How to Get Involved with Regional Australia Institute Events and Programs

Updated

The Regional Australia Institute (RAI) offers three main ways to engage: the Regions Rising National Summit for community, industry and government leaders; the Masterclass Program for CEOs and executives; and its research publications, which you can explore online. To take part in an event, use the "Register now" link on that event's page; to access member-style features, use the site's "Sign up" or "Log in" options. The site does not publish ticket prices or state that events are free, so confirm cost and eligibility on the registration page before committing.

The three entry points at a glance

Opportunity Who it's for What you do Where to start on the site
Regions Rising National Summit Leaders from community, industry and government Join a national conversation on the future of regional Australia "Register now" on the summit listing
Masterclass Program CEOs and executives Build strategic capability to navigate complexity, influence systems and drive change "Find out more" on the program listing
Research reports and indexes Anyone following regional population and growth trends Read findings and use the data "Explore the findings" on each report

Regions Rising National Summit

The summit is framed as a national conversation bringing together leaders from community, industry and government to explore what is possible when people come together around shared goals. The site lists a Regions Rising National Summit dated 14.09.2026, plus a separate Regions Rising WA event in Perth, Western Australia, described as a day of insight.

Steps to attend:

  1. Open the summit listing on the RAI homepage.
  2. Select "Register now" to reach the registration page.
  3. Check the date, location and any fee or eligibility conditions shown there before registering.

Expected result: you are registered for the event and receive whatever confirmation the registration page provides. Common snag: the homepage shows event dates but not prices or capacity, so treat the registration page as the authoritative source.

Masterclass Program

The Masterclass Program is described as an intensive experience designed exclusively for CEOs and executives. Its stated purpose is to build the strategic capabilities needed to navigate complexity, influence systems, unlock high-impact opportunities and drive transformative change across regions.

Steps to apply:

  1. Find the Masterclass Program listing on the homepage.
  2. Select "Find out more" to read the full program details.
  3. Confirm you meet the executive-level audience the program is designed for, then follow the enrolment route given on that page.

Expected result: you understand the program's format and can decide whether to enrol. Common snag: "designed exclusively for CEOs and Executives" describes the intended audience; the site does not spell out formal eligibility rules, so verify any requirements directly with RAI if your role sits adjacent to that group.

Research reports and indexes

If your goal is to use RAI's evidence rather than attend an event, three publications are featured:

  • Regional Population Planning (Research Report, 09.09.2026) — argues that regional Australia is home to more than 10 million people and growing faster than many expect, but planning systems for housing, infrastructure and services are not keeping pace; it calls for a more coordinated national settlement approach to support regional growth and avoid further concentration in the major capital cities.
  • Regionalisation Ambition 2032 – Year 3 Progress Report (Research Report, 7.10.2025) — outlines Australia's progress toward rebalancing national growth by strengthening regional communities.
  • Regional Movers Index (30.03.2026) — developed with the Commonwealth Bank of Australia, it provides insights into population movements between regions and capital cities and is intended to identify growth hotspots faster than before.

Each has an "Explore the findings" link. Use these when you need citable figures or arguments for a submission, briefing or planning discussion.

Account and contact options

The site header includes Sign up, Log in, Cart, Support us and a keyword search. These suggest you can create an account, possibly make purchases through a cart, and support the organisation financially. The available material does not describe what a sign-up unlocks or what the cart is used for, so check those pages if membership or paid resources matter to your decision.

How to choose

  • You represent a council, company or community group and want national connections: start with the Regions Rising National Summit.
  • You are a CEO or executive seeking structured capability building: start with the Masterclass Program.
  • You need data or policy argument for a plan or funding case: start with Regional Population Planning or the Regional Movers Index.
  • You want to keep pace with everything: sign up on the site and watch the events and research listings for new dates.