Committee for Ballarat hosted the national Committees for Cities and Regions Network forum meeting in Ballarat on June 3. Held the week after the Federal election, it was timely for the network to collaborate on a collective approach to in-coming government for the city and region, shaping challenges and opportunities we all share.
A joint keynote presentation from IBM’s Pearl Myers (Associate Partner & CIC Leader) and Federation University’s Carolyn Chong (Deputy Vice-Chancellor Global and Engagement), outlined their innovative partnership that has continued to evolve over 25 years. With a focus on the Emerging Technolgy Hub and Fed Uni’s Tech Park Central, the discussion highlighted the opportunities that are possible when research, education and industry collaborate to innovate.
A further presentation from Founder and Director of Housing All Australians (HAA), Robert Pradolin, outlined a detailed research study into the economic impact of the underinvestment in social and affordable housing. The study highlighted the need for all layers of government to act now in relation to social and affordable housing and whilst it acknowledged the broader housing crisis, the lack of supply of social and affordable housing, if not addressed, will have serious consequences across many sectors of the economy.
The final focus of the forum was the skills shortage including areas of professional services, health, digital, technology and manufacturing sectors. Research from the Committee for Perth underlined changing workforce demands in an evolving economic environment.
The network will meet next in October in Canberra and will seek to work with the Albanese Government on the important future-shaping issues for our cities.
The Network represents Committees for Adelaide, Auckland (NZ), Ballarat, Brisbane, Broome, Canterbury (NZ), Cairns, Echuca Moama, Geelong, Gippsland, Gold Coast, Greater Frankston, Greater Shepparton, Hobart, The Hunter, Melbourne, Mornington Peninsula, Perth, Portland, Sydney, Wagga and Wyndham.
The Committees for Cities and Regions Network is not politically motivated or aligned and works in harmony with many groups, stakeholders and organisations that are also acting in the best interests of their communities. The Network is a unifying voice and does not advance the self-interest of any individual member organisation.