Insights
What free AI help exists for regional businesses?
Four services offer free or low-cost AI help to regional WA businesses: SBDC Regional advisers, Digital Solutions workshops, the AI Information Line, and ARAIN for agriculture, forestry, fisheries and renewables. Eligibility and costs differ. Each is listed below with what it covers, what it costs and who to call.
Why regional businesses need a different route
Lack of in-house skills is a key barrier for regional businesses that have not adopted AI. The National AI Centre reported on 22 July 2026 that 43.6% of regional SMEs not adopting AI cite a lack of in-house skills and expertise. Training sessions and advisers target that gap.
The same National AI Centre release reports that 54% of non-adopting SMEs do not believe AI is relevant to their business, and 19% say they do not know how to use it. Those figures cover all SMEs, regional and metropolitan.
SBDC Regional: free advice near you
SBDC Regional is a free, confidential advice network funded by the WA Government for businesses outside Perth. Ten regions each have a named local provider. The advisers cover general small business questions. The SBDC page does not list AI as a dedicated service, so ask your adviser what they can cover.
| Region | Provider named by the SBDC |
|---|---|
| Great Southern | Albany Business Centre |
| Mid West and Gascoyne | IPS Management Consultants |
| East Kimberley | Business Foundations |
| West Kimberley | Business Foundations |
| Goldfields | Kalgoorlie-Boulder Chamber of Commerce and Industry |
| Wheatbelt | IPS Management Consultants |
| Pilbara | IPS Management Consultants |
| Esperance | Esperance Chamber of Commerce and Industry |
| Peel | IPS Management Consultants |
| South West | IPS Management Consultants |
The SBDC statewide advisory line is 133 140. It is free and runs by phone or Microsoft Teams. The SBDC also publishes a free guide to using AI in your business and a self-assessment checklist on its AI page.
Digital Solutions: free workshops, low-cost coaching
Digital Solutions gives free workshops, webinars and tutorials that cover AI and emerging technologies. One-on-one coaching of up to 5 hours costs a small fee. Eligibility is fewer than 20 full-time equivalent staff, plus sole traders. BUSY Business is the WA provider from 1 July 2026. Phone 07 2141 4025.
- Source for eligibility and topics: business.gov.au, page dated 3 July 2026.
- BUSY Business states unlimited access to workshops, webinars and online tutorials at no charge, and up to five hours of one-on-one support per ABN over the life of the program.
- Example regional session: "Making AI work for small business", Thursday 5 November 2026, 5:30 to 7:30pm AWST, Broome Community Resource Centre. Free. Organised by BUSY Business.
- The National AI Centre events listing has also carried free AI workshops in Jurien Bay, Bunbury and Geraldton. Check the listing for current dates.
AI Information Line: a free call from anywhere
The AI Information Line is a phone service run by the SMEC AI Adopt Centre with the National AI Centre. You call 1800 517 403 and speak to an AI voice agent that identifies itself as AI. It asks about your business and texts you a plain-English summary. The information is general and is not professional advice.
- Launched 22 July 2026.
- The service is hosted in Australia. The National AI Centre states personal information collected is not used to train the AI model.
- SMEC AI states the Information Line is free for eligible Australian SMEs. SMEC AI states eligibility is typically fewer than 200 staff and revenue below $50 million.
- You can ask to speak to a person at the SMEC AI Adopt Centre at any stage.
ARAIN: sessions for regional agriculture, forestry, fisheries and renewables
ARAIN, the Australian Regional AI Network, is one of four AI Adopt Centres. Business.gov.au says it serves regional SMEs with a focus on forestry, agriculture, fisheries and renewable technology. It offers free in-person education sessions across regional Australia, online learning and an advice hub. ARAIN lists Melbourne as its base.
If your business sits outside those sectors, ARAIN is a lower priority.
Which one should you call first?
Start with the service that fits your situation, then add the others.
- You want a person to talk to about your business overall: call the SBDC on 133 140 and ask for your regional adviser.
- You want to learn the tools: register for a Digital Solutions workshop or webinar.
- You have a question now and no time: call 1800 517 403.
- You run a farm, forestry, fishing or renewables business: check ARAIN's events.
City-based options are in free AI advice for Perth businesses.
What to do next
The Clockwise Intensive is one focused hour with Megan, one-on-one on Google Meet, on where AI fits in your business and which process to hand over first. It costs $550 AUD. It needs no travel.
Book the Clockwise Intensive →
Frequently asked questions
Is there free AI help for regional businesses outside agriculture?
Yes. SBDC Regional, Digital Solutions and the AI Information Line are not limited to one sector on the pages checked. ARAIN focuses on forestry, agriculture, fisheries and renewable technology. Each service sets its own eligibility, so confirm before you book.
Do I have to travel to get free AI help in regional WA?
No. The SBDC advisory service runs by phone or Microsoft Teams, the AI Information Line runs by phone, and Digital Solutions runs webinars and online tutorials. In-person workshops run in some towns, such as Broome on 5 November 2026.
About the author
Megan Hogan is the founder of Clockwise and works as a fractional COO inside small to medium businesses. She spent seven years at Optus and has led customer experience transformation and AI-enabled contact centre implementation.
Editorial standards
Program details come from the program's own pages and government websites. Each fact carries the date it was checked. Costs and eligibility change, so confirm with the provider before you act. This article is general information.
Sources and dates
All checked 29 October 2026 unless stated.
- SBDC, Regional support for your small business. Copyright 2026. https://www.smallbusiness.wa.gov.au/regional
- SBDC, Business advisory service. Copyright 2026. https://www.smallbusiness.wa.gov.au/business-advisory-service
- SBDC, Artificial intelligence. Copyright 2026. https://www.smallbusiness.wa.gov.au/digital/artificial-intelligence
- business.gov.au, Digital Solutions. Page dated 3 July 2026. https://business.gov.au/expertise-and-advice/digital-solutions-australian-small-business-advisory-services
- BUSY Business, Digital Solutions for QLD, NT and WA. Undated, service starts 1 July 2026. https://www.busyatwork.com.au/busy-business-to-deliver-digital-solutions-program-for-small-businesses-across-qld-nt-and-wa/
- business.gov.au, Making AI work for small business (event). https://business.gov.au/events-and-training/making-ai-work-for-small-business
- National AI Centre, Got questions about AI? Now there's a number you can call. 22 July 2026. https://www.ai.gov.au/news-and-insights/blog/got-questions-about-ai-now-theres-number-you-can-call
- SMEC AI, Is SMEC AI free and Who is eligible. Undated, checked 24 October 2026. https://www.smecai.au/is-smec-ai-free
- business.gov.au, AI Adopt Centres. Page dated 3 November 2025. https://business.gov.au/expertise-and-advice/ai-adopt-centres
- ARAIN, homepage. Copyright 2026. https://arain.com.au