Global Adelaide attracted over 20 representatives from across South Australian industry to attend its inaugural meeting on Friday 18 November 2022 at the Defence Teaming Centre’s Vintage Boardroom in Adelaide, South Australia. The meeting was attended by representatives from various industries who discussed the challenges facing the state’s economy, resulting from the inability to adequately address workforce requirements.
Special guest at the meeting was Steve Tobocman, Executive Director of Global Detroit, which has a similar mandate to Global Adelaide. He spoke about community development and immigrant initiatives. Tobocman discussed how Michigan was in dire straits from 2000 to 2010, with the economy dropping from 17th most wealthy to the 41st by the end of the decade. Michigan was 6% foreign-born, half the national average. He emphasised the need for business advocacy and economic development organisations in the immigration debate. Tobocman noted that The New Economy Initiative was established, which partnered with the Chamber of Commerce. Global talent has become an initiative of the local government, with $5m allocated to it and a new national centre for economic development. Global Detroit identified core strategies to encourage skilled immigration and partnered with business and industry. Tobocman suggested that immigration is not just a social justice issue but an economic issue. The meeting discussed how to leverage immigrants in local communities, such as the 28,500 international students in Michigan. They also talked about the idea of a Heartland Visa and turning attention to policy matters, such as startup visas.
Key points made from those attending the meeting included:
- Regional Development Australia Metro Adelaide reported that every region in SA is facing significant workforce issues.
- Committee For Adelaide suggested that an initiative that takes international students to regional areas to work and live is working well.
- The Defence Teaming Centre (DTC) discussed the challenges in bringing skilled labour and obtaining security clearances for staff to work on major defence programs.
- The Australian Hotels Association (SA) also shared similar challenges to other businesses in SA, with the migration system being complicated and regional providers finding staff attraction particularly difficult, limiting trading hours, especially in the kitchen.
- AUSVEG SA is 20% understaffed, with inflationary pressures across food, and is concerned about food security and the needs for a suitable workforce.
- The Aged Care Industry Association (SA) discussed how COVID-19 has impacted the residential aged care workforce, and with the government has now mandating 24/7 registered nursing, staffing is a growing challenge for the sector. The difficulty of obtaining people to work in regional communities where people want to age in their communities is also an issue, along with housing, schools, and local infrastructure.
The inaugural meeting of Global Adelaide was a productive discussion that highlighted the challenges facing various industries in South Australia. The need for a suitable workforce, along with immigration and visa reforms, were some of the key topics of discussion. Tobocman’s insights into Michigan’s experience with immigration and the need for business advocacy and economic development organisations in the immigration debate provided valuable lessons for the group to consider. The meeting set the stage for future discussions and collaborations among the participants to support economic growth in South Australia.