industry and schools was positive with approximately 70 students engaged in the sessions and 30 % of the Year 12 cohort who attended the sessions engaged with local businesses post the in-school activity to follow up on immediate employment opportunities .
FINALLY , ( YES , LETS ROUND IT OUT ) THE ‘ NEW NORMAL ’ Whilst it would be somewhat idealistic to consider the outcomes of the tactics delivered through the Dubbo Region Economic Recovery Strategy to be considered the Region ’ s new normal baseline , it has shown is how resilient and responsive regional businesses and proactive regional governments can be when they work together .
Whilst the data shows phenomenal outcomes in terms of visitation and spending , local purchasing , business engagement and unemployment , it is inevitable in my personal opinion , that the pendulum will swing back to metro centres in due course . What those centres are experiencing now is what our regional community and industries experienced during drought , and the swing of support to assist in the reopening and reigniting of large population and employment centres will come . What this pandemic did achieve for regional centres , with business communities adaptive to change like the Dubbo Region , was an influx of new visitation , new spending habits and an enthusiastic business continuity attitude where managers and employers looked at how things could be done differently , better and more in tune with customer needs as opposed to general business operations .
What the trial of these easily replicated programs shows , is that with a framework of commitment and partnership , testing and trialling ideas , working together and using industry people to drive industry change is an effective and beneficial strategy , pandemic or not . Dubbo Regional Council has taken this learning as the key outcome of the Strategy and will now roll this type of strategy development into its regular economic development planning and delivery .
It is my hope is that the people that bought locally have embedded a new habit and love the quality they receive from local people and produce . That those that visited , will tell their friends and family about the great adventure they had beyond the Blue Mountains in Regional NSW . That when all our restrictions are eased , the ‘ New Normal ’ sees places like the Dubbo Region as a firstchoice location for living , for adventures and an economy of resilience and growth .
What the trial of these easily replicated programs shows , is that with a framework of commitment and partnership , testing and trialling ideas , working together and using industry people to drive industry change is an effective and beneficial strategy , pandemic or not .
REFERENCES
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
JOSIE HOWARD Josie Howard is passionate about regional living and the success of regional economies . Josie uses her well-rounded experience spanning communications , marketing and regional economic development innovatively , with vast stakeholder groups , to support sustainable economic growth . As Manager Economic Development and Marketing at Dubbo Regional Council , Josie leads a multi-faceted team in the major service centre of the Dubbo Region , home to over 53,000 people and a thriving and diverse industry centre in Regional NSW .
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT JOURNAL VOL 14 NO 2 2021 31