Skilled Migration Case Studies

The following are a collection of case study video segments produced by Regional Development Australia - Northern Inland NSW to help provide insight into skilled migration placements, with perspectives from both employer and employee.

Simply click on the image thumbnails to open the video player and watch each case study.

Skilled Migrants Help Tamworth Exporter Grow

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Tamworth manufacturer, Apollo Engineering is a quiet achiever in the industrial sector of Northern Inland NSW. In challenging times, the business is expanding and achieving strong growth, with domestic and global markets. “It would have been very difficult for us to grow our business as rapidly as we have without the input of our skilled migrants,” Apollo Engineering Managing Director Dave Errington said.

“We specialise in manufacturing industrial cleaning equipment and have done so for 25 years. We have been expanding into such areas the manufacture of food waste processing machines. We struggle to find the skilled trades people we need. Our four Zimbabwean workers have been a massive benefit to the business; to the culture in the workplace, as well as our productivity. Our workforce has grown to 36 and I expect we will need more skilled migrants as we continue to diversify and grow,” Mr. Errington said.

The Apollo Engineering story is the latest skilled migration case study produced and published online by Regional Development Australia Northern Inland (RDANI). “Our Skilled Regional State Nominated visa program brought four metal trades workers from Zimbabwe. They came with a decade of experience in South Africa, a strong work ethic and a commitment to settle and integrate into the Tamworth community,” Regional Development Australian Northern Inland (RDANI) Senior Skilled Migration & Project Officer Gary Fry said.

Zimbabwean Fitter/machinists Maxwell Matandaudyi and Courage Munyakari, and first-class welders, Wellington Bigone and Komborero Anthony Chikonyera have been integral in the growth achieved by Apollo Engineering in Tamworth, NSW Australia. For them, a regional visa option has turned out to be a real win and they are enjoying the lifestyle they have settled into.

Skilled Migrants Benefit Niche Tech Manufacturer in Armidale

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ICT International is a highly specialised manufacturer of precision scientific equipment that measures, monitors and records moisture content in soil and plants. The business is based in Armidale and has been achieving steady growth, globally. Dr. Peter Cull is the Director of ICT International and he said that one of their biggest business hurdles was finding staff with the skills and experience they need.

The Skilled Regional State Nominated Visa has delivered the technically trained staff they need and the skilled migrants are delighted that they chose to come to the Northern Inland region of New South Wales, on professional and personal levels.

Vuong Ba Tran is an electrical engineer from Vietnam. He has found his job at ICT International to be a rewarding opportunity for which his skills are perfectly suited.

David Macasieb comes from the Philippines but worked extensively in Singapore. He came to the Northern Inland region as an Electronic Instrument Trades Worker (Special Class). He found his position at ICT International through Regional Development Australian Northern Inland's Skilled Migration Jobs Board Facebook group, a service for skilled migrants and employers. With over 500 members, this group has become a greatly valued resource, responsible for numerous job outcomes and general settlement support.

Regional Development Australian Northern Inland brought Vuong and David to the region as skilled migrants, through the Skilled Regional State Nominated (489 sub-class) visa program.

From Paris to Urbenville, NSW

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The Urbenville MPS is a small, remote country hospital in between Tenterfield and Lismore in Northern NSW. There are a number of Multi-Purpose Services in the Northern Inland region of NSW, the neighbouring Northern Rivers region and other parts of the State. They often have difficulty attracting qualified health professionals, including Registered Nurses. This is because of location and a failure among recently graduated Registered Nurses to appreciate the broad and comprehensive experience opportunity that an MPS position represents.

Arthur D'Artagnan came from Paris, France to complete his nursing qualification in Sydney. He has loved his job at Urbenville. In this case study, the health service commends Arthur and details why skilled migration is important in a regional location. Then, Arthur describes how his Urbenville health service job has benefited him professionally.

Regional Development Australian Northern Inland brought Arthur to the region as a skilled migrant, through the Skilled Regional State Nominated (489 sub-class) visa program.

The Armidale City Bowling Club

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Not able to find suitably skilled, experienced and qualified chefs in the local area over recent years, The Armidale City Bowling Club has benefited from skilled migration. Joining the local Australian kitchen staff are skilled migrants from India, Bangladesh and the Philippines.

Skilled migrants such as Sous Chef Mohammad Emon from Bangladesh, who worked in Sydney for five years before taking the job at the Armidale City Bowling Club, have been pleasantly surprised by the quality of life they have found in a regional location.

The Club's CEO Patrick Crick describes how skilled migration has enabled the busy kitchen to meet its labour needs and continue to grow the bistro and catering aspects of the business. He also reflects on the positive impacts of multiculturalism in the kitchen.

"Retreat", Mulligan Farms - 80km South-West of Moree

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Jonathon and Kathryn Mulligan own and run the property "Retreat", which is part of the Mulligan Farms agricultural businesses. "Retreat" is a large crop growing business. It is a big irrigation property that is remote and isolated from skilled labour markets, being over 80km south-west of Moree (in north-west NSW).

From their fleet of John Deere machines to the irrigation channel gate pump, the Mulligans have a genuine need for a diesel mechanic.

Enter hard working Daniel Sloan from northern Ireland. He started working at "Retreat" on a working holiday visa. It was an employer/employee perfect match and both parties were keen to make the arrangement permanent. The Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme provided a win-win.

Dan left behind an Irish economy that was depressed and offered few promising employment prospects.  In North-West NSW he found employment, a lifestyle and a fiancee he loves.

Dan is justifiably proud of the contribution he has made to an agricultural business and the local area, as a skilled migrant.

Woodleys Motors, Tamworth

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Woodleys Motors is the largest vehicle dealer in the Northern Inland region of the State of New South Wales, Australia, with 80 staff and 13 separate (brand) franchises. Despite its regional prominence, Woodleys Motors has difficulty finding qualified and experienced mechanics for its service department, according to General Manager Brad Wilson.

Regional Development Australia Northern Inland brings skilled workers from overseas to the region with the Skilled Regional State Nominated visa (sub-class 489). Facilitating this visa program is good for the region, as seen in the case of Woodleys Motors, where four skilled migrant mechanics are employed.

Jaspreet Singh studied and worked as a professional mechanic in Melbourne. When his visa was granted Jaspreet left his job in the city, packed up his belongings and made the big move to Tamworth. Jaspreet is pleased he made the "tree-change".

Contrary to misconceptions in the city about regional job opportunities, Jaspreet describes how his job hunt upon arrival the Northern Inland NSW only last a couple of days and he much prefers the lifestyle he found in the regional city of Tamworth.

The Barraba MPS (Hospital)

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Jayesh John is a Registered Nurse from India. He came to Northern Inland NSW thanks to the Skilled Regional State Nominated visa (sub-class 489). This was supported and facilitated by Regional Development Australia Northern Inland.

Jayesh found a quiet lifestyle and a rewarding workplace in the small town of Barraba.

The Barraba Multipurpose Service comprises various health services, from the hospital to an aged care facility. Due to the small size and relative remoteness of Barraba, experienced registered nurses have been difficult to attract to the Barraba MPS. Manager, Cathy Stein suggests that the closure of banks in the town has contributed to the lack of employment opportunities for partners of skilled workers and thus, worsened the skills shortage.

Cathy said that Jayesh commenced his nursing in Barraba in a time of great need and has become a very well liked member of the local health service staff.

Skilled migration has delivered positive outcomes for all involved in the case of the Barraba MPS and Jayesh John.

Uralla Shire Council

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Uralla Shire Council is a small regional council in the heart of the Northern Inland region of New South Wales, Australia. The local Government body has challenges with skilled labour, due to the size of Uralla and its’ proximity to Armidale and Tamworth, which can have more appeal to professionals with qualifications and experience.

Skilled migrants like Mustaq Ahammed are brought to the region through the Skilled Regional State Nominated visa (sub-class 489). Mustaq came as an accountant and initially got income and met his visa conditions by working at the tomato farm at Guyra. He has been working as a corporate accountant for over two years.

In the Northern Inland region of NSW, Mustaq Ahammed has found a rewarding, stable and supportive employer, while his family have settled into a place they now call home. Thanks to skilled migration, Uralla Shire Council have a skilled and committed employee, who has culturally enriched the workplace.

DD's Engineering & Fabrication, Moree

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DD’s Engineering & Fabrication is a home-grown business in Moree, in the Northern Inland region of New South Wales. The business was conceived and developed by company Director Donald Devney, who was born and raised in Moree. It services (predominantly) agribusiness clients throughout remote north-western NSW and south-central Queensland.

In this case study video, Mr. Devney explains how the growth of his business has been reliant on Skilled Migration. DD’s Engineering & Fabrication does what it can to upskill locals. It currently boasts a workforce of 15, five of whom are apprentices.

Savenaca Seeto came from Fiji as a skilled migrant. In locations such as Moree, retention of skilled labour is as important an issue as attraction. As of August 2017, Mr. Seeto had been working as a boiler maker at DD’s Engineering & Fabrication for almost 11 years. He and his family are an important contribution to a regional community, as well as a growing regional business. In the case study video, he details why he has settled in the town of Moree with his wife and seven children.

In this case, skilled migration has truly been a win-win, enabling a manufacturing and repair business to grow and therefore increasing the jobs in the local economy.

Australian Cotton Research Institute, Narrabri

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The attraction and retention of skilled labour remains a real challenge for this region and particularly in the North West. RDANI facilitated a Skilled Regional State Nominated 489 visa for agricultural scientist Ellen Iramu and her husband Peter. The couple have moved from the Solomon Islands to Narrabri. It is a win for them, their employer and the local community. In Ellen, the Australian Cotton Research Institute has a research assistant with years of crop research experience.

With the research station being quite remote, it is sometimes hard to attract skilled employees. One of CSIRO’s strategic missions is to embrace diversity and inclusion to create impactful science and enhance their workplace and community. They are thrilled to have skilled migrant, Ellen Iramu, working with them.

Ellen said that RDANI’s skilled migration program has delivered the kind of job and lifestyle that she was hoping for. It's a continuation of her professional career as a crop researcher for over 15 years in the Pacific region.

From the Solomon Islands to Narrabri is one very big change, and these skilled migrants couldn’t be happier with their move. Ellen and her husband like Narrabri very much and plan to remain there for a long time.