Essential workers will receive significantly more support to move and settle into the Northern Rivers thanks to a successful Minns Labor Government initiative, The Welcome Experience, being extended into the region making it easier for local organisations to attract workers to making the move.
Originally piloted during 2023 in Broken Hill, Muswellbrook, Bega, Walgett, Coffs Harbour, Corowa, Griffith and Goulburn, The Welcome Experience has been such a success it is now being rolled out to additional locations since September this year and is now operating in 55 Local Government Areas.
The Welcome Experience will now provide workforce support to the additional town locations of Tweed, Lismore, Ballina, Byron and Richmond Valley thanks to a successful tender application from new host agency, Regional Development Australia (RDA) Northern Rivers.
As part of The Welcome Experience, host agencies help essential workers make the regions their home, forge social connections, access childcare and schooling options, join sporting clubs and even assist with finding job opportunities for partners.
Launched in June last year, The Welcome Experience has helped 665 essential workers and their families to move to regional New South Wales, including 346 health workers, 110 educators and 42 police staff.
The Northern Rivers can look forward to similar type success stories that have emerged after the program was rolled out to other regions over the last few months.
Host Agencies in new delivery locations such as Dubbo, Port Macquarie, Kiama and Inverell are now onboarding Local Connectors, plus engaging their local communities and gathering feedback to assist them to tailor the delivery of The Welcome Experience to meet specific needs of communities.
Among the new host agencies is RDA Murray, which has reported a positive stream of enquiries since September from essential workers considering the move to the Albury area.
RDA Program Manager for Albury Karin Willcox is already assisting two registered nurses and their children move to the region from New Zealand.
Karin has organised arrangements for the family ahead of their arrival, including airport pickup, car rental, childcare, schooling options, and even securing furniture for their new home.
Find out more The Welcome Experience
Minister for Agriculture and Regional NSW, Tara Moriarty said:
“Our Government is focusing on ensuring regional NSW receives the services it needs and attracting essential workers is critical to making that happen.
“If people get to hear first-hand info about schools or childcare, and that there is a good bunch of people in the local netball team, plus insights on cafes and places to fish, you are making them feel welcome.
“Recognising the area’s needs, the Government is pleased the procurement process has been completed to engage RDA Northern Rivers to set up services in five towns that will boost the attraction of essential workers.
“The Welcome Experience has a strong track record of warmly welcoming workers to regional NSW and encouraging them to build lasting connections in their new communities, and I look forward to seeing RDA continue this valuable work in the Northern Rivers region.”
NSW Parliamentary Secretary for Disaster Recovery and State Member for Lismore Janelle Saffin said:
“I congratulate Regional Development Australia (RDA) Northern Rivers on successfully tendering to be host agency for The Welcome Experience in towns across our region as this organisation has a track record of building capacity through strengthening networks.
“We need to attract and retain more essential workers as our population grows, and providing workforce support with relocations and settling into a new community for workers and their families is a no-brainer.
“Some councils provide new residents with a welcome pack to help them navigate their new surroundings, and this Minns Labor Government initiative is that concept writ large, offering a wraparound set of services specific to our region.
“The Welcome Experience’s pilot sites have been successful in helping hundreds of health workers, educators and police move to the regions, and I look forward to more success in Lismore, Tweed, Byron, Ballina and Richmond Valley.”
RDA Northern Rivers Director of Regional Development Anthony Schreenan said:
“The Welcome Experience will support new essential workers through every step of the relocation process, from when they first consider the move, to when they decide to make their home in the Northern Rivers and build connections in the community,” Mr Schreenan said.
“We are so happy to be able to benefit from The Welcome Experience, the pilot showed that the key to retaining workers is welcoming them into the community, and that’s more than finding a house to live in and school for the kids.
“It’s becoming part of the local sports club, getting to know fellow parents, connecting with the people at your local and building networks of friendship.
“Our Local Connector will provide a concierge service, connecting with essential workers who are considering relocating to our region and providing information about the region, finding a place to live, access to schools and amenities, and services available.
Locations delivering The Welcome Experience:
| Region | Location Government Areas | Successful Host Agency |
| Northern NSW | Glen Innes Severn and Inverell | Attract Connect Stay Glenn Innes |
| North Coast & Rivers | Tweed, Lismore, Ballina, Byron and Richmond Valley | RDA Northern Rivers |
| Mid North Coast | Kempsey, Nambucca and Port Macquarie Hastings | RDA Mid North Coast |
| Mid North Coast | Coffs Harbour and Bellingen | Boambee East Community Centre |
| Hunter | Muswellbrook, Singleton and Upper Hunter | Muswellbrook Shire Council |
| New England | Armidale, Tamworth and Uralla | RDA Northern Inland |
| Moree Plains | Moree Plains | Moree Plains Shire Council |
| Orana region | Bourke, Dubbo (incl Wellington) and Walgett | RDA Orana |
| Central West | Bathurst, Cowra, Lachlan, Lithgow, Oberon, Orange, Parkes and Weddin | Skillset |
| Western NSW | Balranald, Broken Hill, Central Darling, | Regional Solutions Community Development |
| Far West NSW | Unincorporated Far West and Wentworth | Regional Solutions Community Development |
| Murray | Albury, Federation and Greater Hume | RDA Murray |
| Eastern Riverina | Temora, Tumut, Wagga Wagga | RDA Riverina |
| Western Riverina | Griffith, Leeton, | RDA Riverina |
| Southern NSW | Goulburn Mulwaree, Hilltops, Queanbeyan-Palerang, Snowy-Monaro, Upper Lachlan, Wingecarribee and Yass Valley | RDA Southern NSW |
| Bega Valley | Bega Valley | Bega Chamber of Commerce |
| Illawarra | Kiama, Shellharbour and Shoalhaven | Multicultural Communities Council of Illawarra |
| South Coast | Eurobodalla | Bega Chamber of Commerce |