Regional Development Australia Northern Inland (RDANI) is expanding its delivery of the NSW Government’s The Welcome Experience to Gunnedah Shire, Narrabri Shire, Liverpool Plains Shire and Walcha Local Government Areas (LGAs).
Two new part-time Local Connectors have joined the team to deliver the program in Gunnedah and Narrabri for the first time. The new locations join Armidale, Tamworth and Uralla, where RDANI has delivered The Welcome Experience for the past two years.
“The Welcome Experience is a great initiative from the NSW Government, utilising local organisations and staff to achieve settlement and employee retention outcomes, valued by workers and employers alike,” RDANI chairman Russell Stewart said.
“It involves Local Connectors assisting new essential workers to settle in local communities, enhancing their community experience and ideally, ensuring they stay to live and work in our region,” he said.
The program provides eligible essential workers and NSW Government employees who are relocating or have recently relocated with free support to help them settle into regional communities.
Support is tailored to individual needs and includes assistance with finding accommodation, employment for partners, enrolling children in school and connecting with local community groups.
Eligible participants include employees in government and non-government organisations across specified sectors, including general practitioners, aged care nurses, early childhood educators, allied health professionals, teachers, health workers, emergency services workers and, more recently, local government employees.
“Emily Surman in Gunnedah and Kate Rice in Narrabri will join our existing Local Connectors, Katrina George (Armidale/Uralla/Guyra/Walcha) and Emma Grant (Tamworth/Liverpool Plains), to deliver the program for their home towns and surrounds,” RDANI executive director Nathan Axelsson said.
“Our Local Connectors not only have a wealth of knowledge about their communities, but also the connections to assist new residents moving to our region with their partners and families.”
“The program has had strong positive outcomes, with around 250 essential workers and their families already being supported in Armidale, Uralla and Tamworth, since it began in October 2024,” he said.
“On average, one essential worker relocating to regional NSW has been shown to add $116,050 of value to the local economy, so that equates to around $28 million in economic benefit for the Northern Inland NSW region since the program began here,” Axelsson said.
The Welcome Experience was piloted in eight locations across NSW. Following the program’s success, it has been expanded to support regional communities by encouraging migration from metropolitan areas, interstate and overseas.
Minister for Regional NSW Tara Moriarty said the program now operates across 88 LGAs, with Local Connectors helping essential workers settle into their new communities.
“Regional NSW is a fantastic place to work and raise a family, and with the support of The Welcome Experience, more highly trained essential service workers are choosing to make the move.
“The Welcome Experience is helping to ease pressure on vital services across the region, particularly within the health systems that support communities throughout the Armidale and Tamworth regions.
“Behind each registration for The Welcome Experience is not just one person, but often an entire family, with partners and children also putting down roots and becoming part of the local community.
“These essential workers are the heartbeat of our communities. They keep hospitals running and communities safe, care for our elderly, and educate the next generation, providing the skills and services the Northern Inland region needs to thrive.”
“Moving to a new area is a daunting experience for anyone, and we are excited to be able to help make it easier for new residents to take that step and make the move to our region,” Mr Axelsson said.
“The community spirit in our region is part of what makes it an incredible place to live, work and raise a family, and we are pleased to be able to support new residents to share in that.”
“If you have recently moved to the Gunnedah Shire, Narrabri Shire, Armidale Regional, Uralla Shire, Tamworth Regional, Walcha or Liverpool Plains Shire Council areas, you can view the full list of eligible sectors and register for the program on the NSW Government’s website to get in touch with our Local Connectors. This program is also being provided by other organisations in the Moree Plains, Inverell, Gwydir, Glen Innes and Tenterfield regions, which are also available through the above link,” Axelsson said.
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