When I tell people about RDA Orana, I am often asked about what we do. My response is that we connect community and government as part of a network of 52 RDAs across the nation. Our goal is to support the development of the Orana region by facilitating industry collaboration, encouraging public and private sector investment and supporting co-operation between all stakeholders.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
One of the key things we do is provide lots of information to businesses to enable them to do great planning. RDA Orana is here to support economic and business development across the Orana region. We do this by staying in touch with industry needs and working with government to deliver projects that support a robust economy. Right now, one of the projects we are working on is undertaking a gaps analysis around COVID-19 response mechanisms being issued by the government following our COVID-19 Business Impact Survey. The main purpose of the survey was to understand the broader economic impacts of what is being experienced across the region and how to move forward.
As a result of the research work that we've done in the last six weeks, we've provided four submissions to Government aimed at improving regional support. The submissions couple our survey work, with economic analysis and conversations with stakeholders to help shape government policy and programs. From our input, we have seen changes to programs.
RDA Orana use our research to better inform all levels of Government about how our region is faring. We also use this information to ensure that the services we provide are of benefit to businesses and individuals across the Orana region.
During this time of economic uncertainty, we have conducted webinars, kept the community up to date with regular debriefs and hosted a series of video presentations with regional business leaders. We have been fortunate to be able to provide feedback directly to the Assistant Minister for Regional Development Nola Marino, along with briefings to state and local members of Parliament. We've also been part of a national working group on boosting export services for METS with DFAT.
Overall, for us and the business community, this has been a time of awareness, of productivity, of self-reflection and an opportunity to boldly move into new territory. We have been able to forge new connections, refresh communications, showcase what we do to stakeholders and reinstate the message that we are here to help. For RDA Orana, this time has also allowed us to take a greater role in contributing to the community in which we live and work.
RDA Orana is a not for profit business that receives federal funding to support regional and economic development initiatives across the Orana region. Our mission is to support sustainable economic growth through the provision of regional intelligence that creates connections and collaborations, supports investment decisions by business and government, and that encourages the development of our workforce. To find out more visit rdaorana.org.au
Regional Recovery with RDA Orana is a series of columns produced by RDA Orana looking at the impacts of COVID-19 and the road to recovery for our community.
Do you have something to say? We welcome your letters which may run in print and online.