Local action. National impact.
The Ready Communities National Regional Challenges bring regional, rural and remote changemakers together to learn from each other and generate local action. Taking part is free. Choose a focus area below and share what's happening in your town.
Each focus area has a challenge statement and one national action for 2026–27. Open a focus area to learn more and get involved.
How does your community come together when water runs low?
Tell us how your community comes together when the water runs low. Add your stories about how you and your region respond to drought, and use those stories and stories from others in your community conversations.
Challenge Partner SQNNSW Innovation Hub
Learn more and get involved: Sustainability
How does your community keep its volunteer heart strong?
Map and publish your volunteering opportunities. Share how people know about volunteer opportunities in your community.
Challenge Partner Led by Ready Communities
Learn more and get involved: Community Contribution
How does your region keep its money working locally?
Five ways to shop local. One week in September. Start with a Christmas pilot from 7 December 2026, then plan your town's week across five categories, from Feast Local to Fix Local. Registration is on the Shop Local Week website.
Challenge Partner Why Leave Town
Learn more and get involved: Local Economy
How does your community tell a story that belongs to everyone?
There's more than one good reason to live here. Anyone can be a storyteller for their town. Answer two or more of six questions about your town, and add a photo or a link if you have one.
Challenge Partner Regionall
Learn more and get involved: Cultural Practices
How does your region solve its own housing problem?
Share what your community is doing on housing. Share your town's housing action at any stage, take the next step by April, and join monthly webinars with other towns.
Challenge Partner Community Development Australia
Learn more and get involved: Liveability
How do your generations learn from each other to build something stronger?
Tell us what you have, or want to start, in your community that intentionally mixes younger and older generations for shared value. This could be local youth councils, school and business breakfasts, media programs, and more.
Challenge Partner Futures Isle
Learn more and get involved: Intergenerational ConnectionMonthly webinars for towns taking part. Each one is a community of practice where towns share what they did, ask questions and swap ideas. All times are AEST.
What regions are already doing. These 2026 stories shaped this round, and what towns share now becomes the next set.
No. Taking part and the webinars are free.
Anyone in regional Australia: residents, councils, community groups, businesses, schools and other organisations.
On each focus area's page. Share what is working in your town in one short form. It takes about five minutes.
No. Share what you did in the form. If you do more later, share it again.
We check each entry, then publish it on the focus area's page. You get an email with a link to it and social media tiles to share. Results go into the 2027 Impact Report, and some entries are featured as local stories in the next round.
Yes. Take part in each one on its own page.
