Newsletter for the Rotary Club of Greater Geraldton - Issue No.: 780 Issue Date: 15 Apr, 2024

Guest Speaker - Melissa Denning, who is a member of the Rotary Club of Matilda Bay. She works for Vegetables WA.

Melissa describes her job as the promotion of two programmes. One is aimed specifically at recruiting Pacific Islanders (Fiji, Kiribati, Nauru, PNG, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Timor L'Este, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu) to work in food services, accommodation, health care, social assistance, forestry, fishing and non seasonal agriculture. The other programme is for Seasonal Workers from the same countries and is targeted at horticulture, accommodation and tourism.

Both programmes are Australia wide although the Pacific Islander programme is particular to rural and regional Australia. Both programmes are mainly for those with low or limited skills. The programmes are administered by the Federal Government.

Melissa gave some examples of where the programmes are operating and the benefits that accrue to the employers and workers. She gave some specific details around workers from Timor L'Este and Tonga and how important the programmes are financially to the individuals involved and their countries.

One of the current issues that is impacting both programmes is Covid19. Some can't come into Australia, some can't leave!

Any enquiries to Melissa on 0477 477 044 or melissa.denning@vegetableswa.com.au

Vote of Thanks - Grant Woodhams