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The Strategic Blueprint for Outback SA

The Outback Communities Authority is developing a Strategic Blueprint for Outback SA.

The Strategic Blueprint aims to clearly communicate the issues that prevent Outback SA from contributing its full potential to the State, and to outline strategies for improved facilities and services for the region over the next 10 years. It will serve as a guide for advocacy, investment, and partnerships.

By building a comprehensive profile of the environmental, social, cultural, economic, and infrastructural issues facing Outback SA, the Blueprint aims to improve community livability and wellbeing, protect and enhance culture and heritage, help communities mitigate the effects of climate change, and support housing and economic growth.

Your Input Matters

Participation from those who live, work, or visit Outback SA is crucial to making sure the Blueprint reflects the needs and aspirations of everyone connected to the region. The more voices we hear, the stronger and more representative it will be.

Have your say by:

Strategic Blueprint Schedule

Next Steps

Your feedback will inform the development of the Strategic Blueprint for Outback SA.

After consultation with communities, stakeholders and other government agencies, we will publish the final document and a “What We Heard” report on the Outback Communities Authority website later this year.

Frequently Asked Questions 

What is the Strategic Blueprint?

The Strategic Blueprint for Outback SA is currently in draft form for consultation. It has been developed by the Outback Communities Authority (the Authority) as a comprehensive profile of the environmental, social, cultural, economic, and infrastructural issues facing Outback SA. It will guide the Authority’s projects, policies, and overall direction for the next 10 years.

Why is the Blueprint being developed?

Recent research and consultations conducted by the Authority, particularly the Outback Futures Project and the Progress Association Forum held in Port Augusta in late 2023, highlighted many issues that are important to people living in Outback SA. The Blueprint is being developed to find ways of addressing those issues. This earlier research also identified the need for expanding the Authority’s interactions with other government agencies and organisations that work in Outback SA.

Who will you be consulting with?

We are holding over 20 consultation sessions around Outback SA to meet with as many residents as possible. Anyone with an interest in the future of Outback SA is welcome to attend. These sessions will be facilitated by Nicole Halsey or Anna Della-Coombs from consultancy firm URPS. Concurrent with these community consultation sessions, we are meeting with representatives of key government and non-government organisations, so that the broader community of organisations that have some influence on life in Outback SA are able to consider the directions indicated by the Blueprint.

What if I can’t make it to one of the face-to-face consultations?

In addition to the face-to-face sessions, we will be holding online consultations in September; dates for these are yet to be determined but we will publicise them in subsequent newsletters and in email and social media. There will also be a feedback survey available on the OCA website that anyone can fill out, whether you’ve attended a consultation session or not.

What will happen after the consultations?

After consultations, the facilitators will prepare a report about feedback received for the Authority’s consideration. This will inform a final draft Blueprint for presentation to our Board in October. Once the Board has approved the final draft of the Blueprint, it will be uploaded to our website, with stakeholders notified of the opportunity for any final comment (it is anticipated there will be a brief window for this stage of the process). Finally, the Authority intends to present the Strategic Blueprint to our Minister, the Hon Joe Szakacs MP, for his consideration in early December.