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The Regional Australia Institute The Regional Australia Institute exists to create a vibrant future for regional Australia - for the benefit of all Australians.

Our population has changed. The way Australia counts it hasn’t.In the 2021 Census, more than 85,000 people were in the P...
29/10/2026

Our population has changed. The way Australia counts it hasn’t.

In the 2021 Census, more than 85,000 people were in the Pilbara on Census night, yet only around 55,000 listed it as their usual place of residence. Thousands of FIFO workers, new arrivals and some remote community members were counted elsewhere, and the funding and planning decisions that rely on Census data followed them.

At our Regionalisation Dialogue Day, Daiva Gillam, CEO of Regional Development Australia Pilbara, shared how Count the Pilbara set out to close that gap ahead of the 2026 Census.

𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝗻 𝘄𝗮𝗶𝘁 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗼𝗹𝗶𝗰𝘆 𝗿𝗲𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺, 𝗥𝗗𝗔 𝗣𝗶𝗹𝗯𝗮𝗿𝗮 𝗿𝗮𝗻 𝗮 𝗿𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗼𝗻-𝘄𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝗴𝗿𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗿𝗼𝗼𝘁𝘀 𝗰𝗮𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗶𝗴𝗻 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗮 𝗰𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗿 𝗺𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗮𝗴𝗲: 𝗶𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗹𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗣𝗶𝗹𝗯𝗮𝗿𝗮 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝗻 𝗵𝗮𝗹𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘆𝗲𝗮𝗿, 𝗹𝗶𝘀𝘁 𝗶𝘁 𝗮𝘀 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘂𝘀𝘂𝗮𝗹 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗰𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲.

Community leaders, Traditional Owners and local organisations helped create the videos, materials and messaging, so the information came from people residents already trust.

The campaign brought together a rare level of alignment:

🤝 The ABS, the Australian Government through RDA Pilbara and the WA Government through the Pilbara Development Commission
🏛️ Three Pilbara local governments, Aboriginal organisations and community leaders
👷 Industry, employers and workforce accommodation providers
📻 Local businesses and media, reaching people through radio, print, billboards, hospitality venues, social media and ABS information sessions

The stakes are real. In Newman, around 5,000 residents support a workforce population several times larger. Local governments invest heavily in the infrastructure, water services and community facilities those workers use, without funding allocations that reflect actual demand.

The Census is over, but the work continues. RDA Pilbara is advocating for reform so the 2031 Census can accurately capture mobile workforces: keeping the usual residence question, collecting clearer information on work location and mobility, and developing better measures of regional service populations. The approach also offers a blueprint for other resource regions facing the same challenge.

Accurate population data underpins every target in the Regionalisation Ambition 2032 - see how the regions are progressing in our Year 3 Progress Report: https://regionalaustralia.org.au/Web/Web/Rebalance-the-Nation/Progress-Reports.aspx?hkey=328f434b-03db-418b-aed6-d039aef53cf2

👉 Read more about Count the Pilbara and the 23 other member-led projects showcased at Regionalisation Dialogue Day in the RDD 2026 booklet:https://www.regionalaustralia.org.au/common/Uploaded%20files/Files/2026/Events/Regionalisation%20Dialogue%20Day/Regionalisation%20Dialogue%20Day%202026%20Booklet.pdf

Regional Labour Markets Update - September 2026Regional job vacancies rose again in September and remain slightly above ...
28/10/2026

Regional Labour Markets Update - September 2026

Regional job vacancies rose again in September and remain slightly above their level a year ago, while employment and participation eased and the unemployment rate edged up.

📊 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁’𝘀 𝗵𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗲𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝗻 𝗿𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗹𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗺𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗲𝘁𝘀?

Regional vacancies increased to 𝟳𝟯,𝟭𝟭𝟳 in September, up 𝟯.𝟯% from August and 𝟬.𝟳% higher than a year earlier. Vacancies grew in all eight states and territories over the month.

The strongest monthly growth was in:

▪ North West Tasmania (+7.5%)
▪ South West WA (+6.3%)
▪ Blue Mountains, Bathurst & Central West NSW (+6.1%)

👷 𝗪𝗵𝗼’𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗱𝗲𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗱?

The top three most in-demand occupations were:

▪ Professionals (27%)
▪ Technicians & Trades Workers (16%)
▪ Community & Personal Service Workers (12%)

At a more detailed level, demand was strongest for:

▪ Medical Practitioners & Nurses (6,520)
▪ Carers & Aides (4,791)
▪ General-Inquiry Clerks, Call Centre Workers & Receptionists (4,559)

📉 𝗘𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗼𝘆𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘂𝗻𝗲𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗼𝘆𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗲𝗱𝗴𝗲𝘀 𝘂𝗽

The regional labour force eased to 𝟱.𝟭𝟯 𝗺𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗽𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲 in September, while employment fell to 𝟰.𝟵𝟭 𝗺𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗼𝗻. Both remain higher than a year ago. Participation dipped to 𝟲𝟮.𝟴%, and the unemployment rate edged up to 𝟰.𝟯%. That is still low by historical standards and below the 4.7% across the mainland capital cities.

📍 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁: 𝗕𝘂𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗲, 𝗧𝗮𝘀𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗮

On Tasmania’s North West Coast, Burnie is a regional service hub. Its port, industrial base and regional services support manufacturing, agriculture and forestry across the surrounding area.

Local unemployment was 𝟱.𝟰%, above the regional Tasmania rate of around 4.2%. Participation sat at 𝟱𝟳.𝟴%, slightly below the regional Tasmania average of 58.4%.

The wider North West Tasmania region recorded 650 online job ads in September. Demand there was strongest for Medical Practitioners & Nurses, Carers & Aides, and General-Inquiry Clerks, Call Centre Workers & Receptionists, reflecting the area’s need for health, care and service workers.

Explore the full Regional Labour Markets Update - September 2026: 🔗https://regionalaustralia.org.au/Web/Toolkits-Indexes/Regional-Jobs-Update/Updates/2026/Regional_Labour_Markets_Update_September_2026.aspx

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

25/10/2026

More than five years ago regional Australia asked for one long term, independent vision and plan for regional Australia – The Regionalisation Ambition 2032 answered your call.

This plan now sits at the heart of everything the Regional Australia Institute does as our north star – through research, policy work, events and partnerships.

🎯 Launched in 2022, the Ambition sets out 25 measurable targets across six pillars - 𝗣𝗼𝗽𝘂𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻, 𝗝𝗼𝗯𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗦𝗸𝗶𝗹𝗹𝘀, 𝗟𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗮𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆, 𝗛𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵, 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗱𝘂𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗜𝗻𝗻𝗼𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻, and 𝗦𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲.

It has one clear vision: to rebalance the nation

It has one clear goal: more than 11 million Australians living prosperously in the regions by 2032.

It was one clear owner: Regional Australia

Each year, we report on how the nation is tracking. Four years in, with six to go, we’ll release the 𝗬𝗲𝗮𝗿 𝟰 𝗔𝗺𝗯𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗥𝗲𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝗮𝘁 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝗹𝗶𝗮𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗛𝗼𝘂𝘀𝗲, 𝗖𝗮𝗻𝗯𝗲𝗿𝗿𝗮 𝗼𝗻 𝗠𝗼𝗻𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝟮𝟯 𝗡𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿.

Last year, 18 of the 25 targets were moving in the right direction. If you’ve read our previous reports, you might think you know what’s coming.

But this one is a little different.

It brings together a year of work across the RAI and our network of members, partners, governments, industry and communities. It sets out what that shared effort has achieved, and where regional Australia still needs the nation to lift.

Where are we on track? Where are we falling behind? And what will it take to reach our goal by 2032? 🚀

𝗔𝗹𝗹 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗯𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗮𝗹𝗲𝗱 𝗼𝗻 𝟮𝟯 𝗡𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿.

📊 Explore the latest data on the Ambition Dashboard: https://regionalaustralia.org.au/Web/Web/Rebalance-the-Nation/Dashboard.aspx?hkey=bc53a405-4622-4281-ba53-9415a1fcea2b

📘 Catch up on previous Progress Reports: https://regionalaustralia.org.au/Web/Web/Rebalance-the-Nation/Progress-Reports.aspx?hkey=328f434b-03db-418b-aed6-d039aef53cf2

22/10/2026

We are pleased to welcome two new members to our Regional Activators Alliance - 𝗥𝗗𝗔 𝗣𝗶𝗹𝗯𝗮𝗿𝗮 and the 𝗜𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗮𝗻 𝗢𝗰𝗲𝗮𝗻 𝗧𝗲𝗿𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗥𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗗𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹𝗼𝗽𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗢𝗿𝗴𝗮𝗻𝗶𝘀𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 (IOT RDO) 🤝

RDA Pilbara works across one of the most economically significant regions in the country. Covering more than 500,000 km² of Western Australia’s north-west, the Pilbara produces a major share of Australia’s iron ore and LNG, with tourism, agriculture, fishing and aquaculture also key to its future.

⛏️ RDA Pilbara’s Count the Pilbara project was one of the member ideas showcased at our 2026 Regionalisation Dialogue Day - you can read more here:https://www.regionalaustralia.org.au/common/Uploaded%20files/Files/2026/Events/Regionalisation%20Dialogue%20Day/Regionalisation%20Dialogue%20Day%202026%20Booklet.pdf

Further offshore, the IOT RDO delivers the RDA program for Christmas Island and the Cocos (Keeling) Islands, located more than 2,600 km north-west of Perth. 🏝️ Working closely with local stakeholders, the IOT RDO supports sustainable development and stronger local economies across both island communities.

🌏 From the inland Pilbara to the islands of the Indian Ocean, both organisations bring valuable on-the-ground insight from some of Australia’s most remote and distinctive regions.

As members of the Regional Activators Alliance, they join a national network of businesses, councils, government agencies and community organisations working to reshape how Australians see the value of living, working and investing in the regions.

If your organisation shares our belief in the potential of regional Australia, we invite you to join the Regional Activators Alliance and help shape the future of the regions. 👉 Learn more: https://regionalaustralia.org.au/Web/Web/Membership/RAI_Membership.aspx

𝗥𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗵𝗶𝘁𝘀 𝗮 𝗺𝗮𝗷𝗼𝗿 𝗺𝗶𝗹𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗻𝗲 📶Congratulations to Regional Australia Council member Optus on switching on...
21/10/2026

𝗥𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗵𝗶𝘁𝘀 𝗮 𝗺𝗮𝗷𝗼𝗿 𝗺𝗶𝗹𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗻𝗲 📶

Congratulations to Regional Australia Council member Optus on switching on its 1,000th upgraded regional 5G site, in Gympie, Queensland.

Gympie is a fitting place to mark the moment, in a region where our Regional Activators Alliance member Regional Development Australia Wide Bay Burnett works to support local growth.

The milestone also coincides with RAI’s latest Regional Movers Index, which shows capital city residents moving to regional Australia now outnumber those heading the other way by 30%.

As more people choose regional life, reliable connectivity underpins everything from local businesses taking payments to remote work, tourism and staying in touch with family.

📍 More than 320 sites will be upgraded to 5G in the next 18 months, reaching 177 communities
📈 The number of upgraded regional 5G sites has more than doubled in the past 18 months
🎯 Optus is on track for 1,500 upgraded regional 5G sites by the end of 2028

Digital connectivity is central to both regional liveability and productivity - two key pillars of our Regionalisation Ambition 2032. Investment like this helps ensure regional communities have the infrastructure to match their growth.

To find out more go to: https://www.optus.com.au/about/media-centre/media-releases/2026/10/major-milestone-for-regional-australia

📷 IMAGE: http://iStock.com / nicexray

RMI Release: 𝗥𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗿𝗱 𝗝𝘂𝗻𝗲 𝗤𝘂𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗔𝗻𝗻𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗱Regional Australia continues to surge, with the Regional Australia Institute’s...
19/10/2026

RMI Release: 𝗥𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗿𝗱 𝗝𝘂𝗻𝗲 𝗤𝘂𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗔𝗻𝗻𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗱

Regional Australia continues to surge, with the Regional Australia Institute’s latest Regional Movers Index, powered by the Commonwealth Bank, revealing capital‑to‑regional migration has reached its 𝗲𝗾𝘂𝗮𝗹‑𝗵𝗶𝗴𝗵𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗝𝘂𝗻𝗲 𝗾𝘂𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗼𝗻 𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗿𝗱, matching the previous peak seen during 2021.

The data shows Australians are looking north, with multiple 𝗡𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗻 𝗤𝘂𝗲𝗲𝗻𝘀𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗟𝗚𝗔’𝘀 𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻’𝘀 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗼𝗻𝗴𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗴𝗿𝗼𝘄𝘁𝗵 𝗵𝗼𝘁𝘀𝗽𝗼𝘁𝘀.

While favourites like the Sunshine Coast remain dominant, this quarter highlights a broader spread of growth into more regional communities as people seek lifestyle, affordability and opportunity.

• Capital‑to‑regional movers outnumbered regional‑to‑capital movers by 30%.
• Central Goldfields (VIC) is the fastest‑growing region in the country.
• Burdekin, Tablelands and Douglas (QLD) recorded some of the strongest annual growth in net internal migration.
•Greater Geraldton (WA) led the nation in net capital‑to‑regional migration growth for the quarter.
• Mid Coast (NSW) topped net regional‑to‑regional migration growth.

Sustained migration is strengthening local economies and communities, but it also underscores the importance of ensuring housing, infrastructure and essential services keep pace.

𝗧𝗼 𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗥𝗠𝗜, 𝗰𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗸 𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲: https://regionalaustralia.org.au/Web/Web/Toolkits-Indexes/Regional-Movers-Index.aspx?hkey=6eb5f956-9...

Short-term rentals are often criticised in regional Australia. In towns facing serious rental shortages, the concern is ...
15/10/2026

Short-term rentals are often criticised in regional Australia. In towns facing serious rental shortages, the concern is that homes are being taken out of the long-term market for tourists.

New research shows there’s more to the story.

📖 𝗠𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗧𝗵𝗮𝗻 𝗮 𝗕𝗲𝗱, a landmark study from Griffith University’s Institute for Tourism, examines how people use short-term rentals for reasons other than a holiday. Drawing on interviews and national surveys of 2,223 guests and 420 hosts, it found these stays are helping Australians through crisis, care, work and change.

𝗞𝗲𝘆 𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀:

🏡 More than half of the hosts surveyed estimated at least a quarter of their bookings were for non-leisure stays
🌊 Almost 1 in 3 non-leisure guests were escaping a natural hazard or domestic and family violence
🗺️ More than a third of stays in every non-leisure category were in regional areas
💼 Work was the biggest single reason for non-leisure stays (21.9%), and 38% of work stays were in regional areas
🎓 Education (43%), moving between homes (42%) and health and care (39%) had the highest shares of regional stays

📍 𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝗶𝘁 𝗺𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀

Many regional communities have limited hotel supply, and long-term rentals can take weeks to secure. The report shows short-term rentals often fill that gap - for the worker on a temporary contract, the family displaced by flood, or the carer supporting a loved one through treatment.

Housing pressure in the regions is real, and the balance between long-term and short-term accommodation matters.

This research adds a missing piece to that conversation. It recommends that any policy affecting short-term rental supply also considers the people who rely on these stays for work, care or emergencies

🤝 Thank you to Airbnb, a member of our Regional Australia Council, for commissioning this research, which was conducted independently by Griffith University.

👉 Explore the findings and download the report: https://www.airbnb.com.au/e/ppap_griffithreport



𝘐𝘧 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘰𝘳 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘪𝘴 𝘦𝘹𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘥𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘤 𝘰𝘳 𝘧𝘢𝘮𝘪𝘭𝘺 𝘷𝘪𝘰𝘭𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦, 𝘤𝘢𝘭𝘭 1800𝘙𝘌𝘚𝘗𝘌𝘊𝘛 𝘰𝘯 1800 737 732 𝘰𝘳 𝘷𝘪𝘴𝘪𝘵 𝘩𝘵𝘵𝘱𝘴://1800𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘤𝘵.𝘰𝘳𝘨.𝘢𝘶/. 𝘐𝘯 𝘢𝘯 𝘦𝘮𝘦𝘳𝘨𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘺, 𝘤𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘛𝘳𝘪𝘱𝘭𝘦 𝘡𝘦𝘳𝘰 (000).

New Griffith University research shows how Australians use short-term rentals in times of crisis, care, work and change.

🌾 Today is the International Day of Rural Women.This year’s theme, 𝗥𝘂𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝗪𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗻 𝗙𝗮𝗿𝗺𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗖𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗠𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗡𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲, recogni...
14/10/2026

🌾 Today is the International Day of Rural Women.

This year’s theme, 𝗥𝘂𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝗪𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗻 𝗙𝗮𝗿𝗺𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗖𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗠𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗡𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲, recognises the work rural women do every day to manage water, protect biodiversity, restore land and feed their communities.

Across regional Australia, that work extends well beyond the farm gate. Women run businesses, lead councils and community organisations, keep our hospitals and schools running, and hold communities together through drought, flood and fire.

At The Regional Australia Institute, we know regional Australia’s greatest strength is its people. Backing rural and regional women, with better access to finance, technology, services and leadership opportunities, is central to building strong communities with room to grow.

Today we celebrate the women who live, work and lead in rural and regional Australia. 💛

𝗘𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗱 𝗱𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝗮𝗺𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁, 𝗻𝗼 𝗺𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗿 𝗽𝗼𝘀𝘁𝗰𝗼𝗱𝗲.In regional Australia, a child’s future can hinge on a sim...
13/10/2026

𝗘𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗱 𝗱𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝗮𝗺𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁, 𝗻𝗼 𝗺𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗿 𝗽𝗼𝘀𝘁𝗰𝗼𝗱𝗲.

In regional Australia, a child’s future can hinge on a simple question: can they see a paediatrician when they need one?

For too many families, the answer is long waits, long drives or no diagnosis at all. Only 44.1% of children in very remote Australia are developmentally on track, compared with 56% in major cities.

At our Regionalisation Dialogue Day, Megan Callinan, CEO of Marathon Health, shared how the 𝗙𝗹𝘆𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝗣𝗮𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗮𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗰 𝗦𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗶𝗰𝗲 is changing that across 11 communities in western NSW.

Developed with support from Variety - the Children’s Charity NSW/ACT, Flying Start brings the paediatrician into the local care team. GPs, Aboriginal Medical Services, schools and allied health work together before each clinic, so the specialist arrives with a full picture of every child. What could take 18 months of separate appointments becomes one coordinated clinic day, with a care plan linked to local services.

An independent University of Sydney evaluation shows the model has moved well beyond pilot stage:

🩺 More than 72% of children would not have received a diagnosis without the program
🤝 77% of participants identify as First Nations
✅ 99% attendance, and every child connected back to local care
📋 More than half became eligible for NDIS supports

The impact reaches beyond health. In Walgett, diagnoses through Flying Start helped establish an additional school class, giving students the tailored learning support they needed.

The next step is expanding into MMM3-7 communities nationally. $1M invested will provide children across regional Australia a Flying Start, and every $1 spent on effective early intervention can return $13-$25 to society.

Flying Start is exactly the kind of proven, place-based solution the Regionalisation Ambition 2032 calls for - see how the regions are progressing against its targets in our Year 3 Progress Report: https://regionalaustralia.org.au/Web/Web/Rebalance-the-Nation/Progress-Reports.aspx?hkey=328f434b-03db-418b-aed6-d039aef53cf2

👉 Read more about Flying Start and the 23 other member-led projects showcased at Regionalisation Dialogue Day in the RDD 2026 booklet:https://www.regionalaustralia.org.au/common/Uploaded%20files/Files/2026/Events/Regionalisation%20Dialogue%20Day/Regionalisation%20Dialogue%20Day%202026%20Booklet.pdf

⏰𝗙𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗱𝗮𝘆𝘀 𝗹𝗲𝗳𝘁! Applications for the 2026 Innovate with nbn® Grants close Monday 12 October. With $𝟭𝟮𝟱,𝟬𝟬𝟬 𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗿  fo...
08/10/2026

⏰𝗙𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗱𝗮𝘆𝘀 𝗹𝗲𝗳𝘁! Applications for the 2026 Innovate with nbn® Grants close Monday 12 October. With $𝟭𝟮𝟱,𝟬𝟬𝟬 𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗿 for regional innovators across seven categories, don't miss your chance to apply.

Applied before but didn't win? You're welcome to apply again.

👉 Apply today: https://regionalaustralia.org.au/Web/Web/Projects-Campaigns/Innovate-with-nbn-grants-program.aspx?hkey=7867970b-548c-41c7-bf9e-e9d209dc83cd

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