Continuing skills shortages in Councils has the Western Australia Local Government Association (WALGA) again heading overseas to recruit staff. In September, a team from WALGA’s Workplace Solutions left for careers expos in South Africa, hoping to find candidates for 80 currently vacant positions across Councils in Western Australia. Attending the two day expo in Johannesburg follows WALGA sending a team to the United Kingdom last year. Candidates from that expo filled 14 positions in Local Government.
WALGA President, Councillor Bill Mitchell, said successful candidates identified in the overseas recruitment drive would be employed by Western Australian Councils on Section 457 temporary visas.
“The skills shortage in Local Government results in Councils either having to reduce service delivery or pay consultants at higher rates, both of which are not sustainable,” he said. “Heading overseas to identify potential candidates is part of a range of tactics WALGA is using to assist Local Government in Western Australia to overcome the skills shortage caused by the economic boom. WALGA has also used statewide television advertising, assisted in developing new training courses and is producing materials Councils can use to promote careers to school leavers.”
Councillor Mitchell said WALGA targeted the United Kingdom and South Africa in its overseas recruiting due to the similarities to Australia in skills and qualification requirements and culture and language.
“We want to identify candidates for Councils that will be comfortable making a longterm commitment to living and working in Western Australia,” he said. “Local Government provides competitive salary packages, but is distinguishable from other industries by both the opportunity to work anywhere in the State and the potential for flexible working hours to suit lifestyle.”
As a result of WALGA’s overseas recruitment drive in the UK last year, the City of Mandurah recruited Maintenance Engineer, George Workman.
City of Mandurah CEO, Mark Newman, said he found WALGA’s Workplace Solutions overseas recruiting service to be very professional, with the service meeting all of Council’s needs.
George Workman said he had visited Australia as a backpacker many years ago and was interested in emigrating to Australia due to the climate, scenery, standard of living and lifestyle. He had already started the Australian Visa application process before meeting WALGA recruitment staff at a careers fair in Manchester in October 2006.
George said he had a positive experience with Workplace Solutions staff and his family was very pleased with the move.
“My wife and I had lots of questions and they did their best to help smooth the process,“ he said. “The transition was much easier than I expected. It took me about a week to get over the jet lag, but after that, very little has gone wrong. Work was made much easier by the relaxed and friendly colleagues. I have already recommended emigrating to several former colleagues.”
For further information contact Councillor Mitchell on 0427 171 896.
