The Regional Women’s Advisory Council was established in 1999 by the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Transport and Regional Services, John Anderson, to provide a women’s perspective on issues that affect communities in regional, rural and remote Australia.The Council provides advice directly to the Deputy Prime Minister, and over the last two years has focused on Building Stronger Communities.
The Council has recently developed a paper on ‘Improving Regional Welcoming Strategies’ in response to the lack of ‘welcome’ received by newcomers moving to regional locations. The problem of negative perceptions about regional Australia and the feeling of initial isolation is a persistent and difficult one when trying to attract skilled and professional people and their families to live and settle in a region.
The Advisory Council acknowledges that many locations have sophisticated regional marketing strategies, and some have instituted well managed welcoming strategies. The aim of the paper is to raise awareness of the issues, and to highlight successful approaches around Australia.
For an electronic copy of the paper, contact Catherine Hughes at the Regional Women’s Advisory Council Secretariat email Catherine.Hughes@dotars.gov.au or telephone (02) 6274 8138.
