Day One Agenda
Tuesday 22nd February, 2011

8:30
Registration, coffee & networking
9:00
Welcome to country
9:10
Welcome remarks from the Chair
Kristine Peters, Chair
North West Business Development Centre
9:20
Opening address from the Mayor of Albury City
Councillor Alice Glachan
Building a stronger framework for regional policy & service delivery
9:30
KEYNOTE SPEAKER
Representative
Department of Regional Australia,
Regional Development and Local Government
10:10
KEYNOTE SPEAKER
Reforming service delivery for all Australians

  • Reforming service delivery for improved outcomes in
    regional areas
  • The nature of the services provided
  • Improving government, social and health services
John Kilner
Assistant Secretary, Business Strategy
Department of Human Services
10:50
Morning tea & networking
11:20
The importance of long-term planning & investment for
regional Australia

  • How regional projects support economic growth and
    strong regional communities
  • Creating vibrant regional communities of the future
Peter Kenny
Chair
Biosecurity Queensland Ministerial Advisory Council and
Director
QR National Ltd
12:00
PANEL DISCUSSION
Entrenching regionalism in a whole-of-government
approach

  • Effective coordination across governments, communities
    and businesses
  • Developing long-term alliances
Sandy Roberts
Regional Manager – VIC and SA, Program Delivery
Department of Regional Australia, Regional
Development and Local Government

Lachlan McDonald
Executive Director, Intergovernmental Relations
Department of Transport, VIC

Councillor Bill Cahill
Chair
RDA Darling Downs and South West
12:40
Networking lunch
Planning for the future of regional Australia
1:40
Uncovering population trends to plan for the future

  • Population movement, including overseas migration to
    regional areas
  • The future of regional areas
Professor Graeme Hugo
Professorial Fellow, Professor of Geography and Director
National Centre for Social Applications of GIS,
University of Adelaide
Supporting diverse regional economies &
addressing skills shortage
2:20
CASE STUDY
Diversifying regional industries to promote
sustainability

  • Innovating the Australian rice industry to support its
    communities
  • Creating a sustainable industry in an unstable environment
Gerry Lawson, Chairman
SunRice
3:00
The role of regional universities in building stronger
regional communities

  • Partnering with local public and private sectors
  • The role of universities in regional development, including
    skills and workforce planning
  • Promoting regional opportunities
Professor Ian Goulter, Vice Chancellor
Charles Sturt University
3:40
Afternoon tea & networking
4:10
Immigration strategies to bring skilled workers to
regional Australia

  • How access to immigration programs can facilitate
    regional growth
  • Solving skills shortages through migration
  • Working with regional stakeholders
Brendan Dowling
Director, Labour Agreements and 457 Policy
Department of Immigration and Citizenship
4:50
Attracting & retaining health workers in regional Victoria

  • Promoting innovative thinking to enable sustainable
    delivery of health services
  • Regional health workforce retention strategies
  • Working with regional stakeholders
Kathleen Phillip, Manager, Workforce Innovation
Department of Health, VIC

Professor John Humphreys
Professor of Rural Health Research
Monash University School of Rural Health
5:30
Closing remarks from the chair & close of day one
6:00
Complimentary BBQ

All conference attendees and speakers are invited
to join us for a complimentary networking dinner

View agenda day two