Profile - ROO's long hop
Australia’s economy is booming and employers need more skilled workers to meet the increased demand. Skilled overseas workers are an option that employers may consider when they are unable to fill positions from the local labour market.
The outreach officers’ initiative is one of the key strategies being used to target the Skill Stream of the Migration Programme.
The department’s Regional Outreach Officers (ROOs) and Industry Outreach Officers (IOOs) provide immigration information to regional employers and industry groups respectively.
Kim Burley became a ROO late in 2006 after five years’ experience with the department in community liaison and the Adelaide Skilled Processing Centre. This experience fused with a strong sense of community gives Kim a unique insight into the importance of immigration and the benefits of regional migration.
As a ROO, Kim works closely with state, territory and local governments and regional bodies such as Immigration SA to deliver seminars on temporary and permanent visa options for regional employers.
Kim’s travels have recently taken her Coober Pedy – 956 km north of Adelaide – to meet employers and speak at an economic development forum looking at the best use of resources in the mining sector.
Addressing the forum, Kim explained how demographic change had increased worker shortages.
‘The boundaries are definitely changing,’ she said.
‘It’s not like when our parents were growing up.’
There are 10 ROOs operating out of state/territory offices who visit remote locations around Australia to help employers identify options for recruiting skilled workers. There are 16 IOOs Australia wide, embedded in host organisations covering a wide range of industries including engineering, information technology and mining as well as state and territory Chambers of Commerce.