• Deputy Prime Minister launched Regional Australia Institute report showing thousands of jobs in regional Australia
• Charles Sturt Vice-Chancellor Professor Andrew Vann welcomes report, with CSU well positioned in NSW to stimulate regional development
• Education, infrastructure and migration critical to success in regions

Charles Sturt University (CSU) Vice-Chancellor Professor Andrew Vann has welcomed the Regional Australia Institute’s (RAI) Future of Regional Jobs report launched on Friday.

The report, launched by Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack, highlighted positive opportunities for the regional workforce across Australia, with research in January this year showing there were 42 000 jobs available outside Austalia’s capital cities.

The report also covers the challenges of the future of work in Australia’s regions and the potential to move away from primary and secondary industry into service industries – such as health care and social support work – as well as considering the changes ahead in the labour market, with jobs becoming “high tech, high touch and high care.”

CSU Vice-Chancellor Professor Andrew Vann said the report highlighted a roadmap for the regions’ businesses, planners and policy makers.

“It’s clear from the Future of Regional Jobs report that opportunities exist in the regions and further, can be grown significantly by anticipating the skills we will need in the future and keeping pace with technology and infrastructure needs,” said Professor Vann.

“Numbers of health care jobs will only increase in the future, digital and information technology skills will become more critical in a range of industries, and it’s imperative that regionally based universities meet the education and research requirements of these growth areas.

“Charles Sturt University is leading in IT education in Australia and, with the establishment of a Joint Medical Program with Western Sydney University to be based in Orange, we are at the forefront of education our future health professionals with a deep understanding of rural and regional needs.

“The regions offer enormous opportunity in business and specialist skills and we are here to continue to deliver highly skilled graduates and research outcomes.”

When launching the report, Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack said the report reflected Charles Sturt’s motto, For the Public Good and recognised Charles Sturt University at the launch of the report for the University’s work in the regions.

CSU Regional Adviser Strategic Development, the Hon. Fiona Nash said the report showed the genuine, evidence-based growth opportunities Australia’s regions offer.

“What we see here with the report’s finding is that the regions have the opportunity to create value for locals and for the people who want to move here,” Ms Nash said.

“There are jobs here, there are entrepreneurial opportunities and world-class education and research opportunities right here.

“Charles Sturt is educating the health specialists, scientists, engineers, business people, teachers and communicators that will establish and grow our regions significantly in years to come, and creating community value during their study and beyond.

“If ever there was a perfect time for the regions to promote the lifestyle and opportunities you can achieve outside of capital cities, the Future of Regional Jobs report shows us that time is now.”