Guidelines for Round 5 of the Building Better Regions Fund have now been released.  They can be found at: www.business.gov.au/bbrf or through the Grant Portal on the RDAMWG website.
Applications will open for Round 5 on 12 January 2021 and close on 5 March 2021. 

In these unprecedented times of COVID-19, many Australians are looking for work.

Many growers and farmers urgently need workers to meet their harvest demand so they can continue to provide Australians with fresh Australian-grown produce.

The Australian Government’s Harvest Trail Services (HTS) is here to help. It is a government funded program, so there is no cost to use the service.

HTS providers can help employers advertise their harvest jobs, find workers and link people looking for work with harvest employment opportunities. Job seekers can visit the Harvest Trail Services Jobs Board to find employers who are looking to hire, and farmers and growers can advertise their harvest labour needs through a Harvest Trail Services provider or directly on the Jobs Board.

Importantly, from 1 November 2020 to 31 December 2021, job seekers may be eligible for financial assistance to help with the costs of travel and accommodation when they relocate to take up short-term seasonal harvest or agricultural work. Visit the Harvest Trail website for more information about Relocation Assistance to Take Up A Job for short-term Agricultural Work.

The Australian Government recognises and commends the important ongoing work of the Regional Development Australia Network (RDA) in driving economic development and growth across regional Australia. 
 
Assistant Minister for Regional Development and Territories, the Hon Nola Marino MP, today announced the Australian Government’s recommitment to the RDA Network, including RDAMWG under a new funding agreement and refreshed Charter.

“RDAMWG will continue to play an important role supporting the economic recovery of the region as it emerges from COVID-19 and recent bushfire/drought crises. RDAs are a highly valued and respected network of volunteers and staff who drive economic development in our regions and provide critical intelligence back to the Australian Government about key issues impacting local communities’, Mrs Marino said.

The Network involves 52 RDAs across Australia, including the Indian Ocean Territories and Norfolk Island. RDAs work with all levels of government, business and community groups to support economic and workforce development, local procurement, strategic regional planning and to inform programs and infrastructure investments.

RDA Committees are made up of passionate and dedicated local leaders with a broad range of experience, including from local government, business, community and the not-for-profit sectors.

A refreshed RDA Charter will emphasise greater alignment across all levels of government and regional planning that identifies and advocates strategic long-term investment priorities.

The value of the nation-wide network has been highlighted recently during COVID-19 and the bushfire crises.

 “RDAMWG has been providing important information back to Government on impacts to the region’s businesses and communities. This local intelligence continues to inform government policymaking, ensuring the issues specific to our region are on Government’s radar,” said RDA Mid West Gascoyne Chair, Yvonne Messina

Australia’s regions are diverse, although they also face many similar challenges. RDAs network, share information, and collaborate across the country to develop innovations and solutions that can be adapted across the country.

The Government’s to regions will be further enhanced by redirecting the role of RDA, Melbourne, Perth to focus on working with regional RDAs in WA to identify and connect their regions with decentralisation and economic development opportunities coming out of the capital city.
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Regional Australia and RDA Committees will play an important role in revitalising Australia’s economy as we emerge from COVID-19. The new funding agreement and revised Charter will provide a strong basis for this work.
For more information on the RDA program please go to www.infrastructure.gov.au and www.rda.gov.au or www.rdamwg.com.au
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5/10/2020 The Regional Connectivity Program grants opportunity (the RCP) will provide up to $83 million of targeted investment in ‘place-based’ telecommunications infrastructure projects which maximise economic and social opportunities in regional, rural and remote Australian communities.
https://www.communications.gov.au/what-we-do/internet/regional-connectivity-program​

 30/9/2020 It expected that announcements about the BBRF (2020) will be made in the near future. The fund has an Infrastructure and Community stream. The Australian Government has recently announced that there will be $200 Million available for Round 5 of the BBRF fund. Of this $100 million will be dedicated to tourism related infrastructure. ​  https://www.business.gov.au

30/9/2020 Following the National Cabinet meeting on 4 September 2020 it has been announced that NSW, Victoria, South Australia, Northern Territory and the ACT have agreed to adopt the National Agricultural Workers’ Code (Code) to facilitate the movement of critical agricultural industry workers across domestic borders where border restrictions are in place. The Code is important in mitigating animal health, welfare and biosecurity risks.
A copy of the Code can be found here:
​ https://www.agriculture.gov.au/sites/default/files/documents/agriculture-workers-code.pdf

30/09/2020. ​Grants are now open for the 'Natural Resource Management Drought Resilience Program'.  These grants are for organisations, farmer groups and individuals who can deliver innovative NRM approaches to build drought resilience in agricultural areas. Funds are between $20,000 and $200,000.   For details follow the link below:
​https://www.communitygrants.gov.au/grants/future-drought-fund-natural-resource-management-drought-resilie

 30/09/2020. The Australian Government will inject $250 million into regional tourism, encouraging more Australians to travel and experience a home-grown holiday, boosting regional jobs and local economies. The package includes two components: (i) $50 million target to regional international tourism recovery (ii) $200 million as part of the BBRF of which $100 million will be targeted to tourism related infrastructure. For details follow the link below:
​https://www.austrade.gov.au/Australian/Tourism/Tourism-and-business/recovery-for-regional-tourism. 

30/09/2020. The Department of Agriculture, Water and Environment have launched the Australian Food and Grocery Council (AFGC) Export Guide for Indonesia. The AFGC is planning to hold free industry forums to for businesses interested in learning about consumer trends, import compliance and export. The guide can be downloaded from: ​http://www.afgc.org.au

30/9/2020. The purpose of this survey is to give young Australians aged 18 and over an opportunity to comment on how Covid-19 pandemic is impacting young Australians. The survey is open until the 12th Oct 2020 and can be accessed from :https://healthau.au1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_4TRU5F3Da6lfkzj

Four Local Government Shires in the Upper Gascoyne and MidWest region have been successful in winning 43% of Western Australia’s Building Better Regions Funding, Round 4.  Yvonne Messina Chair of Regional Development Australia MidWest Gascoyne said ‘that the $7 million of Federal funding received by the Shires of Upper Gascoyne, Meekatharra, Carnarvon and Mingenew would make an important contribution to tourism, transport and water infrastructure.’ Yvonne stated that regional communities rely heavily on Grants for infrastructure and community development that support jobs and the tourist industry.

The $841.6 million Building Better Regions Fund (BBRF) has funded more than 163 projects in Regional Australia and supports the Australian Government's commitment to create jobs, drive economic growth and build stronger regional communities into the future.

Shire of Upper Gascoyne: Construction of Gascoyne Visitors Stop.  $2,398,500
Shire of Meekatharra: Upgrade 28klm section of Landor road between Meekatharra and Carnarvon. $4,049,254
Shire of Mingenew: Restoration of the iconic 125 year old Mingenew Railway station as a cultural hub for the community: $108,257
Shire of Carnarvon: Upgrade of the Carnarvon Recycled Water Pipeline. $465,000.
 
Total Funding for Western Australia: BBRF Infrastructure Fund: $16,473,918
MidWest and Gascoyne Shires: $7,021,011

Information on previously successful recipients can be found on regional.gov.au.