A growing shortage of skilled workers in Australia has left many companies exposed as they struggle to find skilled maintenance workers to ensure continued operations.
“As the manufacturing industry gradually shut down plants in Australia and moved offshore over the past 10 years or so, we are not seeing the next generation of skilled heavy plant machinery mechanics, plant fitters and welders coming through,” said Gina Bahri, Head of Talent Acquisition.
“People are not training for these professions in the same numbers anymore, and as an aging workforce retires, it has become increasingly challenging to recruit for these positions as we don’t have enough young workers coming through the ranks.
“We have had conversations with TAFE about our needs as we have jobs to offer but unfortunately with a shortage of TAFE teachers to run these courses, the selection process of available and onshore maintenance resources has become increasingly difficult.
“While we continue to lobby for training and TAFE courses, we have been left with no other choice but to take our search overseas,” said Gina.
The process has been slow and challenging having to navigate through immigration red tape including long visa processing times. But the tenacious work of our Talent team has paid off. BINGO is now able to source working visas for skilled maintenance workers needed to support growth at BINGO.
Welcome Innocent
That’s why we are excited to welcome Innocent and his family from Zimbabwe to the BINGO family!
“We are glad to finally welcome Innocent and his family to Australia,” said Steve Wigg, Talent Acquisition Partner.
“It has taken us the best part of nine months to get him over here since our first interview, after finding him through our International Migration Partnership Scheme.”
“Innocent is a qualified diesel plant fitter with more than 22 years of experience in Zimbabwe. He has been granted a four-year temporary visa to join our BINGO family. He will be based in Wollongong, where his manager Saul has helped him and his family find an apartment and get his young children settled into school.”
Last week, Gina and Steve were at the airport to welcome him and his family to Australia. His manager Saul greeted him in Wollongong as he arrived.
We will follow up with Innocent to hear more about his impressions of BINGO and how he’s settling into Australia once he’s had some time to get settled into his new role. Welcome to BINGO, Innocent!