A new campaign has been lunched to promote work opportunities in regional areas such as Dubbo.
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RDA Orana has welcomed moves by the Regional Australia Institute (RAI) to drive population to the regions and create a national awareness campaign based on promoting work opportunities in regional Australia.
The federal government has supported the program through funding.
The RAI launched the Regional Activators Alliance in an effort to ensure regional engagement and representation towards promotional effort.
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RDA Orana Director of Regional Development Megan Dixon said they had been collaborating with RAI on the initiative since 2018 and welcomed the formalisation of the alliance.
"RAI have supported our research and advocacy work with the State and Commonwealth Governments on the issue of having more jobs than people.
"This project promotes the wonderful opportunity offered by living in a regional area. It will also help to boost local campaigns," she said.
Described by the Regional Activators Alliance as a 'once in a lifetime impact project', the campaign will examine metropolitan sentiment in line with the vision to drive city-centric populations towards country areas.
"The research will measure existing trends and the need to encourage investment, jobs and business growth in regional Australia," Mrs Dixon said.
The Orana region currently has more jobs than people and needs to increase workforce numbers as a high priority. The unemployment rate for the region is sitting at 2.7 per cent.
This project promotes the wonderful opportunity offered by living in a regional area. It will also help to boost local campaigns.
- RDA Orana Director of Regional Development Megan Dixon
"This is a critical issue for employers across our region," she said. "They are struggling to attract employees and it is having an adverse effect on their business."
The latest September job vacancy figures show more than 50,000 roles currently advertised in Regional Australia.
"There are 660 vacancies in our region in a range of areas," Mrs Dixon said.
"Employers are working harder to recruit, but there are many barriers including border closures and visa restrictions."
The Regional Activators Alliance is made up of 36 representative organisations from across the country, with RDA Orana engaging with the campaign.
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