Mark your calendars for RDA Orana’s first event of the year, the 2025 Inland Growth Summit, to be held at Lazy River Estate from 13-14 March. The program has been finalised, and an outstanding line-up of speakers will be attending under the theme Stronger Together: Innovation, Change Impact, which focuses on the power of collective effort in driving transformative change.
In a world where challenges seem larger than ever, the theme emphasises the idea that true innovation, meaningful change, and lasting impact are achieved when diverse individuals, communities, organisations, and industries come together to collaborate and co-create solutions.
The event will inspire attendees to break down silos, think across disciplines, and leverage collective intelligence to address global and local challenges.
Panel topics include workforce and training, agriculture, tourism and hospitality, energy and housing and construction.
We have several keynote speakers lined up, including:
Regional and national experts will join these keynote speakers for panel discussions about the issues affecting our region and innovative sustainable solutions to help the Orana grow and prosper into the future.
The event will be held at Lazy River Estate from 13-14 March. Tickets are on sale now. For more information, visit https://inlandgrowthsummit.com.au/
Celebrating women - Women Winging It
The Exchange Orana is gearing up to showcase the remarkable stories and accomplishments of women from across our region with a full day of activities on Friday 7 March with our Women Winging It event.
The day will include three engaging sessions starting with a Sunrise Sweat and Stretch session in the Heritage Plaza green space led by Fitness Trainer Kate Ivey, This session will cater for all ages and stages and will kick-start your day. As the founder of Kate Ivey Fitness and the online fitness community DediKate, Kate knows how to inspire rural and regional women, busy mums, and anyone balancing life’s demands. Speaking from the heart, Kate will share her journey in an authentic and empowering way, showing rural women what’s possible.
A Midday Masterclass will be hosted by Westpac focused on empowering financial independence for women. The session will provide practical tools for women to improve themselves financially and professionally. The masterclass will delve into budgeting, women’s wealth and what you need to know, superannuation, along with personal and business planning and planning for the future. The session includes lunch and networking opportunities.
Finally, we’ll sip, snack, and dive into real stories about taking chances, being brave, embracing opportunities, and making it all up as we go—with plenty of laughs along the way in the Sunset Sip afternoon session that will feature a number of inspirational keynote speakers and hosted by MC, Nyngan-based award-winning Regional Deputy Editor of the Daily Liberal, Central Western Daily and Western Advocate, Grace Ryan. Grace is also the founder of the regional newsletter ‘The Catch-Up,’ which celebrates the achievements and accomplishments of regional women.
You will hear inspirational stories from our speakers, who include:
- Trangie-based contemporary artist Lottie Rae is redefining cool from the serene surroundings of regional NSW. Lottie has a knack for transforming the nostalgia of the 80s and 90s into captivating art pieces. With a palette that’s heavy on neon and a heart that beats for the glory days, Lottie’s creations are as unique as their inspirations.
- Molong Stores owner and hat specialist Robbie Carroll, a central-west boy from Dubbo and now living in Molong, who has had a 30-year career in Sydney working in hat designing and millinery as well as 15 years designing and working with Akubra.
- Contemporary Indigenous artist LIzzy Stageman, another Dubbo local whose work is a profound reflection of her heritage and shaped by personal journeys and a deep connection to culture. What began as a personal passion evolved into a professional career with the formal establishment of Lizzy Stageman Art in 2021. Since then, Lizzy’s work has been featured on The Block, in high-profile interior design spaces, and at prestigious exhibitions, blending contemporary aesthetics with powerful Indigenous storytelling.
The day will also feature pop-up stores from Coonamble local Abigail Nordberg, owner of Min Butik, Paddington, which is all about making designer fashion accessible, sustainable and stylish. Straight from Paddington she's bringing city fashion to Dubbo, offering our Women Winging It ticket holders and Exchange Orana members a chance to shop pre-quality preloved pieces. As well as ceramic wares from Emma Small from The Small Artisan.
Join us for the whole day or just your favourite session – it’s up to you! A full day pass for Women Winging It is $140 and includes a co-working space for the day. To find out more and book your tickets, visit: https://www.123tix.com.au/events/46671/women-winging-it
Supporting the community through grants and business case development
A key role of RDA Orana is to work with local businesses, organisations and community groups to ensure they take advantage of all possible opportunities for growth and development. We do this through the Orana Grants Hub and our grant writing and business case development services.
There is currently an incredible amount of funding available through grants for initiatives that promote regional economic development and support employment creation and retention.
Businesses, consortiums, local governments, associations, Aboriginal corporations, not-for-profit and other eligible applicants are encouraged to apply for a share of the $50 million Community Investment Program, delivered by the NSW Government’s $400 million Regional Development Trust.
Grants of between $500,000 and $5 million are available for infrastructure projects and capital investments to create jobs and economic opportunities. Between $250,000 and $1 million will be available for regional programs to improve service delivery and community connection and capacity building. To search for these grants and more visit Orana Grants Hub .
We can help you be ‘grant ready’ by assisting you with your strategic planning, feasibility, business case documents and feasibility studies. If you are looking for help or assistance in accessing or applying for funding, please give me a call or email ceo@rdaorana.org.au.
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