Skilled migrant job support centre to bolster in-demand industries
The state government has funded a new South Australian Skilled Migrant Job Support Centre, which aims to ramp up recruitment for in-demand sectors across the state.
With demand high for workers in a number of sectors like ICT, engineering, health services and more a new South Australian Skilled Migrant Job Support Centre is set to fill the gap.
The state government, via its $1.5 million Skilled Migration and Industry Connection Program, is funding the centre formed by South Australian certified social enterprise Community Corporate and job search giant SEEK.
It is one of six projects receiving funding under the Program, alongside the Australian Migrant Resource Centre’s ‘Connect, Thrive and Contribute’ initiative, The Committee for Adelaide’s ‘Adelaide Connected’ program, The South Australian business Chamber’s Skilled Migration Industry Connection Project, SkilledSmart Careers’ Engineer Futures program and Master Builders Association of SA’s BuildConnect program.
Community Corporate founder and 40 Under 40 alumna Carmen Garcia said she was proud that the state government was supporting the pilot program which will run for 12 months initially.
The centre will provide specialist recruitment services and training to employers, and job coaching, matching and placements, masterclasses and industry engagement and networking events for prospective employees.
She said the centre was necessary, pointing to a May 2024 report from Deloitte on the underutilisation of migrants in SA which found skilled migrants were an untapped source of skills and could boost labour productivity by 1.2 per cent and grow gross state product by $2.2 billion.
“I’m hoping this one-stop-shop provides a single point of entry for all employers – SMEs included – that can register their interest in what roles they’re looking for, and my team will help make the connection,” she said.
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Garcia said the Centre would assist at least 120 skilled migrants in its first year, but “we know that will probably be largely exceeded”.
“We’re invested in this because we want to prove the business case that with a little extra support we can create the meaningful outcomes that we need to future-proof our state,” she said.
“And it all starts with opening doors.”
While acknowledging there’s a “lot of attention around the ICT space at the moment”, the centre will be drawing on Community Corporate’s past in connecting jobseekers with a variety of industries.
“We’ve even opened the doors for people like diesel mechanics, pharmacists, chefs, registered nurses, mechanical engineers, carpenters, welders,” she said.
“There are more than 200 occupations on the South Australian occupation list and we have the opportunity to really focus on that.
“We’ve identified – through our experience and engagement with the migrant communities – engineering, construction, IT and the health services sectors. That’s where we’re going to start.”
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With major projects like AUKUS in the wings for South Australia, Garcia said there was a real opportunity for skilled migrants who were looking to attain citizenship too.
“People need to plan that for some of the defence contracts they’re going to require citizenship, which is going to see a real mobility of current workers. Those Tier 2 and suppliers are going to need access to migrant talent,” she said.
“I think it’s really important that we bust the myth that all of the skilled migrants that are already onshore in Australia have full work rights, and we do all that due diligence to safeguard employers, but many of them may not have citizenship.”
She said the establishment of the centre was a “huge milestone” for Community Corporate, “particularly in South Australia where we have a government and a community that recognises migration is going to be critical to our state’s future prosperity”.
“We need to challenge conventional thinking. We need to challenge conventional thinking. We need to do things differently, but we also need to make it easier for employers,” she said.
“That’s what the Job Support Centre is going to achieve.”
SEEK head of government relations Kadi Taylor said the organisation was “very happy to partner with Community Corporate and the South Australian government on this important initiative to reduce the skills gap in South Australia”.
“Unlocking the full potential of migrants in the South Australian labour market is a huge opportunity for the state and is an important pillar in delivering on the ambitious agenda put forward by the Malinauskas Government,” Taylor said.
Deputy Premier and Industry, Innovation & Science Minister Dr Susan Close said the six projects received funding to unlock the full potential of skilled migration and address underutilisation and workforce shortages in SA.
“The South Australian Government knows how important qualified migrants are, both to our workforce, our economic growth and social fabric, bringing unique skills and diverse experiences,” Close said.
“With South Australia poised to transform its economy, build more homes and deliver on major projects, skilled migration is absolutely critical to support this growth.
“Community Corporate’s new program will connect skilled migrants with employment across our priority industry sectors, providing individualised support, industry engagement and job matching to ensure their skills are utilised where they’re needed most.”
