regionalaustralia.org.au

The Regional Movers Index (RMI) tracks population movements between Australia's regions and capital cities, showing whether people are moving into or out of regional areas and at what pace. It is developed by the Regional Australia Institute (RAI) in partnership with the Commonwealth Bank of Australia (CBA), and according to RAI it "enables population growth hotspots to be identified faster than ever before." It is useful if you want a current read on regional migration trends rather than waiting for slower official population statistics.

What the index measures

The RMI focuses on the flow of people between two broad categories:

• Australia's regions — areas outside the major capital cities
• Capital cities — the major metropolitan centres

By comparing movement in both directions, the index shows the net direction of migration and highlights which regional areas are gaining population fastest. RAI positions this as a faster signal than conventional population data, which is typically published with a longer lag.

Why speed matters

Population statistics are usually revised and released well after moves happen. A index built on banking and address-change signals can surface emerging hotspots while they are still developing — useful for local councils, businesses, and service planners deciding where demand is heading.

Why it matters for understanding regional growth

RAI's broader research context explains the stakes. Its Regional Population Planning work notes that regional Australia "is home to more than 10 million people and is growing faster than many expect, but the systems used to plan housing, infrastructure and services are not keeping pace." The RMI feeds into that picture by showing where growth is actually occurring.

The index supports several practical uses:

• Identifying growth hotspots — which regional centres are attracting movers
• Tracking the city-to-region balance — whether capital city concentration is easing
• Informing planning conversations — housing, infrastructure, and services

RAI frames the wider goal as a "more coordinated national settlement approach" to support regional growth and avoid further concentration in the major capital cities.

How to use it

The RMI is published as a recurring release on the RAI website (the site lists a 30.03.2026 edition under "Regional Movers Index"). To get value from it:

1. Read the latest release on regionalaustralia.org.au and note the reference period — the index reflects movement in a defined window, not a live count.
2. Compare directions — look at both region-bound and city-bound flows to understand net movement, not just gross numbers.
3. Check the hotspot list — use it to see which regional areas are gaining fastest, then cross-reference with local planning data.
4. Pair with RAI's related research — the Regional Population Planning report and the Regionalisation Ambition 2032 progress report give the policy context behind the numbers.

Common pitfalls

• Treating the index as a population count rather than a movement indicator.
• Reading a single release as a long-term trend; compare across editions.
• Assuming hotspot status means infrastructure is keeping up — RAI's own research warns planning systems lag growth.

Where it fits in RAI's work

The RMI is one of several RAI outputs. Others include the Regional Population Planning research report, the Regionalisation Ambition 2032 Year 3 Progress Report, and events such as the Regions Rising National Summit. Together they support RAI's aim of rebalancing national growth by strengthening regional communities. If your question is specifically about migration patterns, the RMI is the most direct source; if it is about planning capacity or policy progress, the companion reports are more relevant.

The Regional Australia Institute's Regional Population Planning report argues that regional Australia already houses more than 10 million people and is growing faster than many expect, but the planning systems for housing, infrastructure and services are not keeping pace. Its central claim is that Australia needs a more coordinated national settlement approach to support regional growth and avoid further concentration in the major capital cities. The report is listed on the RAI site as a research report dated 09.09.2026, with a link to explore the findings.

The problem the report identifies

The argument rests on a mismatch between growth and readiness:

• Population: Regional Australia is home to more than 10 million people.
• Growth rate: It is growing faster than many expect.
• Planning capacity: The systems used to plan housing, infrastructure and services are not keeping pace.

In other words, the report frames regional growth as a present reality rather than a future possibility, and points to planning and service delivery as the bottleneck.

The solution it proposes

The report calls for a more coordinated national settlement approach. The stated purpose is twofold:

1. Support regional growth.
2. Avoid further concentration in the major capital cities.

This positions settlement planning as a national coordination question, not just a local government or state responsibility.

How this fits into RAI's wider work

The report sits alongside other RAI publications and programs that address population movement and regional capacity:

The Regionalisation Ambition 2032 progress report shares the rebalancing goal, while the Regional Movers Index supplies the movement data that underpins claims about where growth is happening.

Who this is useful for

The report's argument is most relevant if you are:

• Researching population policy or settlement planning in Australia.
• Working in local or state planning, housing or infrastructure and want the national-level framing.
• Looking for RAI's stated position before attending or following the Regions Rising National Summit.

To read the argument in full, use the "Explore the findings" link on the Regional Population Planning entry on regionalaustralia.org.au. The site also offers sign-up and log-in options, and a "Support us" link; the available page material does not state whether the full report is accessible without an account, so check the report page directly.

The Regionalisation Ambition 2032 – Year 3 Progress Report is a research report published by the Regional Australia Institute (RAI) that outlines Australia's progress toward rebalancing national growth by strengthening regional communities. It is the three-year checkpoint of a longer ambition running to 2032, and it is the document to read if you want the RAI's own assessment of how far regional Australia has come rather than a general argument for why regions matter.

What the report covers

The RAI describes the report as tracking two connected things:

• National growth rebalancing — whether Australia's population and economic growth are becoming less concentrated in the major capital cities.
• Community strengthening — whether regional communities themselves are gaining the capacity to absorb and sustain growth.

The framing matters. The report is a progress check against a stated ambition, not a standalone statistical release. It sits alongside other RAI work that supplies the underlying evidence, most notably the Regional Population Planning research report and the Regional Movers Index.

How it fits with the RAI's other publications

If your question is "are people actually moving to the regions?", the Regional Movers Index is the more direct source. If your question is "what is the RAI's overall verdict on regional growth policy?", the Year 3 Progress Report is the entry point.

Context the RAI provides

The RAI states that regional Australia is home to more than 10 million people and is growing faster than many expect, while the systems used to plan housing, infrastructure and services are not keeping pace. That gap is the premise the progress report is measuring against: growth is happening, and the question is whether planning and investment are keeping up.

Practical notes for readers

• Publication date: the RAI lists the report as 7.10.2025.
• Access: the site presents the report with an "Explore the findings" link. The page evidence does not state whether the full report is free or requires an account, so check the link before assuming access terms.
• Related events: the RAI's Regions Rising National Summit (14.09.2026) and its Masterclass Program for CEOs and executives are separate offerings connected to the same regional-growth agenda. The site shows a "Register now" and "Find out more" path for these; pricing is not stated in the available material.

When this report is the right source

Use it when you need the RAI's own progress narrative at the three-year mark, or when you are comparing the ambition's stated goals with the evidence in the Regional Population Planning report and the Regional Movers Index. If you need raw population flow data or a detailed settlement policy argument, go to those companion publications instead.

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

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.

The Regional Australia Institute (RAI) is an Australian research and advocacy organisation focused on regional Australia. Its website, regionalaustralia.org.au, is where it publishes research reports, population insights and event information, and where visitors can sign up, log in, support the organisation or register for events. It is useful if you want to understand regional population trends, follow RAI's research, or take part in its summits and programs. The site does not state its pricing, so access terms for paid offerings should be checked directly.

What the RAI does

The RAI describes regional Australia as home to more than 10 million people, growing faster than many expect, while the systems used to plan housing, infrastructure and services are not keeping pace. Its work centres on research and convening:

• Research reports – such as Regional Population Planning, which argues Australia needs a more coordinated national settlement approach to support regional growth and avoid further concentration in the major capital cities.
• Population data – the Regional Movers Index, developed with the Commonwealth Bank of Australia, tracks population movements between Australia's regions and capital cities to identify growth hotspots faster.
• Progress tracking – the Regionalisation Ambition 2032 – Year 3 Progress Report outlines progress toward rebalancing national growth by strengthening regional communities.
• Events and programs – the Regions Rising National Summit and a Masterclass Program designed for CEOs and executives.

Key resources on the site

Each item links to further findings or registration details on the site.

How to use the site

1. Start with the topic you need. If you are researching population trends, open Regional Population Planning or the Regional Movers Index and use "Explore the findings" to reach the detail.
2. Check dates before relying on a report. The listings show publication or event dates, so confirm you are reading the current version.
3. For events, register early. The summit and WA event pages include a "Register now" route; the Masterclass Program has a "Find out more" link.
4. Create an account if you want to engage. The site offers "Sign up" and "Log in" options, plus "Support us" and a cart, which suggests some resources or participation may require an account. The site does not specify what signing up includes or whether any of it costs money.

Common sticking points

• Dates in the future. Some listings carry dates later than typical publication cycles; treat them as the site presents them and verify details on the linked page.
• Access terms are unclear. Because pricing is not stated, do not assume reports, events or the Masterclass are free—check the individual page or contact the RAI.
• Scope is national, not local. The research addresses regional Australia as a whole; for a specific town or region, use the findings as context rather than a local plan.

For anyone needing a starting point on regional population and settlement policy in Australia, the RAI's reports and index are the most direct entry; for participation, the summit and masterclass pages are the practical next step.