RDA Illawarra Shoalhaven (RDAIS) has delivered several key achievements that have helped strengthen regional collaboration and advance evidence-based workforce planning.

A major milestone was the completion and dissemination of the inaugural State of the Workforce Report. This report identifies current and emerging workforce shortages across priority sectors and validates these findings through direct consultation with employers, industry representatives, and training providers. It provides a strong evidence base to guide coordinated regional action and investment.

Following its release, RDAIS has commenced implementation of identified strategic actions, working closely with stakeholders to address critical workforce gaps. This includes targeted advocacy, facilitation of local partnerships, and alignment with national and state workforce initiatives.

Through this work, RDAIS has played a key unifying role, bringing together stakeholders across government, education, and industry to promote a shared understanding of regional workforce challenges and opportunities. RDAIS also contributed to national conversations by raising regional data retention and access issues directly with Jobs and Skills Australia’s Deputy Commissioner, strongly advocating for a clearer roadmap for effective data use and policy decision-making.

Importantly, this period marks the first formal publication produced under RDAIS, establishing a strong foundation for future reporting and collaboration. Building on this success, RDAIS will soon launch ongoing regional roundtables and partnerships, including with the Local Jobs Program, to maintain momentum and ensure ongoing alignment between workforce supply and industry demand.

To further enhance regional intelligence, RDAIS has developed a custom-built online dashboard that integrates real-time Jobs and Skills Australia (JSA) and ABS data. This tool will make workforce data more accessible to employers, educators and policymakers, supporting informed decision-making and continued regional growth.