Migration Project - Ballarat

Skilled Migration Vacancy Drive

Ballarat employers are now assisted to recruit migrants already in Australia after Council has initiated a project which will focus on defined areas of skill shortages, in particular accountants, chefs and metal fitters (welders, machinists and fabrication engineers).

The Council has taken the lead by employing Wilbert Mapombere to coordinate this latest initiative. The Project will provide links to existing databases of potential migrants, by promoting vacancies to existing networks within countries of potential recruitment and by providing information sessions for employers to learn more about employing skilled migrants.

Employers are encouraged to register with the Ballarat Migration Project, detailing the nature of their business and the vacancy available.

More information is available from the Skilled Migration Vacancy Drive Coordinator Wilbert Mapombere, 0448 842 307 or wilbertmapombere@ballarat.vic.gov.au.

Multicultural Ambassador's Program

Ballarat's Multicultural Ambassadors are made up of ten local residents from nine different nations, and are a mixture of professionals and retirees who have migrated to Australia at some point during the last fifty years.

Appointed for two years, the role of the Multicultural Ambassadors is to provide leadership within Ballarat's growing migrant community. The Ambassadors will assist migrants, Council, and the wider community to ensure multiculturalism is a productive and positive experience for all citizens.

Multicultural Ambassadors are available for presentations to schools, community groups, and service clubs.

Ballarat Migration Project

The City of Ballarat new Skilled Migration Project has been in operation since February 2005, and aims to attract and retain new migrants to the city in order to help address regional Victoria's skilled labour shortage.

The project is consistent with the aims and objectives of the Ballarat City Council's Migration Attraction and Retention Population Strategy, and also links in with Blueprint Ballarat's long-term objective of increasing the City's multiculturalism.

The new project does not compete with local people for employment, but rather is intended to attract skilled migrants to fill immediate shortages where no other options, or limited options exist. In particular, the project seeks to further indentify the skill shortages which exist in Ballarat, and to work alongside local businesses and industry in order to assist employers to make connections with skilled and trained staff from overseas, when their needs cannot be met locally.

The project also provides ongoing support and assistance to new migrants, and to local businesses and industry who have recruited new migrants.

Contact Details

For further information, please email migration@ballarat.vic.gov.au, or phone the Ballarat Migration Project Executive Officer, Narelle Hibberd, 03 5320 5180 or visit www.businessballarat.com.

Cultural Profile - China (PDF - 352KB)

Cultural Profile - India (PDF - 334KB)

Cultural Profile - Phillipines (PDF - 349KB)

Cultural Profile - South Africa (PDF - 322KB)

Cultural Profile - Sri Lanka (PDF - 318KB)

Cultural Profile - UK (PDF - 330KB)