New graduate registered nurses welcomed to MLHD
Murrumbidgee Local Health District (MLHD) will this week see an additional 55 newly graduated Registered Nurses commence their careers across 17 sites, including Narrandera, Coolamon and Leeton. In 2023 the District will welcome a total of 134 graduates, who will begin the graduate program throughout the year with intakes in February, May, and August.
A new Territory Worker Connect Portal and UK delegation to yield a boost for hospitality workforce: Fyles, Kirby
A delegation of Territory business will aim to recruit 100 hospitality workers when they visit the United Kingdom and Ireland next month to increase our skilled workforce through the Global Worker Attraction Program.
Major boost to NT Health workforce with more on the way: Fyles
Across the Northern Territory, 250 junior doctors will commence at NT Health hospitals this year, including at Royal Darwin and Palmerston Hospital, Katherine Hospital, Gove District Hospital, Alice Springs Hospital and Tennant Creek Hospital. The cohort will be made up of both Resident Medical Officers, junior doctors who have obtained full registration after completing least one year of clinical experience, and interns, those who are undertaking their first year of clinical practice after completing their medical degree.
Consortium departs for Philippines and India on skilled worker search: Kirby
A consortium of Territory businesses are heading to the Philippines and India ... to recruit much needed construction workers and other critical workers needed across the economy ... The expos will promote the Territory as a preferred destination to live and work as well as facilitate connections between potential workers and Northern Territory businesses. Master Builders Global Roadshow will help raise the profile of the Territory and expand and diversify our skill base.
Labour shortage
Even with the current economic uncertainty, if you think the skilled worker shortage problem was all COVID-19 driven and will self-correct over time, then think again ... According to a recent study, 87 per cent of global employers admit that they are currently struggling with skills gaps issues, which is probably why your machinery dealer is telling you that the wait on new equipment is anything up to two years.
Canadian firefighters support Bathurst’s forestry bushfire season: FCNSW
Forestry Corporation of NSW has welcomed five international recruits to its 2022 Bathurst seasonal program, with firefighters coming from Canada and New Zealand to join local recruits and support the organisation leading into bushfire season. Canada is particularly well represented, with four recruits making the 17 hour flight to Australia to join the team this year.
Cane grower’s plea for assistance
The NSW sugar industry is putting out a call for truck drivers, in a race to finalise the harvest and crushing of this years’ northern rivers sugarcane crop. Thousands of tonnes of sugarcane remain unharvested due to a shortage of truck drivers.
PALM scheme leaves smaller growers behind: NFF
The National Farmers’ Federation’s (NFF) Horticulture Council is calling on the Federal Government to ensure its much-heralded solution to the growing workforce crisis works for the whole of the sector. Following Covid-19 disruptions, there was a swift shift towards a greater reliance on the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) scheme, but with that came headaches for smaller employers who previously relied mostly on backpackers.
Push to turn forgotten ‘wet’ trades into a hot ticket: Katter
Katter’s Australian Party is flagging a proposal incentivising Year 12 students to take up the forgotten “wet” trades of bricklaying, concreting and scaffolding in a transitional schedule strategically-timed with the winter weather. In response to predictions that North Queensland would face an alarming lack of willing workers in the “wet” trades of bricklaying, concreting and scaffolding in the next decade, the KAP proposed to incentivise and provide employment pathways for an annually-set number of Year 12 students.
Horticulture calls for meaningful discussion following passing of Secure Jobs, Better Pay Bill: Growcom
Peak industry body for Queensland horticulture, Growcom is calling on the federal government to engage in genuine and meaningful discussion after the passing of the new Fair Work Legislation Amendment (Secure Jobs, Better Pay) Bill 2022 so industry can understand how it will be implemented. Growcom CEO Rachel Chambers said when discussing a Bill called ‘secure jobs, better pay’ you need to have the business owners, the people who create the jobs for employees, around the table. Without employers there is no employment.
Jason a finalist in Rural Practitioner of the Year awards
Prominent local lawyer Jason Goode, of local law firm Farrell Goode, has been named a finalist in the NSW Law Society’s prestigious Rural Practitioner of the Year award in recognition of his tireless support of this region. Mr Goode, who is joint president of the Riverina Law Society and a member of the society’s rural issues committee, has spent the past 30 years working to bring much-needed attention to the issues that are unique to this area.
Concerns remain despite IR Bill concessions: NFF
The National Farmers’ Federation has acknowledged the concessions granted which will see the Secure Jobs, Better Pay Bill pass the Parliament this week, but warns that the consequences for the food supply chain remain largely unknown. NFF President Fiona Simson said it was disappointing to see a government so disinterested in the genuinely held concerns of employers.
Mayor proud of new road
Lockhart River mayor Wayne Butcher has praised his council’s team after it successfully built and sealed a new road using a local workforce. “For the first time in history, Lockhart River Aboriginal Shire Council has built a road from scratch to bitumen,” he said.
Andrews SEC plan is a mixed bag
When Daniel Andrews announced his plans to revive the State Electricity Commission (SEC), he said: “Unreliable, privatised coal will be replaced by clean, government-owned renewable energy.” This is a distorted claim.
Cape welcomes suburban nurses
Four new registered nurses have joined the Torres and Cape Hospital and Health Service as part of a Queensland-first program to attract people from the city to the country. The nurses are part of the Rural Generalist Registered Nurse Program workforce initiative.
Record number of ACU pre-service teachers on placement in regional, rural and remote schools nationwide
A record number of Australian Catholic University pre-service teachers have headed into regional, rural, and remote areas nationally to complete their teaching placements this year. More than 250 teaching students will have travelled far and wide to learn on the job by the end of 2022 ... “We are hoping they will love it so much they will want to return to these regions as teachers on graduation.”
Rex regional pilots agree on new enterprise agreement
Rex announced its regional pilots have overwhelmingly endorsed a new industrial agreement with the airline, the third key workforce group to have done so in the last two months. A staggering 86% of the pilots, who operate Rex’s fleet of 61 Saab 340 turboprop aircraft to 58 regional destinations Australia-wide, voted in favour of the new four-year agreement.
Federal Minister talks with locals at skills and jobs forum
Federal Minister for Skills and Training Brendan O’Connor visited Tennant Creek last week to meet local employers, service providers and learners at a jobs and skills forum. The forum was hosted by Member for Lingiari Marion Scrymgour and Charles Darwin University.
Ag Speak – Budget must grow and protect agriculture
Kristin Murdock. NFF President Fiona Simson said the 43 recommendations in the peak farming body’s Pre-Budget Submission were built around its 2030 Roadmap and high on the list was the missing link in Australia’s defence against looming and existing biosecurity threats like Foot and Mouth Disease, Lumpy Skin Disease and Varroa Mite.
Co-op carves its way to top business spot with diverse workforce
Casino’s largest business has plenty to celebrate. The Casino Food Co-op is the winner of the Northern Rivers 2022 Regional Business of the Year ... The win for the Co-op wasn’t only about the meat industry. Earlier this month, the Coâ€op launched a Reflect Reconciliation Action Plan.
University of Southern Queensland celebrates World Teacher’s Day by highlighting rural and regional education
As Queensland celebrates World Teacher’s Day ... the University of Southern Queensland is demonstrating its commitment to shaping the next generation of leaders in rural and remote classrooms. In 2021 92 per cent of USQ graduates in the School of Education Alternative Context Project chose to start their career in classrooms outside of metropolitan areas ... Taylah Hoffman travelled to Quilpie for one of several placements ...
Untapped workforce to help secure the future of teaching: Charles Sturt University
"World Teachers’ Day seems an opportune time to reflect on both the challenges facing the profession and the myriad reasons it is great to be a teacher ... People are still drawn to teaching for a fulfilling and rewarding career that really makes a difference. More career-changers than ever are pivoting to teacher education to prepare for careers as teachers": CSU's Associate Professor Will Letts.
