Wanted: Essential workers in regional Australia

Fatemeh and Saeed Mohebpour (SBS).jpg

Fatemeh and Saeed Mohebpour Source: SBS News

Many regional towns across Australia struggle to attract essential workers - like doctors, teachers and aged-care staff – often due to lack of affordable housing and other factors. While similar equivalents exist in other states and territories, an initiative across regional areas in New South Wales is hoping to change this by offering essential workers support to find housing, schools and community groups to make them feel welcome and connected.


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TRANSCRIPT

Fatemeh Mohebpour works as a general practitioner in Muswellbrook in the Hunter Region, 248 kilometres north of Sydney.

Last year, she traded her life as a doctor in Iran's fifth most populous city of Shiraz for the town of around 16,000 people.

“The colours of my eyes, the colour of my hair, I'm totally different with them. But they accept me as one of their members, which is very impressive for me. And it made me feel, 'I'm home'.”

For many regional towns, attracting and retaining essential workers, like Fatemeh, remains a challenge.

But, a growing necessity.

“You can't have a child in Muswellbrook, because there isn't any midwives ... It's a wonderful community. We've just got to get them here. That's the problem.”

“The fact that we live in 2025, and there is no way for women to deliver in their hometown is quite concerning.”

“Working in the local jail, I think mental health services are always needed in any community town and drug an alcohol services as well.”

Jeff Drayton is the mayor of Muswellbrook Shire.

“We've been struggling to get these essential workers now for a while, you know, doctors, nurses, or a vet ... It isn't just an issue that Muswellbrook have. It's an issue in regional-- not just regional New South Wales, but regional Australia.”

A New South Wales government initiative known as 'The Welcome Experience' is seeking to address the issue by enticing essential workers with free support services.

Available across 15 regions, it forms part of the state government's 25 million dollar Essential Worker Attraction Program.

Those who register are introduced to a 'Local Connector' who can help with anything from housing, childcare, job opportunities for their partners and even an introduction to the next door neighbours.

Katrina Kiely is the 'Welcome Experience' community connector co-ordinator.

 “You have people who are looking for support with rentals, or maybe looking to purchase a house. It could be that they are bringing a family member who has NDIS needs ... It's people who are uprooting their lives from either overseas, or interstate, or even metro areas, and really providing an anchor and a support network for them.”

Fatemeh and her husband Saeed are around approximately 200 people in the Upper Hunter region who have resettled successfully through the program.

“They introduce us to different facilities in the city to us, like 'this is the shops, this is the restaurant, this is the gym,' everything ... For a person who is totally new to a place, it is a blessing, I think ... We miss our family, we miss our hometown. But they help us, so that we are not suffering from that.”

Another key aspect of the 'Welcome Experience' involves helping essential workers foster social connections, including connecting to sports clubs, community groups and events.

Fatemeh and her husband Saeed recently attending their local pub trivia night.

“We have good communication with new friends, and with new people.”

“It provides us an opportunity to see other people in the community which we cannot usually meet them in our workplace or when we go to the gym ... It helps a lot, making good friends.”

The 'Welcome Experience' community connector co-ordinator, Katrina Kiely:

“The success of this service is, it's that human connection. And that can't be replicated. If someone is moving to town, sure they can Google, or they can ChatGPT schools or services or where to get their services in, but that actual interaction with a human who understands and has empathy, that's irreplaceable.”

It comes as huge investments are being made for the region to phase out mining and transition to renewable energy.

A new solar farm and battery energy storage system, currently under development, is set to power up to 60,000 homes.

Muswellbrook Shire Mayor Jeff Drayton says by 2030, most of the mining in the Shire will be replaced with other industries.

“In four and a half years time, we lose 60 per cent of our mining and we've gotta replace that with lots and lots of other industries and lots of jobs. So it is critical for us that the government continue to support us, and to support this program.”

Support that can make all the difference to an ever-evolving community.

Twenty-six kilometres southwest of Muswellbrook lies the town of Denman, where Asha Thomas works as a registered nurse at the local hospital.

Originally from India, she migrated to Australia in March of 2024, after working as an RN in the UK for three years.

“It was my dream to come to Australia ... I love it. Because, I just love the quiet environment and it's a small community, so I thought I would just take that chance to come here.”

Through the Welcome Experience, council enlisted the help of the local Men's Shed, to help set up furniture for Asha, her husband and their son in their new home.

Rod Johnson and Tony Forr from the Men's Shed recounting the ordeal.

“We undid the flat-pack and then scratched our heads for about half an hour looking at the instructions. I think most things we had three goes at getting it right, but we eventually got it right.”

“If you can help someone out, why not.”

Asha says she was shocked by the lengths they went to, to help.

“I didn't expect that someone would help me with everything. And I feel so secure here. It's slow pace, good quality of life. I can see myself in Denman for a few years, yeah.”


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