Regional Development Australia Southern NSW and ACT

15/06/2026

On Friday 12 June, RDASNA’s The Welcome Experience hosted a special Welcome Dinner for new arrivals at Cooma Ambulance Station, celebrating 12 recently appointed paramedics who have helped enable the station to move to 24-hour operations 🚑

Held at Pha's Thai Cooma Thai Restaurant, the evening brought together new and existing ambulance staff alongside colleagues from NSW SES Cooma-Monaro Unit, NSW Police Force, and Fire and Rescue NSW. We were also pleased to be joined by The Monaro Post Editor Nathan Thompson, Snowy Monaro Regional Council Mayor Chris Hanna, and the Hon Steve Whan MP, Member for Monaro.

Guests enjoyed welcome drinks and a fun night of local trivia. It was a close competition, with the Councillors and Managers team taking the win by just half a point!

A fantastic evening of connection, community and welcoming new faces to the region.

15/06/2026

📮 Applications are now open for the 2026 Australia Post Community Grants program!

💰 Grants of up to $10,000 each are available for eligible not-for-profit organisations, with up to an additional $250,000 in funding for projects supporting mental wellbeing in disaster-impacted areas.

🗓 Applications close 6 July 2026

📍 Let’s see if we can bring some of these grants into Eden-Monaro. If your organisation is thinking of applying, I’m happy to help with a letter of support.

🔎 Find out if you’re eligible and how to apply via the link in the comments 👇

15/06/2026

This one has been doing the rounds but the rules around DA fees and develop contributions are set by the State, not Council.

15/06/2026

12/06/2026

💪 Where will our future workforce come from?

• Growing industries need workers.
• Young people need local pathways into education, training and employment.
• Businesses need access to skilled workers.
• Communities need a sustainable workforce to support long-term growth.

These challenges are being felt across Southern NSW and the ACT and addressing them requires a coordinated regional approach.

Our Workforce Report explores the trends shaping the future workforce, while the Thrive Regional Vision outlines a shared pathway to attract, develop and retain the people our communities and industries need to thrive.

Explore both reports and join the conversation about building a stronger regional workforce.🔗 https://www.rdasna.org.au/regionalreports

12/06/2026

We are excited to once again host the Welcome to Canberra Expo for the third year in a row.

This Expo will have a variety of organisations, including community organisations, community associations and government agencies attending to share information and engage with our multicultural community members.

Keep watching our page for more information but in the meantime make sure to save the below details!

📆 13 June 2026
🕛 10am to 1pm
📍 Southern Cross Club Woden

12/06/2026

**NEW DATE**

Due to State of Origin we have moved the date to Thursday 18th June! We are being hosted by the crew at Lincoln Downs in their Lake View room. Enjoy a drink on arrival plus delicious canapes while you mix and mingle with our members and guests. We look forward to seeing you! RSVP via the link below for this free networking event.
https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/1991159348211?aff=oddtdtcreator

12/06/2026

Stroll down Ellendon Street and the Village Square in Bungendore to enjoy vibrant yarn displays this winter.

Get involved in the “Longest Scarf Project,” a community initiative to create a never-ending scarf! Sit, chat, and add your stitches at one of our yarn stations or during events. At the end of August, all the pieces will be combined, ready to grow even longer next year.

Add to the scarf at these yarn stations:
- Bungendore Library
- The Gathering Cafe
- Cafe Woodworks
- Southern Harvest Markets

Don’t miss International Knit in Public Day tomorrow, Saturday 13 June, at St Philip’s Church, with the CWA’s fun ‘Granny Square Challenge.’ Plus, meet Bacon, the adorable mini pig!

12/06/2026

11/06/2026

📸 WE THRIVE Photo Competition

"This sculpture, Angel of the North, is a significant piece of modern art that serves as a symbol of hope and embraces the themes of openness and nature. Positioned on the grassy edge of Lake Burley Griffin, it is designed to interact with the landscape, looking out over the water and facing visitors as they walk along the path. It gives a warm embrace to those visiting the capital and a sense of pride to all of us who live here."– Marlene

Thank you, Marlene, for capturing this iconic Canberra landmark and sharing the story behind what makes it so special.

📷 View the full WE THRIVE Photo Competition Gallery: https://www.rdasna.org.au/wethrivephotogallery

Image credit: Marlene Van den Heuvel