Our Guest speaker this week was Monique Lerchner, employed by Regional Development Australia – Riverina NSW (RDA-Riverina) as the NSW GROW Backbone Coordinator. Monique is passionate about partnering with others to create solutions to workforce needs that enables greater economic outcomes. She has a particular interest in regional NSW and its untapped potential. She values the role that local communities play within rural regions and the capacity they have to create positive change for themselves and for others. RDA-Riverina is part of an Australian Government initiative based on building partnerships and ensuring that all governments and stakeholders are responsive to local priorities and needs. It is a conduit between government and local communities, and a provider of information. RDA-Riverina is a non-profit, community-based organisation. RDAs are champions for local communities, working towards developing local solutions to local problems, and ensuring the prosperity of the regions. The NSW Growing Regions of Welcome (NSW GROW) Pilot Program launched in June 2021 and aims to connect interested migrants, refugees and asylum seekers in western Sydney with lifestyle and employment opportunities in regional NSW. Over the next three years, NSW GROW will aim to: - Strengthen the capability of regional communities to attract and retain newcomers
- Assist interested newcomers in western Sydney to relocate to regional NSW
- Coordinate a collaborative, cross-sector (collective impact) approach to regional resettlement in NSW
-
The NSW GROW model includes: - A Regional Employment Hub in western Sydney delivered by Australian Red Cross to create strong referral pathways between western Sydney and the pilot regions and help facilitate the relocation of interested newcomers and their families.
- Place-based partnerships in the Murray and Riverina regions to develop and implement local attraction and retention strategies.
Each place-based partnership: - led by a local Backbone Coordinator. Monique Lerchner (RDA) Riverina Backbone Coordinator
- comprises of cross-sector Regional Taskforces that guide each region’s strategic approach to newcomer attraction and retention, and oversee a variety of related initiatives across community welcoming, employment and service coordination.
If you have any further questions, you can contact Monique on any of the details listed below. Her role is to represent the Riverina and be a go between from the region to Western Sydney, help coordinate the Riverina Taskforce and be a communication channel to Multicultural NSW regarding the program and how it is progressing. If anyone would like to know what led Monique to her role, you can read about it here: Monique Lerchner | It's My Story | Multicultural NSW. Monique Lerchner NSW GROW Backbone Coordinator Regional Development Australia Riverina O: 02 5924 5861 M: 0417 420 424 PO Box 479 - Wagga Wagga NSW 2650 – Building 474 Bangala Way, CSU Wagga (Car Park 27). ******************************** |
Farewell Monique, Please Come Again
Sergeant Geoff
Member Update
Laurie’s Quote of the Week
