August has been another exceptionally busy month for RDASI. Many of our local industries have told us that workforce issues are critical and so RDASI is partnering with three local chambers, Business Southern Highlands, Goulburn Chamber of Commerce and Yass Chamber of Commerce to bring a specialist HR consultant to the regions.

We have collaborated with Goulburn Mulwaree Council and the Goulburn Chamber of Commerce to deliver a new initiative designed to boost the local economy and encourage local shopping via an innovative new Goulburn gift card.

Goulburn Connect were delighted to host Peter Strong, CEO of the Council of Small Business Organisations Australia, last Tuesday for their monthly networking event.

Goulburn Connect has recently relaunched after a break due to Covid-19 restrictions. The monthly event is now run with a maximum of 20 attendees and livestreamed to the Goulburn Region Innovation Network Facebook page.

The NSW government announced today that regional, small and medium-sized businesses will be prioritised for all direct procurements up to $250,000.

Deputy Premier and Minister for Regional NSW John Barilaro explained that the Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) and Regional Procurement Policy provides a much needed boost for businesses impacted by droughts, bushfires and COVID-19.

Women from the bush are proving you can live anywhere and still have a successful career.

While working remotely was thrust upon many of us, former primary school teacher from The Rock in southern NSW Jo Palmer built a business on the concept well before restrictions and lockdowns were common vernacular.

Businesses in regional Australia could be central to Australia’s economic recovery from coronavirus after a spike in the number of new job listings outside of the capital cities, a new report has shown.

Figures from the Regional Australia Institute have shown a 22 per cent increase in the number of new job postings in June compared to the previous month.

The experience of dealing with of COVID-19 has removed one of the most significant barriers to a substantial population shift in this country, according to the Regional Australia Institute (RAI).

RAI CEO Liz Ritchie says the notion of how we work has been turned on its head and she hopes this change will see significant population growth in regions, following on from a trend that has already been set over a decade.

Regional Development Australia Southern Inland (RDASI) staff and Committee members ventured to the Yass Valley region on the 19th and 20th November, to visit and meet with local businesses and hold its last Committee meeting for 2020.

Throughout this period, RDA Southern Inland has remained focused on being a trusted source of information and support for our region. BusSi has been a regional game-changer and we’re so proud of the positive engagement that has seen.