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Government Programs, Grants and Initiatives

A key role for Regional Development Australia (RDA) committees is to deliver information about programs, services, grants and initiatives for regional development offered across all levels of government to local stakeholders.  RDA committees are encouraged to be first point of contact for government agencies wanting to consult with a region.

Portals for information about government programs and services for Australia's regions

Regional Entry Point
This website helps you find information about a range of Australian Government programs and services for individuals, families, communities, farms and businesses in rural, regional and remote Australia.

GrantsLINK
This website helps you find funding available under a variety of grant programs for individuals, businesses and communities to help you to develop solutions to local and national problems, fund ideas and initiatives or provide assistance in times of hardship.

Australian Government Regional Information Service
The Australian Government Regional Information Service (AGRIS) can help you find detailed information about a comprehensive range of Australian Government programmes, agencies and services for people living in rural, regional and remote Australia.

Australia.gov.au
Australia.gov.au provides an all purpose gate way to the Australian Government.

Australian Government Initiatives

Australian Government Future Tax System

On Sunday, 2 May 2010, the Australian Government released both the final report of the Australia's Future Tax System Review and its response to the Report.

The Review examined Federal and State government taxes and their interactions.  It made recommendations to position Australia to deal with the demographic, social, economic and environmental challenges that lie ahead.  The report, the Government's response and facts sheets about key elements of the tax plan can be found  at www.futuretax.gov.au.

National Health and Hospitals Network

On 3 March 2010 the Australian Government announced major structural reforms to Australia's health and hospital system.

The Government will deliver better health services and better hospitals by establishing a National Health and Hospitals Network.

This new national network will be funded nationally and run locally.

These reforms represent the biggest changes to Australia's health and hospital system since the introduction of Medicare, and one of the most significant reforms to the federation in its history.

For more information visit http://www.yourhealth.gov.au/

My School website

The Australian Government's My School website, launched on 28 January 2010, contains important information about each of Australia's 10 000 schools including the number of students at the school, the number of teachers at the school and how the school is performing in national literacy and numeracy testing.

Parents and school communities are also able to compare their school's results with neighbouring schools and up to 60 statistically similar schools.

By comparing statistically similar schools, it will be clear which schools are doing well and which schools need an extra hand.

Visit the My School website at http://www.myschool.edu.au/

Local Employment Coordinators

The Australian Government has put a Local Employment Co-ordinator in each of the 20 identified priority employment regions - those regions most vulnerable to rising unemployment during an economic downturn.
Local Employment Co-ordinators will:

  • Work to maximise the impact of the Government's economic stimulus in these regions;
  • Establish and work with local Keep Australia Working Advisory Committees to develop a Strategic Employment Plan for the region;
  • Work towards developing apprenticeship opportunities and match the skills needed with jobs of the future; and
  • Find new job opportunities and provide support for workers who have lost their job due to the global downturn.

For more information about Local Employment Co-ordinators visit http://www.keepaustraliaworking.gov.au/

National Broadband Network

The Australian Government announced on 7 April 2009 it would establish a new company to invest up to $43 billion over eight years delivering superfast broadband to Australian homes and workplaces.

To turn its vision into action the Government has established NBN Co Limited to build and operate the network, providing 90 per cent 'fibre to the premises' coverage delivering speeds of 100 megabits per second with remaining coverage through state of the art wireless and satellite technologies, offering speeds of up to 12 megabits per second or more, to people living in more remote parts of rural Australia.

For the latest information about this initiative visit http://www.nbnco.com.au/

Nation Building Economic Stimulus Plan

In February 2009 the Australian Government announced the $42 billion Nation Building and Jobs Plan (the Plan) to help cushion the economy from the worst effects of the global recession.  The Plan was developed as the global financial crisis took hold and its full extent became clear to Government. The Plan built on earlier Australian Government Economic Security Strategy and Nation Building packages.

At that time, world policy makers were confronted with a crisis that threatened to engulf the global economy.  Without intervention by Government, it is estimated that the economy would have contracted
and the unemployment rate was predicted to rise to 8ΒΌ per cent - meaning hundreds of thousands of Australians were at risk of losing their jobs, creating a vicious downward spiral
in our economy.

For information about, and progress reports on, the Plan visit http://www.economicstimulusplan.gov.au/

Key Speeches


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Last Updated: 15 July, 2010