The Australian Government announced the Regional Education, Skills and Jobs Plans initiative in the 2011-2012 budget, as part of the Building Australia's Future Workforce package. The initiative addresses four key areas of the Australian Government's productivity and social inclusion agendas: early childhood education and care; year 12 attainment; participation in voational and higher education; and local job opportunities. The plans present locally identified opportunities and challenges and outline local strategies to improve education, skills and jobs outcomes in regional Australia.