Seeking positive futures for rural and remote communities: a role for education

Abstract:

This paper reports on futures research conducted to identify challenges likely to be faced by non-metropolitan Australia in the future. The education required to ensure sustainable and equitable futures for people living in those parts of Australia and their communities is then outlined. Census data and a sample of news items and articles from newspapers, magazines and other publications have been used as data sources for the extrapolation of possible futures for rural and remote Australia. Census data shows disadvantage and change in rural and remote Australia, including age structure of the population, social and economic wellbeing, and higher levels of volunteering than is found for the Australian population as a whole. News items and other publications highlight concerns about the provision of social facilities such as health and education, successes and problems relating to business activities, and concern about ecological issues (particularly as they impact on the metropolitan population as is the case for water). Challenges facing rural and remote communities are the probability of continuing trends for a declining aging population, rationalisation of social infrastructure for health and education, the continuing globalisation of markets, and challenging environments for businesses. This means that education for the young people who will remain living in rural and remote Australia education is important as they will need to contribute to their communities in significant ways. They will need to be efficient workers, innovative and creative as they seek solutions to problems facing their community and local. They will need to be able to locate external resources (human and financial) and seek to influence policies and public perceptions that that challenge their lives and communities.