RDA Riverina NSW Growing Regions of Welcome Pilot Program
This Refugee Week we celebrate Mai Pham - a resident of Regional NSW for 17 years.
To celebrate Refugee Week, the NSW Government has announced a $3 million program to assist interested migrants in western Sydney to relocate to regional NSW for employment and lifestyle opportunities.
The three-year NSW Growing Regions of Welcome (NSW GROW) pilot program aims to strengthen regional community capability to attract and retain newcomers and assist with relocation to the Riverina and Murray areas.
The NSW Coordinator General for Settlement, Professor Peter Shergold says NSW GROW reflects the strong cross-sector relationships across all levels of government, community and industry to support successful settlement and strong NSW communities.
“This program will address critical workforce needs in regional NSW that would usually be filled through overseas migration.
“NSW GROW will support coordinated efforts across sectors to create secondary migration linkages between western Sydney and regional NSW and drive sustainable social and economic outcomes for participating regional communities and newcomers alike.”
In western Sydney, a Regional Employment Hub will provide a gateway for interested western Sydney-based newcomers to connect with identified opportunities in the regions.
Backbone coordinators in both locations will support the design and implementation of plans to attract and retain people arriving from western Sydney.
In the Riverina, Regional Development Australia (RDA) Riverina will employ the Backbone Coordinator role.
Rachel Whiting, the CEO of RDA Riverina says the level of job vacancy advertisements in the Riverina has reached a 10-year high.
“We have more jobs than people in the Riverina. NSW GROW is another strategy to contribute to RDA Riverina’s workforce development plan for the region. We know our communities are welcoming of newcomers, and we look forward to working with LGAs like Leeton and Temora Shires to welcome more people and match them with employers’ needs.”
Multicultural NSW received $3 million funding from Training Services NSW to deliver the pilot program.
For more information about Multicultural NSW, please visit: www.multicultural.nsw.gov.au
Regional Development Australia Boards (RDAs) have played and continue to play an important role in delivering sustainable infrastructure and services to their region. These Boards deliver important work in consulting with communities, promoting and participating in regional initiatives, and providing information and advice on their region to all levels of Government. If you would like to learn more about how RDA Riverina is able to assist you, visit its website at www.rdariverina.org.au. Further information about the RDA program is available at www.rda.gov.au.