A focus on local solutions
Our diverse regions are best served by local communities being empowered through strong and active engagement in policy making — and by all levels of government and industry working together.
RDA committees are about engaging local people to develop local solutions. Each RDA is comprised of local leaders with a broad range of skills and experience with a commitment to sustainably developing their region. See www.rda.gov.au for more information.
Regional development is best advanced through empowering local communities to derive local solutions — and through our industry, all levels of government and communities working together.
The Government is entrenching the concept of regionalism in national decision‑making. It is working with regional communities to develop long‑term, creative solutions to local issues, including through Australia's 55 Regional Development Australia (RDA) committees.
To strengthen RDAs is to strengthen government decision making. To ensure RDA committees have the resources they need to deliver for their communities, the Government is increasing funding by a third, an investment of $20.3 million over four years, targeted to:
- knowledge, capacity building and community engagement through training and development opportunities for committee members
- facilitate ongoing engagement at state and national levels
- enable consultations on emerging regional priorities
- strengthen the governance arrangements and support for RDAs provided by the Department of Regional Australia, Regional Development and Local Government.
