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Regional Development Australia (RDA) Riverina are conducting research into the availability of Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) services in our region.
The information collected in these surveys will be de-identified and complied into our report on ECEC availability in the Riverina which will be used to advocate for communities across our region.
The NSW Government’s 'The Welcome Experience' is expanding across the Riverina, after a successful pilot in Griffith delivered by Regional Development Australia Riverina (RDA Riverina).
This initiative, which has already seen success in Griffith since its launch in July 2023, is designed to help essential workers settle into the region with free personalised support.
Essential workers (and their families) who are considering applying for or have accepted a job in regional NSW are linked with a ‘Local Connector’ from the community who provides advice, introductions and support throughout the whole relocation process.
Food Agility, Charles Sturt University and RACEfor 2030 CRC are launching the Australian Agri-Renewables Innovation Challenge, offering significant investment and support to fast-track new technologies and services.
Applications are now open around the themes of energy, chemicals and fertilisers, and agricultural waste
and residues.
Charles Sturt University will provide one third co-investment for successful applicants or ‘challengers’ from a $2 million investment pool.
Eighteen local community groups and charities will share in a combined $155,693.50 in funding for projects and initiatives through the 2024 ClubGRANTS scheme.
The successful recipients were announced at a presentation ceremony at the Rules Club Wagga Wagga on Thursday morning (22 August).
The Aviation White Paper sets out the Australian Government’s vision for Australia’s aviation sector towards 2050 to ensure it remains safe, competitive, productive and sustainable.
As a nation, Australia is uniquely reliant on aviation to connect us to each other and to the world. Despite its importance to our nation, the sector is not currently meeting the needs of Australians. The White Paper sets out a comprehensive plan to bring Australian aviation back on the right flight path.
We have decided to extend our 3G network closure by another two months to allow people more time to upgrade their devices. We will close our 3G network from 28 October 2024.
The Growing Regions Program - Round 2 Program Guidelines are now available for eligible applicants to start preparing applications ahead of the upcoming opening of Round 2 for applications. Potential applicants can check their initial eligibility to apply before applications open. Further information on the application process, including application forms, will be provided when applications open.
The Albanese Government has today announced it will guarantee regional flight bookings for Rex customers throughout the voluntary administration process.
Travellers can continue to book regional flights on Rex during this process with certainty that they will either fly or get their money back.
The Wagga Wagga community is encouraged to help direct the region’s future by having a say in a survey defining the issues, opportunities and challenges facing the electorate.
The survey, conducted by the Independent Member for Wagga, Dr Joe McGirr, is gathering feedback that can be used to advocate for changes and improvements.
The Albanese Government is partnering with Wagga Wagga City Council to deliver targeted transport and community infrastructure projects that will have a lasting impact.
Federal Minister for Regional Development and Local Government, Kristy McBain MP, visited town today to inspect the progress of projects, and to discuss the region’s priorities.
Know how your day is going to change beat by beat. The Bureau of Meteorology is building a new website.
Everyone can now access beta.bom.gov.au. This test website will run alongside the existing bom.gov.au website. No changes will be made to the existing services.
The Albanese Government is investing in cities and suburbs across Australia, with applications opening today for the $350 million Thriving Suburbs Program.
The program provides access to funding for community infrastructure projects such as libraries, parks, and sporting and cultural facilities in urban, suburban and peri-urban communities – projects that connect communities and enrich quality of life at a local level.
Overnight it was announced that Regional Express Holdings and a number of its subsidiaries have entered voluntary administration.
Charles Sturt University has partnered with transmission network leader Transgrid to develop the new Transgrid Civil Engineering Scholarship Fund.
The new Transgrid Scholarship Fund will support 100 Charles Sturt engineering students over a four-year period and will supply them with $20,000 each to put towards the cost of their study.
Aspiring teachers looking to study with the University of NSW will soon be able to do so from their own backyard.
The UNSW School of Education will be offering undergraduate and postgraduate programs in teaching to Riverina locals starting in 2025 after the success of its Rural Medical School.
The highly anticipated ‘A Taste of Italy Griffith’ is back for another year and the Tourism Team is thrilled to reveal what’s in store for 2024. The festivities will run from 19 – 25 August for a week-long celebration of Italian culture, food, wine, music and dance.
You’ll be spoilt for choice with a program featuring over 21 Italian inspired events and experiences. The 2024 line-up includes a variety of new and exciting experiences as well as the beloved annual traditions that locals and visitors look forward to from year to year.
“Share your voice and together let’s celebrate the unique stories of regional Australia!”
Wodonga teenager and Heywire alumni Solange is encouraging all young people from regional communities across Australia to participate in the 2025 ABC Heywire competition, which officially opens today. Reflecting on her own experience as a Heywire winner and her participation in the Regional Youth Summit, Solange knows first-hand the incredible opportunity Heywire provides in sharing your story.
The Albanese Labor Government’s Homes for Australia plan is delivering an additional $1 billion across the country to get homes built sooner.
States and territories will today be paid $1 billion collectively through the Priority Works Stream of the Housing Support Program to turbocharge construction of new homes.
This investment adds to the $500 million already under the Housing Support Program to boost housing supply.
The purpose of this discussion paper is to seek views from stakeholders – communities, businesses, unions, local governments, state and territory governments, education providers, and others – on how to improve regional migration settings to support strong and sustainable regions, while complementing existing government initiatives. It proposes objectives for regional migration, suggests opportunities where regional migration could work better and outlines questions on which the Government is seeking feedback from stakeholders.
The Albanese Government’s First Nations Digital Inclusion Advisory Group is seeking feedback on the key considerations that should be included in its long-term roadmap to narrow the digital divide.
This roadmap will outline the path forward towards achieving Target 17 in the National Agreement on Closing the Gap, which aims for equal levels of digital inclusion for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people by 2026, and beyond.
The Albanese Government is seeking public feedback on the most effective options for governments, business and the community, to reduce emissions in the transport sector by 2050.
The Transport and Infrastructure Net Zero Consultation Roadmap, which has been released today, identifies opportunities for productivity benefits and innovation through decarbonising transport and transport infrastructure.
Wagga Wagga City Council has received funding of almost $4.5 million under the Federal Government's Growing Regions Program for a project to carry out works as part of the development of the Lake Albert Water Sports and Event Precinct.
Council is one of 40 successful applicants from Round 1 of the Growing Regions Program with total funding of approximately $207 million under the Australian Government initiative.
The Albanese Government is seeking public feedback on the most effective options for governments, business and the community, to reduce emissions in the transport sector by 2050.
The Transport and Infrastructure Net Zero Consultation Roadmap, which has been released today, identifies opportunities for productivity benefits and innovation through decarbonising transport and transport infrastructure.
The Regional Railway Crossing Safety Campaign aims to raise awareness of safe driving behavior around regional railway crossings. It forms part of the $180.1 million Regional Australia Level Crossing Safety Program – a national program aiming to improve safety at level crossings in regional areas.
Leeton Shire Council has made solid strides in advancing its commitment to environmental sustainability through the completion of a range of strategic energy-saving initiatives.
Nominations are now open for the 2024 Ministers’ Awards for Women in Local Government, which recognise the outstanding achievements and contribution of women in councils in NSW.
The Ministers’ Awards for Women in Local Government are a chance to recognise female councillors and council staff who make invaluable contributions to improve the lives of the people they represent and serve.
The awards were established in 2008 to recognise the outstanding efforts of women at the grassroots level of government in metropolitan and regional/rural councils.
The Local Government Boundaries Commission is examining a proposal to de-amalgamate the Snowy Valleys Council area
The Minister for Local Government has sent a proposal to the Local Government Boundaries Commission to de-amalgamate the Snowy Valleys local government area. If the proposal was implemented, it would re-establish the former Tumbarumba and Tumut council areas.
The Government’s Migration Strategy was released on 11 December 2023. The strategy outlines a new vision for Australia’s migration system. It contains a policy roadmap with 8 key actions and over 25 new policy commitments and areas for future reform.
One of the key areas of future reform outlined in the Migration Strategy is to explore a reformed points test to better identify migrants to drive Australia’s long-term prosperity.
Australia uses a points test which attributes weightings and a pass mark to tailor the points tested visa programs. This reflects Australia’s long-term labour market needs. We invite independent migrants to apply for a visa based on their skills, attributes, and suitability for employment.
The NSW Government has declared the South West Renewable Energy Zone (REZ) Access Scheme, the second of its kind after the Central-West Orana REZ Access Scheme.
Generation and storage projects that wish to connect to network infrastructure which is subject to an access scheme will need to apply for an access right through a competitive tender or allocation process.
Projects will be able to bid for access rights as part of a tender run by AEMO Services commencing in Q2 2024.
Flooding in the NSW Central and West regions last year has left many employees and volunteers in not-for-profits and community groups feeling burnt out and, in some cases, suffering from vicarious trauma after becoming frontline responders and accidental counsellors for those affected.
But help is at hand. With support from the NSW Government and Australian Government, through the NGO Flood Grant Program, Benefolk Foundation is running a series of free face-to-face training on managing wellbeing and overcoming and managing trauma. The training will take place from May to August 2024 and be delivered by an experienced psychologist and wellbeing trainer, both of whom are highly experienced in trauma informed training, facilitation and consulting.