Welcome back! I hope everyone is refreshed after a wonderful holiday break and looking forward to an amazing 2025.

At RDA Orana we are planning for an exciting year ahead with our annual events including the Inland Growth Summit being held in March, the Resources, Energy and Industry Forum scheduled for June, our new annual Orana Youth Forum being held in August and the Orana Outlook Forum in November. We will be releasing an events calendar soon so you can save the dates.

We are also preparing to celebrate the achievements of women in the Orana region for international women’s day with a Women Winging It event on 7 March to be held at The Exchange Orana. The event will feature a full day program filled with fabulous sessions including Sunrise Sweat and Stretch with fitness trainer Kate Ivey, a midday masterclass and sunset sip with artist Lottie Rae. Keep an eye out for more information in the coming weeks.

Our focus for the year ahead will be based around our business plan with a large portion focused around workforce development. In the coming months, we will be launching a number of key initiatives to help grow and build workforce participation in the Orana region including The Vault Talent Bank, The Jobs Board Orana and an extension to the Orana Designated Area Migration Agreement (DAMA). This is coupled with The Welcome Experience Orana, which has resulted in dedicated offices opening and located in Dubbo, Bourke and Walgett. The Welcome Experience program helps essential service workers feel more at home in their new communities sooner by assisting them to settle and establish connections and relationships with personalised support. 

The RDA Orana Board will be looking long-term as we prepare to develop the RDA Orana 2025-29 Strategic Plan, which will help guide the organisation over the next four years - looking at the priorities and goals to help the Orana region prepare for the future and ensure we keep pace with changes and succeed in achieving our vision and mission working with our 12 LGA's.

Another exciting program reaching fruition is the completion of the construction of the Baaka Cultural and Art Centre, based in Wilcannia. The project has been funded by both the state and federal governments and will become a state-of-the-art cultural centre, art centre and visitor experience. The centre will recognise and celebrate the culture and tradition of the Baakintji people of the middle and lower Darling River and support cultural and economic initiatives in the wider community.

We will continue to lobby on behalf of the region for upgrades to the Golden Highway after the release of the Orana-Hunter Connections and Beyond Golden Highway Transport Study and a successful roundtable meeting with Minister for Regional Transport and Roads, The Hon Jenny Aitchison MP, government, industry and business leaders resulting in the support for the formation of a Golden Highway Taskforce.

As new energy developments continue in the region, RDA Orana will be working to source funding opportunities for the Inland NSW Growth Alliance Innovation Hub, which is set to become a state-significant project for the region. The Innovation Hub aims to be a catalyst for resources and clean energy innovation across regional NSW with a unique hub-and-spoke approach that will support the development and adoption of resources and energy technologies.

Lastly, I would like to express my gratitude to the outstanding RDA Orana team of talented and dedicated staff who work with me to develop and deliver new and innovative initiatives to help better our region, and I look forward to working with them and the RDA Orana Board throughout 2025. A big shout-out to our local government stakeholders - the support from General Managers from across the region has been amazing in the past year and I look forward to catching up in the coming months to meet the newly elected Mayors and Councillors to discuss our projects, programs and initiatives and how we can work together.

If you have an idea, project or initiative that you think we can help you with, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me via email at ceo@rdaorana.org.au

Cheers to a brilliant year ahead

Justine

Welcome Experience Expands to Attract Vets

Veterinary workers - including vets, vet nurses, vet technicians and their families - can now access The Welcome Experience, our free concierge service helping essential workers settle into regional communities across Walgett, Bourke, Dubbo and Wellington.  

Inland Growth Summit 2025 - Save the Date

Save the date for the 2025 Inland Growth Summit from 12-14 March in Dubbo at The Exchange Orana and Lazy River Estate. 

Expressions of Interest for the Stronger Communities Program

Expressions of Interest (EOIs) are now open for Round 9 of the Strong Communities Program, giving local governing bodies and community groups the opportunity to nominate projects for grants of up to $20,000.

EOI must be submitted by 5pm Friday 7 February.

Mudgee Changemaker Workshop 

Join the Mudgee Changemaker Workshop on 20 and 21 March, a two-day leadership development workshop that focuses on self-awareness, community engagement, resilience, leadership skills and positive change, delivered by the Australian Rural Leadership Foundation, as part of the Helping Regional Communities Prepare for Drought Initiative.

Grant of the Week

Cobar Shire Council - Donations/ Financial Assistance

This program aims to support local services, cultural, sporting, charitable and non-profit organisations which operation within or provide benefit to the residents of Cobar Shire.

Applications close 23 January 2025

Name: Madeline Williams

Business: Snaps by Madds

Occupation: Photographer

Location: Dubbo

Bio: Candid photographer based in the Central West. From weddings to events and business branding, Madds can capture it.