Regional Australia Institute National Summit
Canberra, September 2022
In September, our Future Shapers attended the Regional Australia Institute (RAI) National Summit over two days and spent a morning at Parliament House gaining insight into the history and parliamentary proceedings.
Attending the RAI National Summit has become the new ‘Canberra trip’ for participants of the program. RAI is Australia’s first and only independent think tank dedicated to building robust regional economies and a better quality of life in our regional towns and cities. This was a fantastic opportunity not only to learn about issues faced across all regions and their initiatives but also for networking and to represent our region.
Here are some of the FS22 participant reflections.
Ren Rotast, McCain Foods
Pictorial reflection:
“I loved our time in Canberra, one I will keep in the memory bank!”
Joeline Rayment, gforce Youth Employment
Written reflection:
“Canberra was a significant experience for me for a variety of reasons… The different viewpoints in the Summit forced me to think of issues from multiple sides. I might have thought I was open to all sides of a situation, but the Summit highlighted the vast diversity of viewpoints, so that was an area of personal growth for me.
The Housing and the Economics panels were my favourite, with some really interactive discussions… The idea of not only planning growth but also having backup plans and trying to keep infrastructure and facilities to be well in advance of current needs without having anything ’empty’ or wasted is now planted in my mind.
Overall, the Summit and Parliament House visit provided me with is a stronger and clearer vision for what impacts on communities and the multiple viewpoints needed to enable solutions. It also provided insight into the balance/blend between innovation vs growth and caution vs planning. I expect to use this view and philosophy in the way I communicate and ‘sell’ the ideas I have in future as well as the advocacy I do.”
Claire Huntington, Business Storylab
Reflection video: