5 April 2024

Jobseekers encouraged to come for the work and stay for the Riverina lifestyle

| Chris Roe
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Cadell Place is one of Wagga's hidden gems.

Cadell Place is one of Wagga’s hidden gems. Photo: Destination Riverina Murray.

Jobseekers looking for a better lifestyle are being invited to take a look at what the Riverina has to offer at a new expo in Wagga Wagga this month.

The Country Change Expo aims to connect the curious with a range of employers and career and lifestyle opportunities.

Regional Development Australia-Riverina (RDA-Riverina) CEO Rachel Whiting said the expo was the perfect place to get a taste of what a career in the regions could be like.

“What we know is that people who are interested in moving regionally, sometimes don’t know much about where they’re interested in moving to,” she said.

“So it’s a really good opportunity to say – hey, come down and have a look, see how we live here and understand what there is in relation to jobs and housing and other services.”

RDA Riverina CEO Rachel Whiting on a tour of the Visy facility at Tumut.

RDA Riverina CEO Rachel Whiting on a tour of the Visy facility at Tumut. Photo: RDA Riverina.

The expo is part of the Riverina Discovery Weekend, encouraging aspiring tree-changers to spend a few days in the region and consider a move.

“A big market for us is always Sydney where we have a great network through our silver sponsor, McGrath Real Estate,” Ms Whiting explained.

“We’re also partnering with the NSW Grow program with Multicultural New South Wales and targeting migrants in Western Sydney who might be interested in moving to the regions, and we’re hoping to bring out a bus full of people.”

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The event is not just for the city slickers and Ms Whiting said that locals are also encouraged to get involved and take a look at the prospects in their own backyard.

“We also want to show the people who live in the regions the multitude of opportunities there are here both in Wagga and other towns around the Riverina and Murray,” she said.

“There are all kinds of industries from government and defence to agriculture, manufacturing, tourism and other professional and social services.

“Our digital platform Jobs Riverina Murray is always showcasing a range of job vacancies; right now that includes teachers, doctors, mechanics, and management opportunities from logistics to pubs.”

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Ms Whiting said The Country Change Expo offered another layer to the information available online by bringing everyone together in person.

“What I like to say always is there’s something in the Riverina and the Murray for everyone,” she said.

“You just need to be able to explore it enough to find the right place for you and that’s what we try to help people do.”

She added that while employment was important, it was just one factor in a successful ‘country change’.

“We know people will move for a job, but that’s not why they stay. They stay for the relationships, they stay for the community and the lifestyle. So it’s really important to be able to connect people to all of those things.

The Country Change Expo is a free event between 10 and 3 pm on Saturday 20 April at the Transgrid Discovery Hub in Wagga’s Kincaid Street.

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