NATIONAL ATTENTION FOR REGIONAL LEADERSHIP AND INNOVATION
The critical role of Australia’s regions in economic prosperity, vocational education, and community development were the focus of a joint launch of two key discussion papers by the Minister for Regional Australia, Simon Crean MP, and Member for Lyne, Rob Oakeshott MP at Parliament House on Wednesday, May 25.
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The papers, developed by TAFE Directors Australia (TDA) and Regional Development Australia – Mid North Coast (RDA MNC), represent the views of key opinion leaders and organisations who have contributed ideas to promote regional leadership and innovation.
The first presentation was an Occasional Paper titled Strategic Regional Leadership for the Future, which is a summary of papers presented at the ‘Strategic Regional Leadership for the Future’ conference held in Port Macquarie in October 2010, where both Minister Crean and Mr Oakeshott were keynote speakers. The Occasional Paper was presented by Elizabeth McGregor, Acting Chair of RDA MNC.
Peter Tregilgas, Executive Officer for Regional Development Australia – Mid North Coast said ‘TAFE Directors Australia were the major sponsor and have produced a permanent record of this important regional conference on leadership. TAFE plays an important role in vocation and education in regions and we are pleased with their commitment to these conferences.”
Regional Development Australia – Mid North Coast also used this opportunity to launch the 2011 Strategic Regional Leadership Conference which will focus on ‘innovation’. The conference will be organised in conjunction with Adelaide University and the International Studies Association and will again be held at the Glasshouse in Port Macquarie on November 4.
Peter added “RDA MNC is committed to producing this high impact conference which demonstrates leadership, innovation and education in regional Australia”.
TAFE Directors Australia launched a position paper titled TAFE's strategic leadership role in Regional Australia, which focused on the role and resourcing of TAFE Institutes necessary to develop and sustain regional prosperity.
CEO of TAFE Directors Australia, Martin Riordan said ‘this paper emphasises the central role that TAFEs play in achieving the Government's objectives for regional Australia. It establishes the eight principles of the regional policy framework.”
The launch attendees included representatives from Regional Development Australia, TAFE and Government.
