Council agreed to work with the Rural Australians for Refugees (RAR) Echuca branch at a recent meeting.
Mayor Adrian Weston said the report presented to council was the result of a notice of motion received last year asking staff to investigate assistance to the RAR so they can support refugees who may want to work on farms in Campaspe.
‘‘Council will provide promotional material to the national umbrella body for refugees, the Refugee Council of Australia, for use on their website to assist in profiling the region for agricultural and other workers,’’ Cr Weston said.
‘‘Staff will also attend local RAR meetings to assist in understanding the administrative and practical challenges of attracting workers with a qualifying refugee visa to the region. This will also help in identifying any other opportunities where council may assist.’’
The motion followed changes made to visas by the Australian government.
In 2014 the government introduced Safe Haven Enterprise Visas (SHEVs) to encourage those with refugee status to settle in a regional community, to find work or to study. The visa provided protection for five-years, compared to the three-year temporary protection visa.
‘‘The main feature of SHEVs was getting refugees to regional Australia, to work or study,’’ Cr Weston said.
‘‘Each municipality had the opportunity to opt into the SHEV scheme, which then enabled the SHEV visa holder to go to that region.’’
In 2017, council was approached by the RAR to opt into the SHEV scheme and legislation was passed in November 2018 formally admitting Campaspe Shire.
‘‘With the shire now formally recognised, it is appropriate to work with the local group to understand the issues and how the various groups can best work together to achieve benefit from the region’s SHEV status,’’ Cr Weston said.
Council also noted plans to develop a Workforce Development Plan, which would affirm local industry requirements and consider the best way to attract skilled and unskilled workers to the region.
‘‘Funding to support development of this plan will be part of the 2019/20 council budget considerations. Once funding has been approved, and matching funding from federal or state government is secured, work will start on the plan,’’ Cr Weston said.
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