Why millennials are choosing regional Australia again

By Georgie Somerset AM - General President - AgForce and Director at Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC)

After decades of watching once-thriving bush towns wither away,as some of our communities’ best and brightest young people moved to the cities, it is extremely heartening to see the tide flowing the other way.

A new report by the Regional Australia Institute, “Big Movers: Understanding Population Mobility in Regional Australia” found that the family-friendly lifestyle we in the bush take for granted is not only calling back our own kids, but attracting thousands of capital city millennials looking for a better way of life. But why?

More than Fresh Air and Open Spaces

It isn’t only the clichéd “fresh air and open spaces” drawing younger Australian’s to the country.

Much of it is that we are not the city: not sitting in traffic for an hour to get to work, more affordable and better quality housing, improved job opportunities, the chance for a fresh start without high-stress urban living.

‘Being connected’ has new meaning now too, with high speed internet transforming work models and accessibility like never before.

COVID’s silver lining

With all the tragic loss of life and societal upheaval brought to bear on many by the COVID-19 cloud’ that now hangs over us, it has offered rural and regional Australia the change in Society’s focus on what is important.

Government and the community have acknowledged the critical role that agriculture will play in Australia’s way of life – along with the thousands of regional communities it underpins – in the post-pandemic economic recovery.

The growing ‘return to the regions’ movement is exciting because it makes this even more possible.

That’s why AgForce is preparing to take our members' proud track record of innovation, environmental stewardship, and social and economic outcomes to the next level, to step up to meet this challenge and make the most of the once-in-a-generation opportunity presented to us, for the benefit of all Australians.

What is AgForce doing?

AgForce is already working on generating the environment to deliver improvements to our own state, Queensland, and to its regions.

Critical factors like stronger collaboration between government and industry, and more effective engagement with the broader community and the next generation.

Over next few weeks, AgForce will relaunch a re-energised ‘Stand With Regional Queensland’ movement to reconnect the country with the city.

Regional Australia has much to offer people from the city

How can I get involved?

Even though AgForce is a member organisation based in Queensland, we welcome input and support from all Australian’s when it comes to strengthening our regions because when our regions are strong, we are all better off.

You can show your support for AgForce’s Regional Queensland campaign by using the hashtag: #standwithregqld, or by joining the discussion online: standwithregqld.org.au

https://agforceqld.org.au/