REGIONAL Development Australia Mid North Coast (RDAMNC) and Northern Rivers (RDANR), launched their North Coast Workforce Strategy and Action Plan in Bellingen and Lismore last week, a plan which aims to place local stakeholders at the centre of their model.

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The launch is the culmination of collaborative efforts between the organisations and the plan aims to be a catalyst for change and the beginnings of a new approach to solving regional employment issues.

Included in the strategy is the need to address the duplication of initiatives set up to deal with regional unemployment and the lack of consistent funding to support programmes.

The plan proposes a structured approach of how to address unemployment in the region and includes the forming of a regional board and working groups to implement key strategies and actions.

The strategy was launched by RDAMNC and RDANR alongside federal members of parliament for each region, Mr Pat Conaghan, member for Cowper, and Hon Kevin Hogan, member for Page.

Mr Conaghan said, “The North Coast NSW Employment Strategy and Action Plan launched today is a good, local initiative that I support as better collaboration and will help to support growth and employment opportunities.”

“The employment system is broken, and it has been for a long time, this plan maps a way forward that will provide a better solution for all involved” said Ms Kerry Grace, CEO of RDAMNC.

“No collective strategy to address employment opportunities currently exists and it needs to begin by connecting with employers.”

The strategy encourages new thinking and place-based innovative solutions rather than programmes that are introduced into a region with a one size fits all approach.

Ms Kerry Grace added, “The benefits of the collaboration constellation model of governance form is that it has a light touch governance framework designed to connect and guide, not dictate; it enables various working parties to form and disband according to current need, and the model enables the many and varied components of the employment eco-system to work together for a common goal, employment creation.”

By Sandra MOON