Why Regional Projects Deserve Regional Consultants

Australia is turning its gaze outward.

As population pressures mount in our cities and governments pursue decentralisation, the spotlight on regional Australia is intensifying. We’re seeing serious investment in housing, infrastructure, workforce development, tourism, health, and community services—right across the regions.

And rightly so.

But there’s something missing in this moment. A quiet but critical question that too often gets overlooked:

Why do we keep commissioning regional work without engaging regional minds to lead it?

The Centre Doesn’t Always Hold

Regional Australia is not a single story. What works in Hopetoun may not land in Halls Creek. The dynamics in Cosmo are not the same as those in Meekatharra.

And yet, time and time again, place-based projects are scoped, designed, and delivered by city-based teams; professionals who, for all their skill, often don’t live in and don’t deeply understand the places they’re working in.

This isn’t a criticism of metro-based consultants. I know many who are sharp, strategic, and well-intentioned. But their assumptions - about scale, about timelines, about what “good” looks like - are shaped by city-based realities. And when those assumptions are applied to rural, regional, or remote communities, things unravel quickly.

A city-based lens, no matter how empathetic, is still a lens.

Embedded, Not Just Informed

The value of a regional consultant is not simply that we ‘get’ the bush. It’s that we live inside the systems, relationships, and tensions that shape regional outcomes. We don’t need orientation. We bring context from the first conversation.

We understand that “community fatigue” isn’t a throwaway line, it’s a structural feature of rural life. We know that informal leaders often hold more influence than official ones (don’t get me started on the Purple Circle...).

We see how place, power, identity and history intersect because we walk through it every day.

And most importantly, we’re still there (or there abouts) when the project ends.

That continuity matters. That accountability matters.

Relational Work Requires Relational Consultants

So much of what defines successful regional work is not technical, but human. It’s about trust. Shared purpose. Knowing when to push and when to pause. In these environments, relational capital is often more important than technical capital. And it cannot be faked (although some do try).

Country consultants carry relationships, not just resumés. We understand intergenerational tensions, long-standing rifts, quiet strengths and unspoken challenges. We don’t just “consult” - we engage. We listen deeply. We move slowly when needed. We adapt. We build something that can last, not just land.

These are not soft skills or nice-to-haves. They are essential capabilities.

Capability Exists Outside the CBD

It’s time to drop the assumption that the best thinking lives behind a capital city postcode.

Across Australia, exceptional regional consultants are working in strategy, governance, communications, economic development, engagement, planning, design and more. Some are solo operators. Others are part of small, high-performing teams. Many are women. Many are First Nations. Many are balancing consultancy with caregiving, creativity, or community leadership.

They are sharp leaders, systems thinkers, and operational experts.

But here’s the hard truth: they’re often passed over.

There’s still a perceived risk in engaging microbusinesses based outside the city. Too small. Too remote. Too unknown.

But ask yourself this: how often have we let you down? We may not have the slickest pitch decks or the biggest followings (yet), but we show up, we deliver, and we stay.

We are small but mighty, and we should not be overlooked simply because our postcode doesn’t start with '60--/61--'.

Not a Nice-to-Have

If we’re serious about equity, about decentralisation, about resilience - we need to get serious about how regional work is led.

That means resourcing local expertise. Building ecosystems. Not just commissioning outputs.

Regional consultants aren’t the “community-friendly” option. We are a strategic asset and I am confident that we offer sharper insight, stronger buy-in, and better long-term outcomes.

So next time you’re scoping work in a regional community, stop and ask:

Who is best placed to truly understand this place? The answer might not require a flight—just a phone call.

At Wander, we’re proud to be one of many regionally-based consultancies across Australia delivering smart, strategic and deeply contextual work. If you’re working in regional or remote WA and want to explore what’s possible - we’re here.