Charter

The Albanese Government’s vision for regional Australia is one of strong, connected regions that shape our economic growth and wellbeing; are resilient and responsive to economic and environmental shocks; are inclusive, vibrant and diverse. Regions that our First Nations people have every opportunity to engage in and shape, and where people, businesses and investments thrive.

Regional Development Australia Committees (RDAs) are critical to the delivery of this vision, including supporting the successful implementation of the Australian Government’s Regional Investment Framework (RIF), which will guide a more coordinated approach to regional development, underpinned by local engagement.

RDAs play a role in helping to drive economic growth, innovation and entrepreneurship in regions through facilitating investment in community, industry and the environment. RDAs assist to bridge the regional development gaps in regions by working with a broad range of stakeholders across sectors and supporting the delivery of identified Australian Government strategic priorities.

As representatives of their local communities, RDAs will:

• focus their activities and strategy on delivery of the RIF in their region, including investment in people, places, services, and industries and local economies
• support regional stakeholders, including local government and the not-for-profit-sector, to seek grant opportunities that advance strategic regional priorities
• support decarbonisation efforts and the transformation to a net zero economy and enable regional linkages between sectors to achieve these aims
• build the evidence for economic development, including innovation and diversification strategies
• facilitate meaningful engagement across the three levels of government to ensure investments deliver better outcomes for regions, and
• contribute relevant data and local intelligence to support the evidence base to inform regional development strategies, program design and policy responses.

RDAs use their local, cross-sector expertise and regional voice to:

• collaborate with integrity, transparency, respect and accountability
• engage with diverse communities, especially First Nations people
• support the Government’s ambition of ‘no one held back and no one left behind’, and
• support gender equality opportunities in their regions.

RDA will assist the Australian Government’s delivery in the priority focus areas of:

• Investing in People
  • Putting people at the forefront of growth, with local voices influencing decision making.
    • Listening to local voices and partnering with communities.
    • Targeted investment in skills, education, training and local leadership capacity.
• Investing in Places
  • Targeted and place-based investment that enables communities to thrive.
    • Supporting adaptive, accessible, sustainable and liveable regions.
    • Delivering infrastructure where and when it is needed.
• Investing in Services
  • Investment in regional services with a focus on improving quality and accessibility.
    • Enhancing connectivity, accessibility and equity of services.
    • Investment including across communications, health, water, and transport.
• Investing in Industries and Local Economies
  • Ensuring regional industries and economies are positioned for sustainable growth.
    • Investment to help activate economic and industry growth.
    • Supporting the conditions needed for industries to diversify and grow.