In This Issue:

• Welcome From The Chair
• RDANI Welcomes New Committee Members
• Call for Artists and Art Venues to join the Northern Inland Arts Trail
• Smarter Energy Use for Regional Australia
• The 2012 Friendly Faces Helping Hands Foundation Evening of Art
• Regional Training Awards
• Grants, Funding Opportunities and Tenders
   

Welcome From The Chair

Dear Fellow Northern Inland Residents,

Despite the horrendous floods experienced by many of us and the resulting damage to homes, businesses and the road network, 2012 is off to a good start. Here at RDANI we’ve welcomed 6 new members to our committee and we look forward to the knowledge, experience and insight they can bring to the table.

The staff and committee of RDANI are always happy to get suggestions and comments from the residents of the communities we serve so please feel free to get in touch with us at any time. We’d also like you to take the time to have a look at our new and improved website: www.rdani.org.au Tell us what you think!

Mal Peters, Chair

RDANI Welcomes New Committee Members

Regional Development Australia Northern Inland (RDANI) is pleased to announce 6 new appointments to the RDANI Committee.

Current member Mr Les Parsons has been appointed as the new Deputy Chair and the following local individuals have been named as new committee members by Minister for Regional Australia The Hon Simon Crean and NSW Deputy Premier The Hon Andrew Stoner.

• Ms Melanie Dowell
• Ms Jane Kreis
• Mr Ian Lobsey
• Mr Matt Patterson
• Ms Sue Price
• Ms Anita Taylor

The new appointments will ensure that RDANI continues as a vital connection between all three levels of Government in the region.

With experience across a range of industries from farming to accounting, education and arts through to community service and local government, the new committee members will provide a new insight into regional development.

The RDANI Committee will be instrumental in identifying strengths and opportunities across the Northern Inland will help drive local solutions to local issues and they look forward to voicing the needs and wants of the residents of the Northern Inland.

Call for Artists and Art Venues to join the Northern Inland Arts Trail

Arts North West is calling on the region’s museums, galleries, artist studios and other ‘Arts Places’ to become a part of Country Art Escapes – the Northern Inland regional arts trail.

Country Art Escapes will provide, to visitors and locals alike, an easy to use facility to plan a cultural tour of our region. Day trips, weekends away and longer breaks can be planned and will include some of the nest art, food, wine, festivals and accommodation in the region.

Country Art Escapes will be promoted as a single program regionally and nationally and will also provide a forum for arts and arts places to promote their activities and events.

Visitors to the soon to be launched website will be able to plan their own tour as well as have the option of following suggested trails, organised tours and visiting featured attractions and events.

The website www.countryartescapes.com.au will be launched in March 2012 and in the meantime all enquiries can be directed to Arts North West on (02) 6732 4988 or visit www.artsnw.com.au

Smarter Energy Use for Regional Australia

The Federal Government recently opened a package of energy efficiency programs designed to drive smarter energy use in business, local government, households and communities for a clean energy future.

The programs will enable all Australians regardless of where they live or how much they earn to harness the opportunities of a low carbon future. They will be delivered in partnership with business, councils and community groups.

The programs include:

• The Community Energy Efficiency Program - $200 million to assist local government, not-for-profits and community organisations to undertake energy efficiency upgrades to community infrastructure
• The Low Income Energy Efficiency Program - $100 million to support groups of service providers to demonstrate smarter energy use in low income households across Australia
• The Energy Efficiency Information Grants Program - $40 million to support small and medium sized business and community groups by providing information and advice to make smarter energy choices.

For regional communities and smaller councils, these programs will make it easier to access assistance and support in the transition to a low carbon future.

For more information on the package of Energy Efficiency Programs, please visit www.climatechange.gov.au

The 2012 Friendly Faces Helping Hands Foundation Evening of Art

On Saturday March 10, the Friendly Faces Helping Hands Foundation is hosting an Evening of Art at the Narrabri RSL Club.

The night will feature a large display of unique artworks and stunning photography created by talented local artists. Each piece will also be up for auction, offering a rare opportunity to take home a beautiful artwork from some of the region’s most talented artists.

This event will help raise funds and awareness for the fabulous, free service the foundation provides to those that find themselves needing to spend time in and around hospitals that are more often than not, a long way from home.

Tickets are $60 per person and are available through either the Narrabri RSL Club on (02) 6792 5884 or the Friendly Faces Helping Hands Foundation on 0457 175 888. For more information about the Foundation, please go to www.friendlyfaces.info

Regional Training Awards

The NSW Training Awards are conducted annually by the NSW Department of Education and Communities (DEC) to recognise outstanding achievement in the vocational education and training sector. The Awards honour and reward the achievements of students, teachers, trainers, training organisations and employers.

The NSW Training Awards receive a large number of entries each year for the 13 award categories. To help promote vocational education and training and to recognise the growing level of excellence displayed throughout the NSW training system, most of the Awards are assessed by the regional Vocational Education and Training (VET) Promotional Committees. These 11 committees comprise of staff of a variety of stakeholders in the VET system such as Australian Apprenticeship Centres, training providers, employers and employer groups, industry bodies and State Training Service and are responsible for hosting the Awards in June of each year.

These Regional Training Awards events showcase the extent of the quality that the VET sector produces in NSW. With a combined state-wide attendance of over 4,000 guests, the NSW Training Awards are the biggest celebration of VET in Australia.

To nominate for an award or to simply learn more please email NSWTrainingAwards@det.nsw.edu.au or visit www.training.nsw.gov.au/training_awards

Grants, Funding Opportunities and Tenders

As RDANI has access to a plethora of grants and funding opportunities, as of this month, there will be a new Grants Portal on our website which can be found here http://www.rdani.org.au/our-region/grants-and-funding-opportunities.php

This page will highlight a selection of the funding opportunities available as well as provide further resources on how to find the appropriate grant. The new portal will inform communities, businesses and industries within the region of the many government, business and philanthropic grants available.

Tenders
Tendering is becoming a vital part of how many businesses in the Northern Inland operate on a day to day basis. RDANI would like to highlight the many sources of Tender information available.

Both state and federal governments often have projects open for tender. For more information on NSW State Government Tenders please go to https://tenders.nsw.gov.au for further information on Federal Government Tenders please go to www.tenders.gov.au

Commercial tenders are also becoming more popular. For more information on the commercial tendering process please go to www.tenderlink.com or www.tenders.com.au

The Industry Capability Network (ICN) creates opportunity for New South Wales and Australian industry.

If you are developing a supply chain and need a competitive local source of supply, ICN can help.

ICN bridges the information gap between buyers and sellers by advising on:

• supply chain development
• import replacement
• local industry capability and capacity

For more information please go to www.icn.org.au