Immigration visit responds to high local demand

Regional Development Australia Northern Inland (RDANI) advises that representatives from the Australian Government’s Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) will be visiting the region next week.

RDANI Project Officer, Kim-Trieste Hastings explained that the visit is part of the Government’s commitment to providing regional areas with the services and information available in major cities. Employers, migrants and anyone with immigration issues are being urged to take advantage of the opportunity.

DIAC Regional Outreach Officer for NSW, Philomena Leong will be visiting businesses in Tamworth on Tuesday, 7 December; Armidale on Wednesday, 8 December; and Inverell on Thursday 9 December

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Employers or business representatives wishing to arrange an appointment with Philomena Leong are encouraged to contact Ms Hastings on: 02 6771 2790 or 0427 008 572 immediately. “The local demand to meet face-to-face with the Immigration Regional Outreach Officer is extremely high. There are only a few appointments available in Tamworth. So, I urge interested employers to get in touch now,” Ms Hastings said.
 

“RDANI is the only certifying body for employer sponsored visa applications in the New England North West. The demand is clear. Local businesses continue to be restricted by labour shortages. When employers cannot meet their business’ needs with local labour, then skilled migration is a viable option,” she said. “That option has proved to be vital for a number of the region’s industries in recent years.”

“Some of the processes and paperwork involved in sourcing or employing labour from overseas can be quite complicated and time consuming. It is always helpful to discuss any issues in person, particularly where new legislation may be involved,” Ms Hastings said.

Also visiting the region will be Parliamentary and Ministerial Liaison Officer with DIAC, Ralph Harwood. Northern Settlement Services is encouraging people with family migration, citizenship and general migration questions to come along and talk to Mr. Harwood. Meeting will occur at the following venues:
Member for New England, Tony Windsor’s Office, 259 Peel Street, Tamworth from 9am-4pm on Tuesday,

7 December;

the Armidale Town Hall Basement Room (via Cinders Lane Carpark) 9am-4pm on Wednesday, 8 December;

and Tony Windsor’s Inverell Office, 88 Otho St. from 10am-1pm on Thursday 9 December. He will hold a public Information Evening from 5:30-7pm at Kent House, Faulkner St. Armidale on Wednesday 8, December.

For further details about Mr. Harwood’s visit, please contact Armidale based Settlement Support Project Worker, Judith Roberts, of Northern Settlement Services Limited on: 02 6771 3975. For appointments contact Sandy York at Member for New England, Tony Windsor’s Tamworth Office: 02 6761 3080.

“Often people who have recently settled in Northern Inland NSW communities have understandable concerns (particularly regarding close family in their former country), which impact on their settlement and well-being. It means a lot to them that Ralph Harwood makes the effort to come to centres in the region and answer their questions. It is important to have up-to-date and case-relevant information about family migration and citizenship and this is the best way to achieve that,” Mrs Roberts said.