pleased to spotlight 𝗦𝗮𝗿𝗮𝗵 𝗛𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿, 𝗖𝗵𝗶𝗲𝗳 𝗘𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗼𝗺𝗶𝘀𝘁 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗔𝘀𝘀𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝗚𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗼𝗿 (𝗘𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗰) 𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 Reserve Bank of Australia, as a speaker at the 2026 Regions Rising National Summit.

Since January 2024, Sarah has held responsibility for the Bank's Economic Analysis and Economic Research departments and served as chief economic advisor to the Governor and the Board.

Before joining the Bank, she was Head of Macroeconomic Conditions at the Commonwealth Treasury, where she oversaw analysis of current conditions and economic forecasts and advised government on a broad range of economic and policy issues.

Sarah previously helped establish Oxford Economics' Americas, Asia Pacific and Australian offices, progressing to Chief Economist in Sydney, and was a Partner at KPMG in the Economics and Tax Centre. She holds a DPhil from the University of Oxford, a Masters in Economics from the London School of Economics, and a Bachelor of Economics from the University of Cambridge.

At the Summit, we will explore what People Power means for regional Australia's economic future. As population growth, workforce shifts and productivity continue to reshape the regions, understanding the broader economic forces at play has never been more important.

Sarah Hunter will bring a national economic perspective to the conversation, offering insight into the conditions shaping growth, investment and opportunity across regional Australia.

📍 Parliament House, Canberra, ACT
📅 14 September 2026
🎟 Register now: https://regionalaustralia.org.au/Web/Conference2026/National-Summit.aspx

Proudly supported by NBN Australia, National Series Partner of the Regions Rising National Event Series.

19/08/2026

📢𝗡𝗲𝘄 𝗥𝗲𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝗥𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗲: 𝗥𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗱𝘂𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗦𝗼𝗹𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀

Regional Australia is powering the nation - delivering $129.70 in output per hour worked, far outstripping metropolitan areas at $103.10 . But the gap between our highest and lowest performing regions is more than 20-fold, driven by infrastructure, housing, skills and investment constraints that are hold communities back.

Our new Regional Productivity Solutions report shows the pathway forward is clear: place‑based, locally tailored action. Australia needs productivity policy that reflects the real conditions, strengths and barriers in each region.

The RAI has made three policy recommendations to lift national productivity:

✅Improve regional productivity measurement.
✅Embed regional productivity growth as a core pillar of economic policy.
✅Establish funded, place-based regional productivity programs

Stronger regions mean a stronger nation. Tailored investment, better data, and empowered local institutions will unlock the next wave of Australia’s productivity growth.

Download the report and see what’s possible for regional Australia. https://www.regionalaustralia.org.au/Web/Web/Research-Policy/Research-Paper/Regional_Productivity_Solutions.aspx

The Regional Australia Institute

03/09/2026

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