Written by Associate Professor Ian Gray from Charles Sturt University’s Centre for Rural Social Research and Professor Geoffrey Lawrence from Central Queensland University, A Future for Regional Australia interprets “the predicament” faced by Australia’s regional people from their own perspective.

The book is a result of more than 10 years social research in rural communities, during which time the authors collected a wealth of data and “refined their thinking” about the way regional society is changing.

“We seek to provide an alternative view of the big changes accompanying globalisation and what might be done in response to them. We have aimed to present a regional perspective on the big issues like population loss, environmental degradation and increasing social inequity,” Professor Gray said.

This, according to Professor Gray, is a perspective that interprets and takes account of the traditions and interests of the regions.

“Professor Lawrence and myself strongly believe that research done in the past has taken a more narrow view and is unable to account for the full range of impacts which globalisation brings.” 

A Future for Regional Australia covers a wide range of social, economic and environmental issues, with the authors hoping their book will prompt “fresh avenues of debate leading to formulation of plans which will secure a future for regional Australians”.

“We must move toward sustainability based on strong regional organisations which are no longer so dependent on the metropolitan cities,” they said.