Thank you for your interest in our mentoring program with The Regional PR Co in partnership with Murray Regional Tourism (MRT) and Destination Riverina Murray (DRM). By being involved in this mentoring program we aim to:

• Provide event organisers/tourism operators with comprehensive training to improve their ability to promote visitor experiences effectively through media and other public relations channels.
• Empower organisers/operators to expand their reach and attract more visitors through strategic public relations practices.
• Provide ongoing one-on-one mentoring support and ready-to-use materials to simplify PR efforts for workshop participants. 

Program Details:

• Participants: 10–12 selected operators (via an Expression of Interest process)
• Duration: 2 months (April–June)
• Focus Areas:
  • Preparing and distributing media releases
  • Confidently responding to media enquiries
  • Measuring the impact of your PR efforts

Session 1: Overarching PR Support and Guidance

• Understand PR fundamentals and strategic communication principles
• Learn best practices for building and maintaining media relationships
• Address gaps in your PR knowledge with tailored advice

Session 2: Effective Media Engagement & Measuring PR Impact

• Develop strategies for handling media enquiries with confidence
• Discover tools and techniques to track and analyse media coverage
• Evaluate your PR efforts and optimise for future success

Benefits of the Program:

• Enhanced Media Exposure – Increase your visibility and reach
• Advanced PR Skills – Gain deeper insights into best practice PR principles
• Tailored Mentoring Support – Get personalised advice designed specifically for your business

Eligibility Criteria

Businesses applying for the program must meet the following requirements:

1. Workshop Attendance: Must have attended one of the in-region workshops facilitated by The Regional PR & Co in partnership with MRT and DRM.
2. Business Registration: Must be a legally registered business or organisation involved in tourism, events, or visitor experiences within the Murray region.
3. Active visitor-attracting business in Murray Region: Must be actively operating and involved in organising visitor-attracting experiences or events in the Murray Region.
4. Commitment to Learning: Must be willing to allocate time and actively participate in the one-on-one mentoring sessions.
5. Alignment with Program Objectives: Must demonstrate a clear need for PR upskilling and an interest in improving event or experience visibility through public relations.

Selection Criteria

Applicants will be evaluated based on the following factors:

1. Business Growth and Impact (30%)

• Demonstrated ability to attract visitors to the Murray region through events or tourism experiences.
• Clear growth objectives for the event or experience 

2. Resource and Commitment (25%)

• Availability of staff, time, and resources to implement PR learnings from the program.
• Willingness to participate fully in mentoring sessions.
• Commitment to improving PR capabilities.

3. Relevance to the Media Landscape (20%)

• Ability to leverage media engagement and visibility opportunities within the region.
• Willingness to build on existing or planned initiatives that align with PR strategies taught in the program. 

4. Mentoring and Development Needs (15%)

• Clarity in identifying PR-related challenges for the business and how the mentoring program will address them.
• Outlining the benefit that will come from additional one-on-one mentoring support.

5. Value to the Broader Regional Objectives (10%)

• Alignment with the Murray Destination Management Plan (DMP) and Riverina Murray DMP priorities.
• Contribution to strengthening cross-border tourism and event collaborations.

How to Apply:
To be eligible, you must have attended one of the in-region workshops. Simply submit your Expression of Interest (EOI) by 9 April via the form link below!