Southern Grampians Shire joins regional Activators Alliance

Southern Grampians Shire Council has become a member of the Regional Activators Alliance (RAA), a new collaboration designed to help create a National Awareness Campaign aimed at driving populations to regional Australia.

The RAA, launched today by the Regional Australia Institute (RAI), brings together stakeholders from all sectors with the objective of creating a societal shift around the public perception of Regional Australia. Following the RAI’s inaugural Regions Rising National Summit in Canberra in 2019, which involved more than 250 of the country’s best and brightest in regional development, participants delivered a clear message through the Policy Hack; Regional Australia needs a new narrative to help drive societal shift.

Southern Grampians Shire Council CEO Michael Tudball said Council has had an ongoing relationship with the RAI, actively contributing over the past three years as one of Council’s advocacy priorities and was pleased to be a member of the initiative.

“Continuously improving and promoting Regional Australia is a shared responsibility and we – as a region promoting the live, work, invest message – have a huge role to play in driving the conversation.

“As we unpack what a COVID-normal world looks like, this will be increasingly relevant and important” Mr Tudball said.

“Southern Grampians Shire Council, in collaboration and partnership with the Great South Coast has already undertaken significant work in this space, including a Key Worker Housing project and pilots such as the Economic Migration Project further supporting the initiatives to attract population and workforce to fill the unmet needs of our economy” concluded Mr Tudball.

In launching the campaign today, Regional Australia Institute CEO Liz Ritchie said the Alliance was all about making Regional Australia a priority.

“Today, I am delighted to welcome Southern Grampians Shire Council to the RAA table. I know that their passion, insights and knowledge will be invaluable and they will help to amplify the Campaign reach. In addition, they will also provide a direct connection to driving local campaigns in the regions – this is vital,” Liz Ritchie said.

“This Campaign is a once in a lifetime impact project that the RAI is incredibly honoured to be developing. Promoting Regional Australia is a shared responsibility, and RAA members will be at the forefront of this powerful national movement to change the narrative,” Ms Ritchie said.

The RAI is currently seeking co-funding from the Federal Government to underpin the ongoing campaign and ‘brand Regional Australia’.

“Regional Australia is ready to grow, and RAA will play a critical role in this transformation,” Liz Ritchie concluded.

The national awareness campaign will be developed throughout 2020 with the initial roll out of the public phase to begin in mid-2021.

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