Story: Gary Fry
Regional Development Australia Northern Inland (RDANI) advises that representatives of the Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) will soon be visiting the region. Employers and visa applicants are encouraged to attend upcoming free seminars or book a one-on-one meeting.
RDANI Senior Project Officer, Kim-Trieste Hastings will be on hand at these DIAC information sessions to discuss RDANI’s skilled migration programs.
Visiting from the Immigration Department, to answer questions from employers and applicants, will be Industry Outreach Officers, Suzanne Gillham and Satinder Pasricha.
On Monday March 25, 11am-1pm they will be available to meet with employers and visa applicants at the RDANI Office in Armidale, with a seminar following from 2-4pm.
Appointments are necessary for the individual meetings, through Kim-Trieste Hastings on: 0427 008 572.
Ms Hastings said that local businesses are still struggling to find the workers that they need and Skilled Migration programs, administered locally by RDANI, can be a vital option.
“Skills shortages affect many sectors, from the trades to the professions; chefs and mechanics; doctors and accountants. Rural and regional communities need the skilled migration option. It’s important we provide information on how these programs can be accessed,” she said.
“I will be assisting DIAC with their information sessions and speaking to attendees about the latest changes in the skilled migrant visa programs, as well as the recent issues and challenges experienced within them.”
RDANI is the only visa certifying body for the Regional Skilled Migration Scheme in the local area. Executive Officer, Nathan Axelsson, said that the DIAC representatives’ visit is an important opportunity for organisations and individuals with immigration issues in the region. “This is a chance to meet with people from Immigration face-to-face. It’s something that DIAC does to give regional areas the kind of access to information that is available in the city,” he said.
