It’s been an exciting and successful year for the Cross Border Commissioner, with key work taking place to strengthen regional connections and engage with businesses and communities to help secure the outcomes that are important to them.
Stronger regional connections
Stakeholder engagement
The Commissioner travelled more than 65,000 kms in 2024-2025 to foster collaboration with more than 350 cross border stakeholders – including those in government, industry, business, community and emergency response.
Policy advocacy
The Commissioner uses feedback and information gained from countless conversations with stakeholders in rural, remote and regional border settings to ensure new and ongoing cross border issues are elevated to senior policy makers, including Victorian Government secretaries.
This helps ensure that strategic advice is shaping policy decisions that deliver better outcomes for border communities.
Key areas of focus have included:
- improving transport connectivity
- providing better access to healthcare services
- policing and legislative issues in border settings
- creating opportunities for workforce mobility and equitable education for border communities
- emergency management
- economic development.
Plan for Victoria
Victoria’s new strategy, Plan for Victoria, now incorporates cross border recognition, promoting more integrated service delivery and economic development in border cities including Mildura, Wodonga and Echuca.
For a clearer version of this map, download a copy of the written plan on the Plan for Victoria website.
Creating stronger collaboration
An important achievement this year has been the development of stronger and closer cross border collaboration.
The Commissioner has led or participated in a number of key initiatives.
Quarterly Cross Border Commissioners Forum
These forums provided an arena to address interstate priorities and federal opportunities.
2024 and 2025 Cross Border Local Government Breakfasts
Held in Canberra, these events strengthened ties between State Cross Border Commissioners, as well as local government CEOs and mayors from border regions.
Tri-State Health Forum
The most recent forum was held in Renmark, and brought together health leaders from New South Wales, South Australia, and Victoria to tackle urgent cross border healthcare challenges.
The forum was a standout in terms of the depth of collaboration across jurisdictions and its strong focus on practical, actionable solutions, which set a new benchmark for how regional health issues can be collectively addressed.
Cross Border Ambulance Working Group
This targeted initiative convenes key stakeholders to address ongoing ambulance and patient transport challenges affecting border communities.
Participants are committed to strengthening cross border coordination and identifying practical solutions to improve emergency response and patient care across state jurisdictions.
An emerging priority for the group is tackling workforce and volunteering shortages associated with ambulance services.
Victoria and New South Wales Cross Border Policing and Justice Forum
This Albury forum looked to foster dialogue and cooperation among law enforcement agencies to advance solution-focused approaches to cross border policing and Justice of the Peace issues.
Victoria and South Australian Local Government Areas CEO Cross Border Forum
Held in Portland, the CEO Cross Border Forum gave state and local governments an opportunity to discuss key topics such as the Australian Rail Track Corporation’s Maroona to Portland rail line upgrade and the Limestone Coast Growth Strategy.
Discussions also focused on targeted support for the Port of Portland, recognising its vital role as a key import and export hub for south-west Victoria.
Regional TAFE Forum
The Commissioner was pleased to speak at the 2024 Regional TAFE Forum in Warrnambool, engaging with CEOs and executives on the priorities and challenges facing TAFE education in border communities.
Regional Engagement Highlights
Key discussions across the region centred on economic growth, connectivity, and unlocking critical infrastructure opportunities.
Echuca-Moama: Strengthening Aboriginal Economic Development
A recent visit to the Echuca-Moama region underscored the importance of deep, ongoing partnerships with First Peoples rooted in respect for Country and community.
First Nations–led and place-based opportunities include:
- Barmah–Millewa National Forest: A culturally and ecologically significant landscape. Read more on the Yorta Yorta Traditional Owner Land Management Board website.
- Ulunja Farm (Moama): A Yorta Yorta enterprise and home to Australia’s largest medicinal-grade Manuka honey plantation
- Woka Walla: An Aboriginal labour hire business in land and water management. Read more on the Yorta Yorta Nation Aboriginal Corporation website.
- Dharnya Centre: A $10 million cultural and educational hub providing an iconic place on Yorta Yorta Country that blends culture, education and eco-tourism. Learn more on the Dharnya Centre website.
- Moama Annex: A proposal to strengthen authentic cross border representation and coordination
- Port of Edrom: Charting Maritime Growth through Cross Border Collaboration.
Working with neighbouring Cross Border Commissioners
In June, the Commissioner joined Minister for Regional Development, Local Government and Territories, Kristy McBain MP, and the NSW Cross-Border Commissioner Kalina Koloff at the Port of Edrom to explore new economic opportunities with The Pentarch Group Offshore Solutions.
Mildura: A Tri-State Collaboration Lighting the Way Forward
In April, Mildura hosted the tri-state Cross Border Commissioners and business leaders from Victoria, South Australia and New South Wales. Meetings championed regional partnerships and future-focused collaboration across state lines.
Stay up to date
To stay up to date with initiatives and activity throughout the year, follow Victoria's Cross Border Commissioner on LinkedIn.