About
One in three Australians call regional Australia home.
From the desert to the coast, thousands of regional, rural and remote communities make a unique and valuable contribution every day to the social, cultural and economic fabric of our country.
Around two-thirds of Australia's export earnings come from regional industries such as agriculture, tourism, mining, retail, services and manufacturing. Socially and culturally Australia’s regions punch well above their weight. Resourcefulness, innovation and collaboration are embedded in regional life.
The Institute for Regional Futures recognises the significant contribution of regional Australia and is invested in realising its vast potential. Based in the Hunter, our Institute is of and for Australia’s regions.
For decades we have partnered with governments, industries and communities providing evidence and strategy to support them to make the best decisions for their future and the future of their regions.
How we work
The team at the Institute for Regional Futures live, work and play in regional areas. We know first-hand that every community and every region is unique, and that economic, social and environmental wellbeing means different things to different people.
We draw on extensive expertise across the University of Newcastle. We partner with governments, industries and communities to drive the development of sustainable strategy, policy and programs.
Our advisory approach:
- Building capacity
- Working in partnership
- Forming trusted relationships
- Practicing critically reflective thinking
- Delivering evidence and insight
Regions Matter
Regions Matter is our Australia-wide research program examining why people choose to live and work in regional Australia. The research examines people’s perspectives about their futures and the future of their region, and how these are shaped by the activities of governments, industries and communities.
The research spans regional areas across NSW, Queensland, Victoria, Tasmania and Western Australia. These regions represent a diverse mix of population sizes, proximity to and remoteness from capital cities, and core industries.
The first survey was completed in 2021 and the second was conducted in December 2023 to January 2024.
The Hunter Matters
The Hunter Matters: Regional Insights reveals key perspectives of Hunter residents, with local views compared to those in other regional areas and metropolitan areas. The findings are derived from the first survey in the Institute’s Regions Matter research program.
The Hunter Research Foundation Centre
The Institute incorporates the Hunter Research Foundation Centre. The Foundation was established following the 1955 floods in the Hunter. This event prompted the community to safeguard the region’s economy against future challenges.
Through the Hunter Research Foundation Centre, the Institute holds social, economic and environmental data on and about the Hunter region reaching back 60-plus years. This bank of data is among the most comprehensive of any region in Australia.
The Institute continues the Hunter Research Foundation Centre’s record of delivery for our local region, and more broadly for all regions in Australia and the Asia-Pacific.
The University of Newcastle acknowledges the traditional custodians of the lands within our footprint areas: Awabakal, Darkinjung, Biripai, Worimi, Wonnarua, and Eora Nations. We also pay respect to the wisdom of our Elders past and present.