MUCH TO OFFER: Ezaz Sheikh, who works in the Ballarat offices of the Department of Sustainability and Environment. Picture: Lachlan Bence
BALLARAT businesses have been encouraged to look to the world to fill their skills vacancies.The new Global Skills for Provincial Victoria program is run through the State Government's Department of Industry Innovation and Regional Development.The scheme aims to link migrants to specific job vacancies in regional areas.In Ballarat, the program is run by the Ballarat City Council, and aims to fill 20 skilled positions in the city each year.Sectors that have been targeted under the program include: information and communications technology, allied health and town planning.So far this financial year, 12 people have moved to Ballarat under the scheme. The council's people and communities director Carolyn Barrie said attracting skilled migrants required extra work for businesses, but it was worth the effort."For the work they put into it, you can have really valuable employees," Ms Barrie said. The council helps participating businesses in settling new arrivals and their families in Ballarat. Ms Barrie said businesses struggling to recruit workers should contact the council.* Employers who want to know more about the scheme can contact the council multicultural development officer Frances Salenga on 5320 5180.
