During this week's Council Meeting (27/09), Councillors noted an update on the Welcome to Central Goldfields project, which outlined the outcomes for the project, the intention of the Community Reference Group and Council's involvement.
Welcome to Central Goldfields is a 12-month pilot project, led by local business and community leaders, which aims to attract skilled migrants to Central Goldfields Shire, address staff shortages and promote a younger, more culturally diverse community over time.
Key community leaders have formed a Community Reference Group consisting of:
- David Sutton, MEC Principal
- Annie Constable, Asteria Services CEO
- Chris Meddows-Taylor, Central Goldfields Shire Mayor
- Craig Young, Havilah CEO
- John Sedunary, Committee for Maryborough Chair
- Nickola Allan, MDHS CEO
- Gary Higgins, Rotary President OAM
- Lucy Roffey, Central Goldfields Shire Council CEO
- Kelly Mason, Bounce
- Simon Cox, Sonac
- Bronwen Haywood, community member
- Bec Schroeder, True Foods
- Taren Gill, Priceline
- Elisa Luu, Priceline
Central Goldfields Shire Mayor and Welcome to Central Goldfields Community Reference Group member Chris Meddows-Taylor said the pilot project is in response to staff and skills shortages that are affecting businesses big and small – both locally and nationally and will provide a platform for advocacy at all levels of government on workforce and housing needs.
"Woking with our business and community partners, Council is determined to meet the challenge of recruitment and retention head on and assist our employers to recruit for these jobs that they can't fill, many of which are providing services which our community want, need and value.
"But this project is not only about filling jobs. It's about the Shire becoming more culturally diverse and learning and growing together with residents from various backgrounds. Through the Community Vision locals said they want to be an inclusive place and this pilot is another step towards that goal.
"This report outlines the Project's outcomes, the intentions of the Community Reference Group and Council's involvement in the Project."
Maryborough Education Centre Principal and Welcome to Central Goldfields Community Reference Group member David Sutton said the project is an opportunity to create long-term change for the Shire.
"This pilot project is an opportunity to work together on an ambitious but exciting project to create a long-term plan to ensure the needs of the Shire's current and future workforce are met.
"Recruiting staff from beyond the border of the Shire is not a new concept and a number of businesses in the Shire already have culturally and linguistically diverse workforces, but this project is a chance to make sure we're getting that process right."
The issue of retaining staff and attracting new employees was highlighted as an issue by local businesses in a recent Council survey which revealed the majority of businesses (67%) found recruiting staff as either difficult or very difficult. They also said attracting qualified professionals- from allied health staff to accountants and skilled tradespeople - were particularly hard to recruit.
