Buloke Times editorial: Shearers 2
This is a follow-up to the previous piece about the shortage of shearers. The numbers of Australian-based shearers have diminished by 30 per cent in the last decade, partly due to the drought, the pull of the mining sector, and Covid 19 restricting arrivals. New Zealand shearers also had a pay rise in 2018. In May 2023, at the end of the earlier editorial, the hope was expressed that the shortage would be relieved by progress with the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility scheme (PALM). Provision had been made for a pilot round of a small number to be trained as shearers in southern NSW. That plan will not now go ahead.
Labour hire team to the rescue for Ampilwatja essential services
A labour hire company has come to the rescue to help with essential services in the Ampilatwatja community. A struggle to hire locally has meant the Barkly Regional Council team has had to think outside the box by engaging the labour-hire company to fill the gaps to provide municipal services.
More support on the way for timber workers: Tierney
The Andrews Labor Government is scaling up support for timber workers, sawmill operators and their communities, as Victoria transitions away from native timber logging. Minister for Agriculture Gayle Tierney announced the expansion of the Victorian Forestry Worker Support Program...
Fallout from native forestry decision continues: VFPA
The native hardwood industry welcomed announcement by Minister Tierney to offer additional support for workers, contractors, communities and new regional businesses but was disappointed that the mill exit package doubly punished those businesses that had acted in good faith, said Deb Kerr, CEO of the Victorian Forest Products Association (VFPA).
Doctor crisis hitting valley
A growing health crisis in the Clarence Valley which has locals waiting up to a month to see a doctor has seen the Federal Member for Page Kevin Hogan call on the Albanese Government to “End the Rural Doctor Crisis now” … infrastructure and services in the Clarence Valley are insufficient to cope with the population growth, and the wait to get an appointment to see a doctor is increasing.
Behind every great rider (or pony club kid) is a groom
Behind every rider, from the smallest pony club member to the elite competitor at the Olympics, is a person following with a box full of grooming equipment ... the annual FEI Best Groom Award has paid tribute to the heroes behind the scenes ... last year’s winner, Emma Olsson ... works for six-time world driving champion Boyd Exell.
Skilled international workers are vital to small rural communities
Blake Lee. Businesses of every size, in every industry, in every corner of the country, are experiencing the worst skill and labour shortages in decades – a challenge that is worsening by the day, particularly in rural communities. Skilled migration is one of the policy levers available to governments to address workforce shortages in the economy.
Try a tree change: Ben’s top career tip
Serena Kirby. Arborist Ben McGovern is keen to dispel misconceptions about his profession and wants more young people to take up arboriculture as a career. Ben moved to Denmark with his family seven years ago and has been working with Ecologic Tree Service for the past four years. "We are all about caring for, and managing, trees," Ben said.
Teacher shortages continue to plague regional schools
Teacher shortages continue to impact regional schools as a scathing report found "considerable gaps" still exist between metropolitan and regional students' access to education in NSW ... Luke Di Salvia of Leeton and formerly Narrandera said the lack of data being gathered was "concerning" but he was unsurprised at the report's findings around teacher shortages.
Labour market tightens
Will Hunter. Unemployment figures for Yorke Peninsula’s local government areas continue to fall and businesses are still grappling with workforce shortages. In a sign of a tightening local labour market, Copper Coast, Barunga West and Yorke Peninsula Council areas all recorded at least a 1.3 per cent decrease in unemployment in the quarter ending March 2023, compared with December 2022.
Union: not enough incentives
Give enough incentives to attract and retain police officers to work in rural South Australia. That’s the call to the government from the Police Association of South Australia, the union representing police officers.
Police crisis
Bold measures and policies need to be put in place to solve the "crisis" facing police in Naracoorte and its surrounding towns ... Mr Telfer told The [Naracoorte Community] News that the recruitment and retention of officers was a huge challenge, with many police stations failing to get the required number of officers in a day.
Assistant Minister for Indigenous Health visits Wilcannia
Last Friday Senator Malarndirri McCarthy made a not well publicised visit to Wilcannia. Word soon went round town and a number of locals were able to tell her of their health and other concerns. The Senator toured the hospital where she met some staff, the new Maari Ma health building, and met with representatives of the Wilcannia Local Aboriginal Land Council.
Riding the Australian beef rollercoaster ahead for the next few years: Global AgriTrends
Beef producers can expect a two-year holding pattern on cattle prices as drought conditions widen, processing sector labour shortages persist, and a huge stockpile of meat in Asian freezers start to thaw. While lightweight heifers will take the biggest price hit, the emerging El Nino may mean business opportunities for producing heavy Jap ox and heavy feeder steers, according to market analyst Simon Quilty, of Global AgriTrends.
Cut above the rest
Popular local apprentice butcher Claire Keleher is an entrant in the Australian Meat Industry Council’s Apprentice of the Year competition. Competing last week in Brisbane at State level, Claire showed her skills amongst the best in the business. Out of fourteen entrants only Claire and another entrant were school based, with many of the others being at the end of their apprenticeships.
Dreams do come true
With Year 12 students soon to begin their university applications, we thought we’d take a look at the success of one of Kerang’s former students, Glenn Thomas ... is a graphic designer in Melbourne, and he shared his graphic design journey with us, proving that kids from the country can chase and realise their dreams.
Deputy Mayor puts forward national issues considered relevant to Council
Narrandera Shire Council Deputy Mayor Cameron Lander has reported on some of the many issues discussed at the 2023 Australian Local Government Association National Assembly that he felt were of particular interest to Narrandera Shire Council ... The 2023 NGA theme was "Our Communities, Our Future" and looked at ideas on new federal programs and policies that would support councils to build stronger communities in the future.
Commonwealth support for regional medicine students
Will Hunter. Rural medicine has received a boost as regional Australia continues to face a severe shortage of general practitioners and healthcare staff. The federal government has allocated $114.2 million over four years to permanently increase the number of Commonwealth-supported placements available to rurally trained university students.
More GPs, specialists needed
A new strategy is being looked at to attract and retain general practitioners and specialists in Naracoorte. Limestone Coast Local Health Network Board chairman Grant King says the strategy will focus on retaining medical graduates in the region.
Introducing Megan Rauchle Principal – Allora P-10
Megan has been appointed the new Principal of the Allora P-10 State School after the retirement of Shaun Kanowski at the end of last term. Megan Rauchle took over the reins of Allora P-10 State School at the start of this term. She is a passionate teacher and believes in an all inclusive school where students, staff and teachers are successful and reach their capability.
Trade Training Centre showcases VET subjects
Students from Boort District School, Charlton College, Donald High School, East Loddon P-12 College, Pyramid Hill College, St. Arnaud Secondary College, Wedderburn College and Wycheproof P-12 College attended the North Central Trade Training Centre (NCTTC) in Charlton to sample the VET subjects available to study in 2024.
NFF responds to Agriculture Ministers’ meeting
The National Farmers’ Federation (NFF) has welcomed the National Statement on Climate Change and Agriculture, signed off by agriculture ministers at their meeting in Perth on 13 July 2023. Farmers have expressed concerns however over the proposed implementation of new poultry standards, and a lack of tangible progress on other issues placing pressure on the sector.
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