The federal government has announced a partnership with motoring group NRMA to build 117 new fast-charging stations to connect more rural and regional parts of Australia. $39 million has been allocated to install 117 EV fast charging stations, (29 in Western Australia) on national highways and a National Electric Vehicle Strategy to encourage greater use of cleaner vehicles. The 29 stations in Western Australia will be located in: Balladonia, Broome, Caiguna, Cataby, Coolgardie, Eighty Mile Beach, Eneabba, Fitzroy crossing, Geraldton, Halls Creek, Kununurra, La Grange,Lake Argyle,Lake Mcleod, Madura, Manjimup, Merredin Nerren Nerren, Norseman, Northam, Pardoo, Peedamulla, Port Hedland, Roebourne, Southern Cross, Warmun, Willare, Wooramel, Yannarie.

National Vehicle Strategy
Map of charging stations

The 2023-24 WA State Budget has been released, and includes a range of investments across regional Western Australia. These include a boost to the New Industries Fund to support regional entrepreneurs in the innovation sector; an increase to the travel allowance for regional TAFE students; an extension of the Affordable Airfares program; continued funding of the Regional Athlete Support Program; and $77 million to manage and protect Aboriginal cultural heritage in WA, including support for new Local Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Services. Follow the links below to read the full list of investments by region:
​Kimberley
Pilbara
Gascoyne
Mid-West
Wheatbelt
​Goldfields-Esperance
Peel
​Great Southern
South-West

A review by the Department of Training and Workforce Development during 2021 and 2022 of the WA Group Training Program (WAGTP) has been released. It was found "there was unanimous support for the WAGTP to continue and all stakeholders recognised the valuable contribution the program was making by supporting apprentices and trainees from the priority groups".  
Access the report

The 2023-24 Federal Budget has been announced- find key investments for your industries and links to budget analysis below:

Arts
The 2023-24 Budget "delivers immediate support to artists and arts organisations, our cultural institutions, training bodies and key areas of the new National Cultural Policy, Revive" including:

• $535.3 million over 4 years for Australia’s 9 National Collecting Institutions, like the National Archives of Australia and National Gallery of Australia
• $286 million to deliver on Revive including through; restoring core arts funding: establishing Creative Australia, Music Australia, Writers Australia and a Creative Workplaces centre to support arts workers; establishing a First Nations-led body; sharing the National Gallery of Australia’s collection with regional and suburban galleries; and improving incomes for authors
• $9 million to Australia’s 8 national arts training organisations to secure critical courses and skills development and maintain performers and production specialists for Australia's live performing arts and screen industry and the creative economy more broadly
• $112.3 million in additional funding to attract international investment in the Australian screen industry to provide domestic employment and training opportunities by increasing the Location Offset rebate to 30%
• $6.9 million over 4 years from 2023-24 for Ausfilm to continue to promote screen productions in Australia.
• Move to a five-year funding cycle for the ABC and SBS

Analysis:
​Budget 2023-24: What’s in it for the arts? (ArtsHub)
Chalmers offers little for business (Print21)
Australia raises location offset to 30% (AusFilm)
2023 budget delivers 5 year funding cycle for public broadcasters (Mumbrella)

A journal article in Sport in Society indicated three ways in which sport and technology are creating an innovative future. These include:
* growth of eSports competitions
* use of new technology at sport mega-events to enhance the visual experience
* application of smart devices to enhance training and exercise programs
Access the journal article here

Through the state Government Community Participation and Inclusion Program (CPIP), 12 groups will be funded to create and deliver arts and culture projects to people from diverse backgrounds across regional and remote communities. Administered by the Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries, the following projects have received funding:

• Meridian Regional Arts - $77,449 for a collaborative arts project linking artists with seniors in Merredin;
• North Midlands Project - $79,485 for a series of artist residencies in Carnamah to connect with the surrounding communities;
• Esperance Community Arts - $79,940 for a series of community arts workshops and public events;
• Kimberley Arts Network - $78,750 for six artists to travel to the Kimberley to deliver training and workshops;
• Warlayirti Artists Aboriginal Corporation - $79,950 to extend the delivery of art and cultural activities from Balgo and Mulan;

The federal government via Austrade have launched a campaign this week to attract older workers to tourism. 
 
The campaign highlights the benefits of tourism jobs such as flexibility, seasonal or part-time work and the opportunity to work while touring Australia. 
 
Austrade has developed a range of resources to help businesses recruit mature age workers. 
 
Austrade website with resources

The Hon Brendan O'Connor, the Minister for Skills and Training has addressed the Annual Australasian VET Research Association conference  (27 April 2023) outlining some of the key themes to be investigated and supported within the VET sector. These include; the low level of apprenticeship completions, occupational gender disparity, the role of both public and private registered training providers, how to support the central role of TAFE in the skills ecosystem and the need to maintain a high quality VET workforce. 
​
The full speech can be read at Annual Australasian VET Research Association Conference 2023 | Ministers' Media Centre (dewr.gov.au)

The annual funding round supports smaller and developing regional events to help attract new visitors to WA's five tourism regions and stimulate local economies.
This year's RES round will fund 10 new events and will include $250,000 to deliver Regional Aboriginal Events, including the agritourism event Taste of the Kimberley, showcasing the produce and landscapes of the Kimberley region; and the RAES event Iwarra Wilungga - Spring by the Sea, which is a celebration of Aboriginal culture in the Mid-West.
Other events include the Great Southern Stage Run, a three-day race following the wild and rugged Bibbulman Track; and the Northam Heritage and Multicultural Festival in the Wheatbelt. 

View the full list of recipients