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Message from the Chair
It's been a very busy few months for Rural Councils Victoria (RCV) and we are delighted to bring you this e-newsletter to update you on the work we have been undertaking on behalf of our member Councils.
We are making strong progress on a number of our major projects, including finalising the Population Attraction and Retention Strategies for Rural Victorian Communities report. This major piece of work, which was completed by Dench McLean Carlson in September 2017, has identified seven key projects for RCV over the next two years. These projects are:
- Rural Population Growth Policy
- Rural Workforce Development Plan
- Rural Investment Attraction Program
- Older Persons Services and Accommodation Program
- Alternate Service Delivery
- Community Planning Update
- Rural Promotion Program
Work on the first two projects has commenced, and more detail is provided later in this e-newsletter. The final Population Attraction and Retention Strategies for Rural Victorian Communities report is available on the RCV website.
The second Mayors, Councillors and CEOs Forum for 2017 was held on Wednesday 18th October and we were pleased to be joined by more than 80 representatives of our member Councils. It was a great day and we are looking forward to the next Forum, which will be held in the first half of 2018.
Our focus for the next two months will be advocating for policies and projects that benefit rural Councils and communities to be included in the 2018/2019 Victorian Government Budget. We will also be starting the planning for our advocacy campaign for the 2018 Victorian election.
A critical factor in the work of RCV is to ensure that our communications activities enable member Councils to understand, value and have input into the work of RCV. We are currently seeking your feedback on how we have performed to date, and how we can improve our communication with you.
To participate in our survey, please visit: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/LDQ2LLC
Thank you for your ongoing support of RCV, and we look forward to seeing you at one of our upcoming events.
Cr Rob Gersch
Chair
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Mayors, Councillors and CEOs Forum
Our second Mayors, Councillors and CEOs Forum for 2017 was held on Wednesday 18th October at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
More than 80 representatives of our member Councils heard from speakers including:
- The Hon Matthew Guy MP, who committed to reinstating the Country Roads and Bridge Program if the Liberal Party is elected to Government in 2018
- Corrina Bertram from KPMG, who presented the interim findings from the consultation phase of the Regional and Rural Councils Sustainability Reform Program
- James Flintoft, Chief Executive Officer of Regional Development Victoria, and his executive team
- Gerry Smith, Director Sector Innovation, Performance and Resilience with Local Government Victoria
- Matt Pfahlert from the Australian Centre for Rural Entrepreneurship, who is delivering RCV's Understanding Social Entrepreneurship workshops across the state
- RCV Committee members Cr Mary-Ann Brown and Cr Jenny O'Connor (Population Attraction and Retention Strategies for Rural Victorian Communities) and Lenny Jenner (Victorian Government Budget 2018/2019 advocacy campaign)
Some speaker presentations have been uploaded to the RCV website, and others will be added as they become available.
We had some very positive feedback from attendees at the Forum, including:
- 95% agreed/strongly agreed that the topics discussed were relevant to them
- 95% agreed/strongly agreed that the speakers were interesting and well-informed
- 68% agreed/strongly agreed that they now have a better understanding of the role and work of RCV
- 96% agreed/strongly agreed that they would attend the Forum again in the future
We also received some very constructive feedback on how the Forum can be improved, and this feedback will be incorporated into our planning for the 2018 Forums.
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Annual General Meeting
The first Annual General Meeting (AGM) of Rural Councils Victoria Incorporated was held on Wednesday 18th October at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
Items considered at the AGM were:
- Annual report
- Financial statement
- Annual subscription fee
- Changes to the Rules of Incorporation.
The minutes of the AGM will be uploaded to the RCV website towards the end of November.
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Victorian Government 2018/2019 Budget Advocacy Campaign
One of the key roles of RCV is to ensure the significant issues facing rural Councils are considered by the Victorian Government, and addressed through appropriate policy and budget measures.
RCV will soon be commencing its advocacy campaign for the Victorian Government 2018/2019 Budget.
The campaign will put forward policy proposals that address the issues impacting rural Councils and communities, and will link these issues to improving liveability in rural communities.
The Agenda Group has been engaged by RCV to provide strategic advocacy advice for this campaign.
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Rural Population Growth Policy
The Rural Population Growth Policy is the first project to be undertaken from those identified in the Population Attraction and Retention Strategies for Rural Victorian Communities report.
Urban Enterprise has been appointed to complete this project, and the final policy is expected to be delivered in the first quarter of 2018.
The policy will:
- Determine drivers and barriers to population growth and economic development
- Identify a priority set of initiatives for implementation over three years
- Highlight the merits of actively supporting population growth in rural Victoria
- Be used to secure Victorian Government policy and funding to achieve the outcomes of the policy.
The key phases for developing the policy are:
- Analysis of demographic and economic trends in rural Victoria.
- Cost benefit analysis of growing the population of rural Victoria to mitigate growth pressures in Greater Melbourne and regional cities.
- Final report including the Rural Population Growth Policy.
Urban Enterprise will present the policy at the first Mayors, Councillors and CEOs Forum in 2018.
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Rural Workforce Development Plan
The Rural Workforce Development Plan is the second project to be undertaken from those identified in the Population Attraction and Retention Strategies for Rural Victorian Communities report.
Dench McLean Carlson has been appointed to complete this project, and the final plan is expected to be delivered in the first quarter of 2018.
The plan will:
- Identify current and future workforce needs in rural Victoria – both in number and skills required
- Underpin promotion of current and future work related opportunities in Victoria
- Identify potential sources of workers including immigration.
The key phases for developing the plan are:
- Analysis of demographic and skills profile of rural Victorian workforce
- Understanding of current and projected workforce needs
- Potential sources for recruitment of required workers
- Effective support for business ‘start ups’ in rural Victoria
- Final report including the Rural Workforce Development Plan.
Dench McLean Carlson will present the plan at the first Mayors, Councillors and CEOs Forum in 2018.
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Understanding Social Enterprise workshops
RCV has partnered with the Australian Centre for Rural Entrepreneurship (ACRE) to promote, explore and develop rural entrepreneurship and social enterprise across our rural communities.
Matt Pfahlert, Chief Executive Officer of ACRE, presented to the Mayors and CEOs regional forums across the state in the first half of 2017. These included presentations in Korumburra, Port Fairy, Mildura, Kerang and Wedderburn. A Hume regional forum presentation is still to come.
There has been strong interest to register for the Understanding Social Enterprise workshops as social enterprise, youth entrepreneurship and enterprise skills development becomes a stronger focus for a number of rural Councils.
To date, one workshop in the East Gippsland Shire has been completed, with an additional four workshops confirmed for November and December.
The results of the workshop have been very encouraging and with the current interest level a full schedule of workshops for 2018 is anticipated.
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