Tamworth skilled migrant success held up as business case study

Apollo Engineering was expanding so rapidly, it was struggling to find the skilled trades people it needed, managing director Dave Errington said.

"It would have been very difficult for us to grow our business as rapidly as we have without the input of our five skilled migrants," Mr Errington said.

"Our four Zimbabwean workers have been a massive benefit to the business; to the culture in the workplace, as well as our productivity.

"Our workforce has grown to 36 and I expect we will need more skilled migrants as we continue to diversify and grow."

First-class welder Wellington Bigone said he didn't know what to expect in regional Australia and knew even less about Tamworth when he relocated with family.

"To my surprise, we really loved it," Mr Bigone said.

"We didn't like big cities in South Africa, where I worked for 11 years. There were a lot of pressures, traffic and some crime.

"Tamworth is beautiful and the community is friendly. I am living just five minutes' drive from the city centre to my workplace. I start work at five in the morning but only leave home at 4:45am."

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Mr Wellington said his family has been blow away by the support of the Tamworth community - his wife has also found a job, while he and his son play soccer with a local team.

"The people in this community and at work are helpful and supportive, which enabled my family and I to adapt and settle in really well," he said.

"Choosing regional Australia is a brilliant idea for a skilled migrant."

Apollo Engineering's story has been so successful, it's been used as a case study by Regional Development Australia Northern Inland (RDANI) to highlight how regional migration can be a vital cog in rural economic development.

"These four individuals from Zimbabwe have been a real win for Apollo Engineering, Tamworth and the region," RDANI chair Russell Stewart said.

"As they describe in the case study video, settling in a regional community has been a big win for them also."

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RDANI project office Gary Fry encouraged other businesses to investigate the use of skilled migrants.

"Our Skilled Regional State Nominated visa program brought four metal trades workers from Zimbabwe," Mr Fry said.

"They came with a decade of experience in South Africa, a strong work ethic and a commitment to settle and integrate into the Tamworth community."

Mr Fry said the visa program RDANI used to bring the Apollo Engineer's skilled migrants to the region (489 sub-class) is now closed.

However, it will soon be replaced by a similar program, the Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) subclass 491 visa, in November later this year.

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