Come home Queenslanders – it’s a different place now
Published Monday, 29 October, 2007 at 04:11 PM
Minister for Tourism, Regional Development and Industry
The Honourable Desley Boyle
Regional Development and Industry Minister Desley Boyle says a new campaign will appeal to Queenslanders working overseas to come home.
The strategy, to help tackle the state’s skill shortages, will initially target Australians based in England and Ireland.
Ms Boyle said receptions will be held in London (on 7 November) and Dublin (on 30 October) for Australian professionals who have moved overseas to pursue work opportunities.
“In the past we’ve had events trying to attract Brits to move to Queensland. Now, for the first time, we’ve got a campaign focusing solely on Australians.
“We’re saying ‘Come home Queenslanders – it’s a different place now’. And to Aussies from other states we’re saying ‘Come to Queensland we’d love to have you’”, Ms Boyle said.
The Minister said parents could play their part in the campaign.
“I know there are parents, particularly baby boomers, whose children moved overseas years ago for their careers. These parents would love their children to move back home. In many cases there are now grandchildren
“I’m calling on them to get on the phone and tell their children Queensland is now the Smart State full of opportunities. They should encourage their children to attend these events, especially if they think their kids are contemplating a return.
“In particular we’re targeting doctors, nurses, other health professionals, and engineers.
“However, we’ll also be telling expats that there are plenty of jobs in education, IT, mining, construction, manufacturing, tourism and hospitality.
“And we will strongly encourage expats to think beyond Brisbane and consider Queensland’s vibrant regions – which have many lifestyle advantages,” Ms Boyle said.
The expatriate events, entitled “Work, Live, Play in Queensland” will be co-hosted by Advance - Global Australian Professionals, an organisation for Australians working abroad.
“They estimate that there are 500,000 Australian professionals around the world and one in four is looking to return home.
“One obstacle to people coming back is that they may have lost touch with their industry in Australia and don’t really know how to start.
“We can make it easy and put them in touch with prospective employers,” Ms Boyle said.
The Minister said this month’s Ausbiotech conference in Brisbane highlighted how much Queensland has changed.
“I’ve spoken to scientists who moved overseas 10 years ago because of a lack of opportunities in Queensland. Now there are careers to come home to – there is a future here.
“There has never been a better time to return to Queensland.
“Jobs are plentiful because Queensland’s economy is booming. There are billions of dollars worth of projects underway or about to start. And Queensland is at the forefront of innovation and research.
“We are going to remind Australians living overseas about all the advantages of the Sunshine State.
“The warm weather, the relaxed lifestyle, the low cost of living, beaches, bush, wide open spaces and good schools, universities and careers for their children.
“In Queensland’s regional communities you can often drive to work in five minutes and afford a large home rather than a cramped UK apartment.
“And there’s more leisure time and the opportunity to lead a more balanced life.
"There is so much happening in Queensland – you can have both a career and a happy family life,” Ms Boyle said.
For more information on the Work, Live, Play in Queensland networking
receptions in London and Ireland, contact Kristyn Ohandja, Advance -
Global Australian Professionals, kristyn@advance.org. Telephone +44
(0)20 7227 0476
Ends
Media contact: 3224 2004
29 October 2007
The strategy, to help tackle the state’s skill shortages, will initially target Australians based in England and Ireland.
Ms Boyle said receptions will be held in London (on 7 November) and Dublin (on 30 October) for Australian professionals who have moved overseas to pursue work opportunities.
“In the past we’ve had events trying to attract Brits to move to Queensland. Now, for the first time, we’ve got a campaign focusing solely on Australians.
“We’re saying ‘Come home Queenslanders – it’s a different place now’. And to Aussies from other states we’re saying ‘Come to Queensland we’d love to have you’”, Ms Boyle said.
The Minister said parents could play their part in the campaign.
“I know there are parents, particularly baby boomers, whose children moved overseas years ago for their careers. These parents would love their children to move back home. In many cases there are now grandchildren
“I’m calling on them to get on the phone and tell their children Queensland is now the Smart State full of opportunities. They should encourage their children to attend these events, especially if they think their kids are contemplating a return.
“In particular we’re targeting doctors, nurses, other health professionals, and engineers.
“However, we’ll also be telling expats that there are plenty of jobs in education, IT, mining, construction, manufacturing, tourism and hospitality.
“And we will strongly encourage expats to think beyond Brisbane and consider Queensland’s vibrant regions – which have many lifestyle advantages,” Ms Boyle said.
The expatriate events, entitled “Work, Live, Play in Queensland” will be co-hosted by Advance - Global Australian Professionals, an organisation for Australians working abroad.
“They estimate that there are 500,000 Australian professionals around the world and one in four is looking to return home.
“One obstacle to people coming back is that they may have lost touch with their industry in Australia and don’t really know how to start.
“We can make it easy and put them in touch with prospective employers,” Ms Boyle said.
The Minister said this month’s Ausbiotech conference in Brisbane highlighted how much Queensland has changed.
“I’ve spoken to scientists who moved overseas 10 years ago because of a lack of opportunities in Queensland. Now there are careers to come home to – there is a future here.
“There has never been a better time to return to Queensland.
“Jobs are plentiful because Queensland’s economy is booming. There are billions of dollars worth of projects underway or about to start. And Queensland is at the forefront of innovation and research.
“We are going to remind Australians living overseas about all the advantages of the Sunshine State.
“The warm weather, the relaxed lifestyle, the low cost of living, beaches, bush, wide open spaces and good schools, universities and careers for their children.
“In Queensland’s regional communities you can often drive to work in five minutes and afford a large home rather than a cramped UK apartment.
“And there’s more leisure time and the opportunity to lead a more balanced life.
"There is so much happening in Queensland – you can have both a career and a happy family life,” Ms Boyle said.
For more information on the Work, Live, Play in Queensland networking
receptions in London and Ireland, contact Kristyn Ohandja, Advance -
Global Australian Professionals, kristyn@advance.org. Telephone +44
(0)20 7227 0476
Ends
Media contact: 3224 2004
29 October 2007