This year as part of the RAI’s broader activation of our research and purpose, we kicked off a series of local workshops to talk community wins, opportunities
and actions for regional areas to thrive into the future.
The RAI has delivered three workshops to date in the Northern Grampians VIC, Western Downs QLD and Broken Hill NSW regions, with attendees of all ages, sectors and roles joining us from across the community.
The Thrive Together Workshops highlighted the great initiatives already in flight within each community, providing an opportunity to celebrate the work and to explore each individual’s own network and contribution to enhance these activities further.
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While each community was given ownership over which topic area they wished to discuss on the day, common themes emerged across the workshops.
With the current labour and skills shortages felt across Australia, tertiary education and local career pathways for young people formed a central conversation at each workshop. Attendees planned new actions to engage with youth differently (such as through local influencers) to encourage local career opportunities and accommodate existing approaches to better support youth engagement with VET and university pathways.
Other common themes that drove the conversations and actions included tackling immediate and longer-term housing needs, improving liveability and key services, supporting local business and industry, and supporting migrant attraction and settlement to facilitate further worker and population advantages for the regions.
Each community emerged from the day with an action plan to Thrive Together – comprising a suite of new and evolved actions and ideas shaped by the group.
Check out some of the highlights below, and for a deeper reflection read our expert Facilitator Bryce Ives’ reflections from the road here!
Are you interested in hosting a similar workshop in your community? Chat with us