Regional Development Australia Pilbara

02/09/2026

Very happy to be supporting this important regional event - make sure you get down there to hear from our CEO Daiva Gillam and a range of other great speakers!

🩷 We're excited to have Regional Development Australia Pilbara supporting the 2026 Women of the Pilbara Forum as a Bronze Sponsor.

Their involvement helps us shine a spotlight on the incredible women driving business, industry and community across the Pilbara. We appreciate their ongoing support of this important event. 🌸✨

🎟️ Tickets for the 2026 Women of the Pilbara Forum are now officially on sale!
Secure your tickets here - https://events.humanitix.com/women-of-the-pilbara-forum-2026

🤝 Sponsorship opportunities are also available – align your brand with this exclusive event and be part of empowering and celebrating women across the Pilbara. Head to the website for more information. 💕- https://www.womenofthepilbara.com.au/

🩷

31/08/2026

Congratulations to Pilbara community leader Henry Lockyer on being named the first co-chair of the Aboriginal Justice Advisory Committee.

The Banyjima man has served as the AJAC member connected to the Pilbara region since May 2023 and is looking forward to taking on the expanded role.

"We carry a responsibility to our peoples and communities,” he said.

Henry's appointment marks the first time that the Department of Justice WA Director General has not been the sole chair of the Committee.

As part of the new structure, Henry and Director-General Kylie Maj will jointly oversee the Committee's work in advising the Attorney General and the Corrective Services Minister on Aboriginal justice policy, priorities, and outcomes.

Respected community leader Henry Lockyer has been named the first co-chair of the Aboriginal Justice Advisory Committee.

28/08/2026

Another excellent Business After Hours organised by KDCCI.

Fantastic to hear more from Ashley Eversden (Karratha Senior High School) and Dr. Jacinta Homann (Pilbara Kimberley University Centres ) about what their organisations are doing to create opportunities for Pilbara locals.

Our region is fortunate to have two quality and forward-thinking educational institutions, dedicated to developing the Pilbara's workforce of the future.

Photos thanks to KTA MEDIA.

27/08/2026

Great to catch up last night with Principal Ashley Eversden at the KDCCI Business After Hours hosted by Karratha Senior High School and Pilbara Kimberley University Centres.

We're looking forward to working closely with Ashley on paid school-based traineeships for Karratha students that will create genuine local opportunities.

RDA Pilbara wants to see Pilbara kids build careers in the region they grow up in. Providing workforce development opportunities not only offers an alternative to moving to Perth for school or university - it reduces the Pilbara's reliance on skills and workers from other parts of WA and Australia.

26/08/2026

We're very excited to announce the appointment of Luke Blackbourn as the new Chair of RDA Pilbara.

Luke has been connected to the Pilbara for over 20 years, and has served many roles. He has a passion for, and significant experience in, delivering community benefits through government and business activities.

He looks forward to helping Pilbara communities connect to Canberra (and elsewhere) to ensure economic growth is matched by regional wellbeing.

Welcome Luke - and thanks also to Ryley Heap for his efforts as interim Chair over the past few months.

26/08/2026

Exciting to see BCI Minerals continuing to expand the capabilities of its Mardie Salt Project - with the planned addition of a sulphate of potash (SOP) pilot plant.

Last week BCI awarded a construction contract for the plant, which is targeted for commissioning in the second half of 2028.

Australia currently imports nearly all of its SOP, a premium fertiliser that is used on high-value crops around the world.

The pilot will assess the commercial viability of producing SOP at scale in the Pilbara, using feedstock created as a byproduct of BCI's salt operations.

(Photo via BCI Minerals)

21/08/2026

One last word on Count The Pilbara...for now, at least 😀

While the sun has set on our campaign, the work is far from finished.

We'll now be taking the issue to Federal MPs, Senators, Parliamentary Committees and other stakeholders to advocate for fairer, more accurate ways to measure and represent regional Australia.

Stay tuned and we’ll keep you posted!

21/08/2026

Thanks again to everyone who came along to the Census events we hosted last week in collaboration with the Australian Bureau of Statistics in Karratha, Newman and Hedland.

It was the culmination of a busy and very rewarding few weeks working to ensure that the Pilbara is counted correctly - and we're grateful to everyone who lent a hand along the way.

What's a Census without a good barbecue!

20/08/2026

Great to see Hedland Senior High School's Shaquille Brierly representing the Pilbara in the National Youth Parliament in Canberra this week.

Shaquille was among 150 students from around the country to take their leadership skills to the nation's capital and get an up-close look at Federal Parliament.

Photo thanks to Melissa Price MP.
The Y Australia

12/08/2026

An informative piece from ABC Pilbara (and other regional newsrooms in WA) that explains why the work we've done over the past six weeks about the Census has been so important.

Thanks to everyone who took the time to listen to us and engage with our campaign material.

Most of all, thank you for filling out your Census forms correctly and helping us Count The Pilbara!

Finally, if you missed out on completing the Census on August 11, it's not too late. See the ABS website for more details: https://bit.ly/4gpnsUK

https://ab.co/4hozheW

Mining cities across Australia say the count fails to acknowledge the increasing pressure the nation's growing fly-in fly-out workforce puts on communities.