We’re Regional Insiders With The Experience And Connections To Get Things Done
And this region is what we get out of bed for every morning.
Regional Development Australia Adelaide Hills, Fleurieu and Kangaroo Island is a non-profit, community-based organisation working across 8,752 square kilometres of some of South Australia’s most productive and distinctive country – the Adelaide Hills, the Fleurieu Peninsula and Kangaroo Island.
We’re not a government department. We’re not a consultancy. We’re a team of people embedded in this region, with direct relationships across all levels of government and a genuine stake in what happens here.
Our job is to make sure this region has the infrastructure, the industry strength, the investment and the community support it needs to thrive – not just today, but over the long term.
What We Actually Do
Four things, done well, over many years.
We Advocate
When the region needs a voice at government level – on transport, freight, digital connectivity, housing, childcare, climate resilience – we build the evidence and make the case. Persistently, and in the right rooms.
We Connect
Businesses to funding. Investors to opportunities. Community groups to grants. Government programs to the people and organisations they’re designed to serve. The right introduction at the right time changes everything.
We Support
Free consultations for businesses. Grant readiness guidance for community groups. Economic modelling for major projects. Workforce connections for employers. Concierge support for investors. Whatever the need, we try to find the path forward.
We Inform
A weekly newsletter reaching more than 3,000 subscribers. The Hills and Coast Grant Finder used by 1,734 registered businesses. Regional economic intelligence that keeps government, industry and community informed and connected.
Who We Are
People who know this region and are committed to its future.
RDA Adelaide Hills, Fleurieu and Kangaroo Island is part of a national network of 50 RDA committees across Australia’s capital cities and regions. We are an Australian Government initiative, funded to deliver regional development outcomes across our three sub-regions.
Our economic development staff hold ACEcD and CPD Program certification through Economic Development Australia, and we are a member of CEDA – the Committee for Economic Development of Australia.
We are governed by a board of directors drawn from business, industry and community life across the region. They bring the knowledge of people who live and work here – not the distance of people who visit occasionally and advise from elsewhere.
What Drives Us
Purpose. Vision. Mission. Values.
Our purpose We are committed to developing the region’s economy and liveability.
Our vision The Adelaide Hills, Fleurieu and Kangaroo Island is a prosperous region made up of engaged, connected and resilient communities.
Our mission We lead, facilitate and collaborate to realise the region’s economic potential.
Our values We CLICK.
Care – We care about the region’s prosperity and liveability.
Lead – We lead through a regional focus and commitment to results.
Innovate – We are agile, creative and seek innovative solutions.
Connect – We are the go-to for connection, collaboration and partnerships.
Keep promises – We are trustworthy and deliver what we promise.
The Region We Serve
Three distinct sub-regions. One shared future.
The Adelaide Hills stretch from the foothills of Adelaide to the agricultural heartland around Mount Barker – a region of premium food and wine production, growing residential communities and a strong manufacturing base.
The Fleurieu Peninsula extends south from the Hills to the coast – wine country, tourism, agriculture and the coastal communities of Victor Harbor, Goolwa and beyond.
Kangaroo Island sits 13 kilometres off the southern tip of the Fleurieu – a premium destination for eco-tourism, agribusiness and aquaculture, with a community that punches well above its size.
Together they produce $6.9 billion in economic output annually, employ more than 62,000 people, and export $3.5 billion worth of goods and services to the rest of Australia and the world.
Our Track Record
A selection of what we have delivered.
The Hills and Coast Business Grant, unlocking more than $667,000 in matched manufacturing investment for local businesses. The Regional Drought Resilience Plan, now moving into implementation with a dedicated Drought Resilience Lead working across all three sub-regions. Fibre optic connectivity for Kangaroo Island, secured after years of sustained advocacy. The Inspired Leadership program, building the next generation of regional leaders from within the communities they’ll serve. Study Hubs in Victor Harbor and Kingscote, keeping tertiary education accessible to students who would otherwise have to leave. The South Coast Freight Route business case, progressing with state government.
These are some of the headlines. The full record is in our project archive.
Corporate Documents
Annual Reports, our Strategic Regional Plan and RDSA documents are available for download.
Where To Go From Here
Depending on what brought you to this page.
If you’re a business owner looking for funding, networks or workforce support – For Business is your section.
If you’re an investor or entrepreneur assessing opportunities in this region – Invest is where to start.
If you’re a community member or organisation looking for grants or support – For Community has what you need.
If you’re a government partner looking for evidence of impact or a regional delivery partner – Our Work is the proof room.
And if you just want to talk to someone who knows this region, contact us.
Learn about the Regional Development Australia Program
Discover what the RDA network is and how we advocate for our local communities, businesses and industries.
What is Economic Development?
Discover what “economic development” actually entails for a better understanding of how it drives our work in our region.