Following research that showed labour shortages were impacting on the viability of local businesses, the Dalwallinu Shire Council in Western Australia established a Regional Repopulation Advisory Committee, to attract and retain skilled migrants into the region and reinvigorate the communities in the area.
Initiated in 2011, the project put renewed focus on the primarily agricultural region, facilitating growth in local economies and communities, which in turn provided for future infrastructure development and growth in the population.
In 2012, the Regional Repopulation Advisory Committee undertook an assessment of the new residents of Dalwallinu Shire, who include nationals from India, Burma, Finland, Thailand, Korea, The Philippines, Ireland, England, South Africa and New Zealand.
As a result of the assessment, the Committee identified that there was an opportunity to offer six weeks of conversational English classes, as a way of assisting the new residents to confidently and comfortably adapt to their new communities.
The enthusiasm and commitment shown by the first round of students and the positive feedback from local business owners highlighted a need for further classes. These have now been run in both Kalannie and Dalwallinu, offering General English and English specialising in the International English Language Testing System (IELTS), designed for those who are preparing for an application for permanent residency.
Dalwallinu Shire President, and Regional Repopulation Advisory Committee member, Councillor Robert Nixon said,
“It is extremely exciting to see the enthusiasm and commitment shown for these classes from over 60 new residents in the Shire.”
