The Local and Regional Economic Development Handbook, launched on 27 April, contains a wealth of practical case studies and examples that span the globe.

The Handbook highlights Australia as a nation utilizing structured, collaborative frameworks to bridge the gap between federal policy and local action. These case studies focus on regional coordination, addressing the “digital divide” for older populations, and creating inclusive pathways for high-growth sectors.

Highlights of specific policies or initiatives discussed include:

𝘕𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘭 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘙𝘦𝘨𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘭 𝘎𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘯𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦: 𝘙𝘦𝘨𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘭 𝘋𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘭𝘰𝘱𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘈𝘶𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘢 (𝘙𝘋𝘈) 𝘕𝘦𝘵𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘬 (Chapter 5: Policy) This program consists of 52 committees of local leaders who develop regional plans to identify comparative advantages and facilitate access to federal funding. It is used to illustrate how network-based, partnership-oriented approaches can operate at a scale between local and state levels to address economic challenges.

𝘑𝘰𝘣𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘚𝘬𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘴 𝘈𝘶𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘢 (Chapter 13: Education and Skills) A federal agency that coordinates workforce development while maintaining state and regional autonomy, notably through initiatives like Jobs Victoria. The context highlights comprehensive state-level support, such as career counseling and wage subsidies, specifically targeting long-term unemployed and refugees.

𝘐𝘯𝘯𝘰𝘷𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘐𝘯𝘤𝘭𝘶𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯: 𝘉𝘦 𝘊𝘰𝘯𝘯𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘗𝘳𝘰𝘨𝘳𝘢𝘮 (Chapter 3: Megatrends) A national digital literacy initiative delivered through hundreds of local partner organizations like libraries and community centers to increase the online safety and confidence of older Australians. It is used to demonstrate how framing responses to megatrends (like an aging population) around local assets can extend working lives and economic participation.

𝘛𝘦𝘤𝘩 𝘊𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘭, 𝘚𝘺𝘥𝘯𝘦𝘺 (Chapter 12: Innovation) A large-scale innovation and technology precinct spanning six neighborhoods, designed to provide affordable space specifically for startups and scale-ups. This case study exemplifies a “comprehensive urban innovation strategy” that combines heritage and culture with physical infrastructure to attract global talent.

The book (available from Amazon via www.lredhandbook.com) includes case studies and observations from across the globe, from a diverse range of countries including: Australia, Canada, Denmark, England, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Japan, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Scotland, Singapore, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, United States and Wales.

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