TSBE joins major regional job boosting project

Toowoomba and Surat Basin Enterprise (TSBE) are proud to join Regional Australia Institute (RAI), as they today launch the Regional Activators Alliance (RAA) – a new body designed to help create a National Awareness Campaign aimed at driving population to the regions.

The campaign will promote the opportunities to live, work and invest in Regional Australia, with the RAA made up of 36 representative organisations from across the country.

TSBE CEO, Ali Davenport, said the RAA campaign will complement the work that TSBE is undertaking to advocate for major projects, which will open job opportunities that need to be filled.

“One of the biggest challenges for our region pre-COVID was attracting skilled workers to fill roles,” said Ms Davenport.

“We had one of the lowest unemployment rates in the country and even now with the challenges of COVID, we are still struggling to fill many positions.”

“We need workers in health as well as tradespeople such as boilermakers, electricians and diesel mechanics and various other specialised roles.”

“We’re hoping this campaign will allow our region to attract skilled people who can move here for a job and become part of our community,” said Ms Davenport.

Regional Australia Institute highlighted the latest September job vacancy figures show a new record of more than 50,000 roles currently advertised in Regional Australia.

The regional parts of some states have seen a 25 percent increase on this time last year, which was prior to COVID.

This is in stark contrast with our mainland capitals which have reported a 27 percent decrease.

Regional Australia Institute CEO, Liz Ritchie, said she is pleased to welcome Toowoomba and Surat Basin Enterprise to the group.

“Today, I am delighted to welcome Ali Davenport and the Toowoomba and Surat Basin Enterprise team to the RAA table, I know that their passion, insights and knowledge will be invaluable and they will help to amplify the Campaign reach,” Ms Ritchie said.

“In addition, they will also provide a direct connection to driving local campaigns in the regions - this is vital.”

“This Campaign is a once in a lifetime impact project that the RAI is incredibility 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 analysing population movement from our capital cities to the regions – a trend that has already been set over a decade as outlined in our Big Movers Report released earlier this year.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development, Michael McCormack, will officially launch the Regional Activators Alliance via Zoom at noon today.

“I have always said regional Australia is big enough in which to get a good cup of coffee, but small enough to care – and now is the time to make the move,” said Deputy Prime Minister McCormack.

“There are jobs, there is a better lifestyle and there is the opportunity to build a fresh start – Regional Australia is the best place to live, work and raise a family,” the Deputy Prime Minister concluded.

The project has been backed by the Federal Government, with funding allocated in the 2020 Budget.