Regional business managers have highlighted the challenges and success factors in staffing, recruitment and training during the second WSM Business Connect Forum.
The event, which attracted participants from within and beyond the Wimmera, included two panels of industry experts from the employer and training sectors.
Panel facilitator Jess Adler from Wimmera Southern Mallee Development told the forum the percentage of people employed in health and agriculture dropped in 2024, but increased in construction, retail trade and education.
“Early childhood, nursing and care staff were all identified as hard to fill roles, with shortages and higher demand in construction, transport as well as technical, labouring and machinery roles. Manager and professional roles were also identified as shortages,” Ms Adler said.
“Less than half the regional employers in a recent survey were recruiting and more than eight out of every 10, reported difficulty filling roles, which is much higher than the Victorian average.
“Data also shows that while regional job advertisements were 1500 in April last year they had dropped to 961 in September.”
Limited housing, childcare and public transport were all listed as deterrents for potential employees moving to the region.
Forum participants talked of challenges in filling specialist roles, especially when competing with higher wages in other parts of the state.
Others talked of the need to support migrants settling in the region before, during and after their arrival.
Employer panellists Rebecca Netherway from Emmetts and Bernardine Schilling from Yarriambiack Shire Council, emphasised the importance of providing flexible working arrangements where possible.
“If you put flexibility in job advertisements, you have a greater opportunity of an increased pool of candidates,” said Ms Schilling.
Ms Netherway cited the example of a nine-day fortnight which had helped provide work-life balance and other positive workplace impacts.
Ms Schilling outlined opportunities to support shire staff as they moved into retirement with the introduction of ‘Transition to Retirement Plans’ up to five years, with the option to reduced hours that provides the opportunity to mentor potential replacements.
Ms Netherway said staff were all part of the community and a critical component for towns to be able to survive and grown.
“We are often stretched as employers to do things in the community, such as visiting schools, but we have seen massive evidence in the benefits for it,” she said.
Ms Schilling told how student work experience numbers more than doubled over the past 12 months, after staff spoke of shire career opportunities at two local schools.
Vanessa O’Loughlin from Wimmera Southern Mallee Local Learning and Employment Network said it was important to work with students, parents, teachers and trainers when discussing young people’s career options.
She said with tight school timetables, training engagement with schools and careers teachers needed to be done in a smart way.
Katja Fiedler from Women’s Health Grampians said old-school workplace cultures were detrimental to safety, mental health and the wider community.
Ms Fiedler works to help employers diversify workplaces by employing women in trades and other traditionally male roles.
Workplace culture was highlighted as critical to recruitment success.
Ms Fiedler said it was important to focus less on existing culture and more on the culture the workplace aspired to in the future.
“Not only will you keep people but it will help you to attract new staff,” she said.
Over the past four years Yarriambiack Shire worked hard on improving culture including regular workplace breakfasts with senior management and staff and ongoing consultation and information sharing.
During this time the shire has moved from approximately 90 per cent of staff recruitment from within the shire to current a level of 70 per cent locals, 15 per cent living outside the shire and 15 per cent having relocated to the shire.
“They are being enticed to come because they hear of the ‘positive culture,” at Yarriambiack,” Ms Schilling said.
Several participants highlighted the barriers to finding roles for partners of prospective recruits and considered how this could be addressed through a potential online forum matching people and job opportunities.
Ms Adler said while the event discussed a range of recruitment challenges, it also highlighted many opportunities to collectively find solutions.
“There are many exciting things happening and some great successes were shared at this event.
“We look forward to further exploring many of these issues in 2025, including culture, jobs for partners, training and supporting newcomers to our region.”
If you would like to be added to invitation list for the next Business Connect forum and regular updates please email simone.dalton@wsm.org,au