The Far West is the most sparsely populated local health district in NSW and has the highest proportion of Aboriginal residents. The population is decreasing, ageing and experiencing significant morbidity related to lifestyle factors and chronic illness.

Far West Local Health District has hospitals and community health facilities in several regional centres and remote locations. These offer an extensive range of services, including emergency, mental health, Aboriginal health, and allied health services.

Broken Hill Base Hospital is a 98-bed rural teaching hospital offering a wide variety of services including 24-hour emergency and maternity services.

Agriculture is a key industry for the Far West economically and for the unique scenic qualities of the rural lands where agriculture is undertaken.

The Far West lies in semi-arid rangelands in western NSW, generally west of the 500mm average annual rainfall limit. Agriculture is based on extensive grazing on predominantly native pastures and cropping on appropriate land on the western and southern margins.

Some irrigated agriculture occurs where there is access to surface water from the major rivers in the region. Opportunistic cropping can occur on ephemeral lake beds where conditions are conducive.

The livestock industry is a very significant part of the regional agricultural economy. Wool and sheep and lamb are the dominant industries. The goat industry capitalises on a formerly ‘pest’ species in the Far West and has grown over the last eight years. Goat meat production is a growing industry in the Far West. More than 95% of goat meat in Australia is exported, with NSW significantly contributing to the processing in other states and national export.

The grazing pressure of livestock and other pressures from non- domestic grazing animals (kangaroos, goats, rabbits) contributes to stock density and vegetation management issues.

Mean temperatures are projected to rise by 2.1 ºC by 2070. The greatest increases are occurring in the north west of the region, around Bourke during summer. All models show there are no declines in mean temperatures across the Far West by 2070.

Climate change is affecting the Far West region, particularly through increasing temperatures. Projections show temperatures are expected to keep rising, rainfall patterns will change and droughts will be more severe.

Summer and spring will experience the greatest changes in maximum temperatures, with maximum temperatures increasing by 2.5°C in the far future. Increased maximum temperatures are known to impact human health through heat stress and increasing the number of heatwave events.

Rainfall is projected to decrease in spring and to increase in autumn. Severe and average fire weather and severe fire weather days are projected to increase in summer and spring. Severe fire weather is projected to decrease in autumn in the near future.

One example of action being taken is a water-resilient community garden by Dharriwaa Elders Group Incorporated. This project renewed a community garden, making it more resilient to drought, and reducing greenhouse gas emissions from food transport by providing local food for the community.

Broken Hill is Australia’s first Heritage Listed city and has a pivotal role in the mining industry. The ore-body that was discovered in Broken Hill is recognised as the largest and richest of its kind in the world and led to the establishment of the mining giant, Broken Hill Proprietary Company (BHP).

A sustainable mining sector in Broken Hill, Cobar, Wentworth and Balranald generates direct employment and provides flow-on benefits to communities. Growth in renewable energy - including wind, solar and bioenergy generation - promotes local jobs in smaller communities and provides opportunities for associated industries.

Opened in 1904 Broken Hill Regional Art Gallery is the oldest regional gallery in New South Wales. The beautifully restored emporium displays a selection of works from the City of Broken Hill's art collection and a quality program of temporary exhibitions by local, state and national artists along with touring exhibitions. The exhibition program also includes the Gallery's annual acquisitive award, the 'Pro Hart Outback Art Prize'.

The Broken Hill Regional Art Gallery provides an annual program of locally curated exhibitions along with touring exhibitions from major cultural institutions. A selection of works from the collection is on permanent display in the upstairs gallery. The annual program endeavours to include work by established and emerging Aboriginal artists from around the Far West region of New South Wales.

Local attractions include Mutawintji National Park which is home to 30,000-year-old Indigenous rock carvings, unique White Cliffs underground opal mines, the historical ghost town of Silverton and an eclectic collection of galleries and current and past artists including ‘Brushmen of the Bush’, Pro Hart, Eric Minchin, Jack Absalom, John Pickup and Hugh Shulz.

The arid landscape of the NSW Far West supports a brilliant array of native species and contains 30,000-year-old Indigenous rock carvings.

The Albert Kersten Mining and Minerals Museum, also known as the GeoCentre, represents the extensive mineral history of Broken Hill. This geological science museum boasts a 42kg silver nugget as well as a large mineral collection, and it is home to the Silver Tree.

Visit the Living Desert Sculptures, a stunning collection of 12 giant sandstone sculptures 9km north of Broken Hill in the Living Desert State Park. Created by 12 international artists as homage to the magnificent desert landscape, the sandstone changes colour with the light, glowing vividly at sunset.

Drop in to The Original Silverton Hotel – the filming location for a number of popular movies including Razorback, Mission Impossible II and The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert. Movie buffs can also explore the Mad Max Museum, Australia's first and only museum dedicated to Mad Max 2.

The Far West Region of NSW encompasses the semi-arid lands of western NSW and is known for the Barrier Ranges, and the Darling River which flows through western NSW.

The Far West embodies the dream of the Great Australian Outback with wide open spaces, untouched natural beauty, spectacular National Parks, red desert and rolling sand dunes, the mighty Darling River, rich Indigenous culture and history and an abundance of wildlife.

The region was first settled in the 1840’s with Broken Hill founded in 1883 following the discovery of silver and lead deposits and the formation of BHP. The far west region has historically been the mineral powerhouse of the State. It also contains some of the State’s most flourishing agricultural enterprises and large stretches of the world-famous outback.

There is a strong mining industry, historically centred in Broken Hill, with significant new prospects for expansion within the region. The far west has a strong economy based on mining, agriculture, film, the arts and tourism. The Far West is rich in promise, boasting mineral wealth and climatic conditions that give this region a unique competitive advantage in many industry sectors.

The region comprises of 2 Local Government areas, Broken Hill City and Central Darling Shire.

The Far West Region of NSW encompasses the semi-arid lands of western NSW and is known for the Barrier Ranges, and the Darling River which flows through western NSW.

The Far West embodies the dream of the Great Australian Outback with wide open spaces, untouched natural beauty, spectacular National Parks, red desert and rolling sand dunes, the mighty Darling River, rich Indigenous culture and history and an abundance of wildlife.

The region was first settled in the 1840’s with Broken Hill founded in 1883 following the discovery of silver and lead deposits and the formation of BHP. The far west region has historically been the mineral powerhouse of the State. It also contains some of the State’s most flourishing agricultural enterprises and large stretches of the world-famous outback.

There is a strong mining industry, historically centred in Broken Hill, with significant new prospects for expansion within the region. The far west has a strong economy based on mining, agriculture, film, the arts and tourism. The Far West is rich in promise, boasting mineral wealth and climatic conditions that give this region a unique competitive advantage in many industry sectors.

The region comprises of 2 Local Government areas, Broken Hill City and Central Darling Shire.

The Far West Region of NSW encompasses the semi-arid lands of western NSW and is known for the Barrier Ranges, and the Darling River which flows through western NSW.

The Far West embodies the dream of the Great Australian Outback with wide open spaces, untouched natural beauty, spectacular National Parks, red desert and rolling sand dunes, the mighty Darling River, rich Indigenous culture and history and an abundance of wildlife.

The region was first settled in the 1840’s with Broken Hill founded in 1883 following the discovery of silver and lead deposits and the formation of BHP. The far west region has historically been the mineral powerhouse of the State. It also contains some of the State’s most flourishing agricultural enterprises and large stretches of the world-famous outback.

There is a strong mining industry, historically centred in Broken Hill, with significant new prospects for expansion within the region. The far west has a strong economy based on mining, agriculture, film, the arts and tourism. The Far West is rich in promise, boasting mineral wealth and climatic conditions that give this region a unique competitive advantage in many industry sectors.

The region comprises of 2 Local Government areas, Broken Hill City and Central Darling Shire.

The Far West Region of NSW encompasses the semi-arid lands of western NSW and is known for the Barrier Ranges, and the Darling River which flows through western NSW.

The Far West embodies the dream of the Great Australian Outback with wide open spaces, untouched natural beauty, spectacular National Parks, red desert and rolling sand dunes, the mighty Darling River, rich Indigenous culture and history and an abundance of wildlife.

The region was first settled in the 1840’s with Broken Hill founded in 1883 following the discovery of silver and lead deposits and the formation of BHP. The far west region has historically been the mineral powerhouse of the State. It also contains some of the State’s most flourishing agricultural enterprises and large stretches of the world-famous outback.

There is a strong mining industry, historically centred in Broken Hill, with significant new prospects for expansion within the region. The far west has a strong economy based on mining, agriculture, film, the arts and tourism. The Far West is rich in promise, boasting mineral wealth and climatic conditions that give this region a unique competitive advantage in many industry sectors.

The region comprises of 2 Local Government areas, Broken Hill City and Central Darling Shire.

Southern NSW Local Health District covers an area of 44,534 square kilometres. The Goulburn Hospital and Health Service Redevelopment includes a new four-storey clinical services building which will house most health services in one location.

The new facility will have a new main entry and hospital reception, a new emergency department, a new medical imaging department, a new intensive care unit, new operating theatres, day surgery, recovery and pre-admission areas, new medical, surgical, paediatric and geriatric inpatient wards with specific designated palliative care beds and a new maternity and birthing suite.

The area has many great schools where professional development opportunities, learning programs and strategies are on offer to support every stage of your career. Thanks to its close proximity to the ACT and Victoria, the southern area of NSW has many of the services found in larger cities and towns.

Charles Sturt University has a campus in Goulburn. Charles Sturt University teaches the Associate Degree in Policing Practice from the NSW Police Force Academy in Goulburn. This academy provides the majority of the NSW Police Force’s education and training needs.

The region’s transition to a circular economy will bring opportunities for new industries, employment and waste reduction, while reducing emissions and improving resilience. The region can benefit economically, socially and environmentally from waste resources by reusing, repairing, sharing and recycling waste.

Agriculture is a heavy greenhouse gas emitter. Improved agricultural practices can reduce emissions, as can the transition to regenerative agricultural practices, such as increased crop and animal diversity, composting crop residue and organic matter, and improving grazing practices.

Arts and cultural infrastructure include Queanbeyan and Goulburn Performing Arts Centres, galleries such as Ngununggula Southern Highlands Regional Gallery, Apma Creations Aboriginal Art Gallery in Central Tilba, as well as small artist run spaces in Cobargo, and volunteer managed schools of arts.

The South East and Tablelands Region contains valuable mineral resources including coal,
precious and base metals and extractive materials.

The region contains deposits of several important base metals (lead, zinc, silver, copper) in the Woodlawn and Captains Flat areas. Extractive resources, including construction material such as sand, hard rock and sources of clay and shale for brick making, are extracted throughout the region, including around Googong, Bungendore, and Lake George. Gold is extracted from Majors Creek.

Electricity generation and the agriculture and transport sectors contribute the bulk of emissions in the region. While the region does not have its own renewable energy zone, the existing renewable energy network, coupled with increased renewable energy into the NSW electricity grid will benefit the region and reduce emissions. Renewable energy initiatives are therefore supported with a particular focus on reducing emissions from agriculture and
transport.

The region is already a well-established hub for renewable energy with its many wind and solar farms. Solar photovoltaic uptake is also relatively high in the region with installation on 33% of dwellings, higher than the state and national average. Increasing uptake together with battery storage will reduce emissions and improve

The drought, floods, bushfires and COVID-19 pandemic will have lasting impacts on the economy, infrastructure, social systems, natural environment and wellbeing of people and communities across the region – impacts that require a new approach.

Innovative mitigation measures to manage and use water, protect waterways, biodiversity and wildlife corridors, harness renewable energy and prepare for natural hazards by reducing exposure and addressing vulnerabilities to help tackle the impacts of climate change. A circular economy and low-emissions transport initiatives support a more sustainable and net zero emissions future.

Carbon sequestration through soils on agricultural land could mitigate the impacts of climate change. However, effectively enabling this process, requires management actions such as stubble retention, maintaining ground cover, pasture phases in crop rotation, improving plant production through nutrient management and overcoming soil constraints such as soil acidity.

Visitors to the South East and Tablelands Region enjoy year-round access to mountains, coasts and rural hinterlands, as well as Canberra’s world-class cultural institutions, such as the National Museum of Australia, the Australian War Memorial and the National Gallery
of Australia.

The tourism industry brings $1.2 billion to the regional economy each year. The Snowy
Mountains, the south coast and the rural hinterland offer recreational experiences including food, wine and cultural trails.

The Snowy Mountains tourism industry contributes more than $500 million to the regional economy each year. This market is geared towards winter, with more than half the visitation occurring during the peak snow period, making it the most seasonal tourism location in Australia.

Agritourism ventures such as farm stay accommodation, farm gate activities and farm
events enable farmers to diversify and value-add to their existing farming enterprises.

The region is a significant contributor to NSW’s wool production, supplying 18% of the state’s production, 14% of sheep and lamb production and 15.5% of milk production.

The region is also known for cherry production and is an important producer of seed potatoes.

The Southern Inland Region is uniquely located between the two biggest population centres and domestic economies in Australia - Sydney and Melbourne, and surrounds the Australian Capital Territory. The region encompasses Hilltops, Upper Lachlan, Goulburn, Queanbeyan, Monaro, Wingecarribee and the Yass Valley.

Just two hours from Sydney and one hour from Canberra, Goulburn-Mulwaree gives businesses great access to markets, resources and ports but with much lower overheads.

The Hilltops region is located in the Tablelands of New South Wales. The area is just over an hour north of Canberra and features the thriving towns of Young, Harden and Boorowa, along with a wide range of villages that are bursting with a rich history. The region is renowned for agriculture, including sheep grazing, cropping, viticulture, stone fruits and horticulture.

Queanbeyan-Palerang is an area of approximately 5,300km2 located between the eastern border of the ACT and the Great Dividing Range. Queanbeyan makes up the majority of the urban population and is a prospering river city.

Upper Lachlan is an area that is known for its quaint villages, fine wool, potato production, wind farms, history and picturesque countryside.

Located on the doorstep of the Nation’s Capital, Yass Valley boasts a modern and well renowned food and wine scene, numerous education options, employment opportunities and medical and general services including a hospital, three large supermarkets, sporting facilities and housing opportunities well below the median house price of nearby Canberra.

The Southern Inland Region is uniquely located between the two biggest population centres and domestic economies in Australia - Sydney and Melbourne, and surrounds the Australian Capital Territory. The region encompasses Hilltops, Upper Lachlan, Goulburn, Queanbeyan, Monaro, Wingecarribee and the Yass Valley.

Just two hours from Sydney and one hour from Canberra, Goulburn-Mulwaree gives businesses great access to markets, resources and ports but with much lower overheads.

The Hilltops region is located in the Tablelands of New South Wales. The area is just over an hour north of Canberra and features the thriving towns of Young, Harden and Boorowa, along with a wide range of villages that are bursting with a rich history. The region is renowned for agriculture, including sheep grazing, cropping, viticulture, stone fruits and horticulture.

Queanbeyan-Palerang is an area of approximately 5,300km2 located between the eastern border of the ACT and the Great Dividing Range. Queanbeyan makes up the majority of the urban population and is a prospering river city.

Upper Lachlan is an area that is known for its quaint villages, fine wool, potato production, wind farms, history and picturesque countryside.

Located on the doorstep of the Nation’s Capital, Yass Valley boasts a modern and well renowned food and wine scene, numerous education options, employment opportunities and medical and general services including a hospital, three large supermarkets, sporting facilities and housing opportunities well below the median house price of nearby Canberra.