The second report measuring progress on the Regionalisation Ambition framework shows mixed results across the plan's 20 target measures, which cover liveability, population, productivity, sustainability and jobs & skills. The report highlights key achievements from across the regions and provides insights on how each target is tracking against capital cities. 

Launched in 2022, the Regionalisation Ambition is a 10-year framework for creating a more prosperous, productive and inclusive regional Australia, which the Regional Australia Institute 2024 (RAI) reports on annually. Spanning five pillars, the Ambition is underpinned by 20 targets addressing fundamental aspects of regional living. 

This report shows that of the 20 targets, 17 have been measured over the past year: 5 are moving backwards, 2 show mixed results and 3 lack new data. 10 of the targets show movement in the right direction, including:

• the regional recruitment difficulty rate easing (63% in 2023 v 69% in 2022)
• medical practitioners working in regions increasing (353 FTE per 100,000 population in 2023 v 334 FTE in 2021)
• regional Australia’s younger population (15-39 years) share rising (30% in 2023 v 29.8% in 2021).

Recommendations

1. Shape a national strategy that delves into the future aspirations, contribution and needs of each region across the country, and demonstrates future population distribution that delivers optimal social, economic and environmental outcomes.
2. Respond to and embed learnings from the Regional Migration Settings Review.
3. Explore a new approach to regional decision-making, shifting federal, state and territory decisions to local leaders around social infrastructure to ensure a more transparent and fair approach to funding decisions. 
4. Implement a Community Co-Investment Framework as part of the nation’s net zero transition, assuring the communities doing the heavy lifting in this economic transformation are treated justly.