Federation University Australia researchers are working with the Gippsland Regional Partnership on a program aiming to attract more migrant workers to help address the region’s chronic workforce skills gaps.
The university’s Collaborative Evaluation and Research Centre (CERC) has drafted a regionally based charter that organisations and government departments can use to develop strategies to encourage people to move to the area.
Guiding principles within the draft charter include developing and maintaining a positive mindset toward people from culturally and linguistically divers (CALD) backgrounds; promoting inclusivity and awareness of diverse communities; reducing language barriers; developing opportunities for broader community networking and connection; elevating and building upon good practices; and incentivising migrants to settle in regional areas.
The charter suggests strategies to support these principles including education for employers on the benefits of hiring people from CALD backgrounds, creation of a local service directory for migrants, establishing a multicultural community ambassador program and a multicultural regional hub for migration settlement support.
CERC’s research featured six community workshops, interviews with 68 migrants and stakeholders, case studies on three business and a desktop review of migration services in Gippsland.
CERC director, Professor Joanne Porter said the case studies of a community health service, a meat works, and a large food producer highlighted the effort needed to bring migrant workers into an organisation, with much work needed around recruitment, retention and other supports.
“This really highlighted the above and beyond efforts that these companies went to ensure that the workers had a smooth transition into their new job but also to give them the inclusion and
connection to community, even helping them make connections within the community,” Professor Porter said.
“This work also highlighted that no one agency is responsible for driving these initiatives. More can be done to inform businesses about the value and benefits of a migrant workforce and how that diversity can add value to their organisations.”
The Gippsland Regional Partnership, comprised of community and business leaders, senior local and state government officers, and Regional Development Australia committee members, is advocating for the development of a migration attraction plan that will consider cultural diversity, improve settlement supports and address workforce skills gaps.
“It is incredibly satisfying to see this Charter come to life after the Regional Partnership has spent the best part of three years researching, defining and understanding the migration attraction and retention priorities for Gippsland,” Gippsland Regional Partnership acting deputy chair, Farhat Firdous, said.
“The charter will provide practical guidance to employers and other community members and I am proud of the Partnership’s role in developing this resource for Gippsland.”
