Sikhs seek out Narrabri for employment opportunities

Three Sikh mechanics have moved from Melbourne to take up the opportunity of a job in Narrabri – and hopefully decide to make Narrabri their new home town.

Recruitment of skilled workers in rural areas – and across Australia – is a major problem for businesses of all sizes.

Regional Development Australia Northern Inland has been successfully bringing skilled staff to the bush, with workers filling roles from hospitality to health services, automotive mechanics to farm machinery.

RDA’s Skilled Migration program does not entail bringing immigrants from outside Australia – the workers are already here.

The aim of the RDA program is to bring them to the bush.

“We have brought about 300 skilled workers across the spectrum of industry and agriculture to the Northern Inland region,” said RDANI chair Russell Stewart.

General manager of Kaputar Ford Ken Flower is an enthusiastic advocate of the program and has welcomed the workers to his team.

“I think our new mechanics, Sarwan Singh Gill, cousins Sabir Singh and Navneet Singh Rao, may be the first Sikhs to come to Narrabri,” he said.

“I hope they are just the first of many – our community will welcome more.”

Mr Flower is admiring of the Punjab region and the Sikh work ethic and technical expertise.

“I have worked in cotton in the Punjab and appreciate their cultural commitment to work and community,” he said. “And their background is in the Punjab agricultural areas.

“They are strong believers in family, conscientious workers and most importantly, good technicians.

“I am hoping that our new mechanics will become established here and encourage their friends and relatives to move to Narrabri – one for example, is a mechanical engineer and others have a range of much sought after skills. They will be welcomed by employers and the community.”

The RDA program was very much locally focused, Mr Stewart said.

“There is very strong demand for skilled workers – we urge employers to talk to us at RDA.”

Mr Flower endorsed the RDA role.

“We see a lot of potential for employers in Narrabri and the North West,” he said.

“I welcome any employer in business, industry or agriculture who would like to talk about the program.

“I would like to see more people move here – from our perspective at Kaputar Ford I would like to see a ‘critical mass’ of Sikh workers and families move here and build that community.”