Barkly comes together for State of the Region and Data Workshop

Barkly comes together for State of the Region and Data Workshop

Regional Development Australia Northern Territory (RDA NT) and .id (Informed Decisions) brought community members and regional stakeholders together in Tennant Creek today for a State of the Region event and data workshop focused on the Barkly region.

The event provided an opportunity to explore the current state of the Barkly, share regional insights and look at how data can help inform decision-making and support future planning and development.

Participants came together to discuss the region’s opportunities, challenges and priorities, highlighting the importance of local knowledge and reliable data in shaping a strong future for the Barkly.

Exploring the data highlighted key insights that set the Barkly apart from the rest of the NT.

• The Barkly economy grew faster than the NT overall in 2024–25, with Gross Regional Product increasing by 9.35%, compared with 0.99% across the Territory. 
• The Barkly has more than four times the NT’s relative concentration of employment in creative and performing arts, with the industry accounting for 1.7% of local jobs compared with 0.4% across the NT. 
• Providing unpaid childcare is more common in the Barkly with 18.6% of residents providing unpaid care for their own children and other people’s children, compared with 10.9% across the NT in 2021. 
• Public administration and safety, health care and social assistance, and agriculture collectively accounted for 55% of jobs in the Barkly in 2024/25. 
• The Barkly economy relies heavily on goods and services sourced from outside the region. In 2024–25, industries purchased approximately $1.08 billion in goods and services from outside of the region.  

By bringing together community, evidence and insights, the event aimed to support more informed decisions and strengthen the understanding of what matters most to the Barkly community.

RDA NT and .id thank everyone who attended and contributed to the discussions. 

The presentation pack from the events is available by clicking on the download button below.