Matt Pope, owner of Glen Innes Veterinary Hospital and AVA member, always knew he wanted to be a vet. After graduating in Brisbane, Matt was looking for a job in a rural area and landed on Glen Innes in New South Wales. Matt has been a proud local ever since. “I still go for Queensland in the footy though,” he laughs.

During Matt’s nineteen years of being a practice owner, nine years of those being a co-owner and the last ten years being a sole owner with his wife Hannah, many things have changed in veterinary practice. However, one thing that hasn’t changed, is the workforce shortages many rural and regional communities face.

Matt is passionate about supporting rural and regional communities and knows firsthand the value that working in these areas can offer veterinarians – ‘There are challenges working in a rural practice, but there are also positives. While there is lots to learn in a mixed practice, with that comes variety. Working in a rural area gives people exposure to a lot of areas.”

Matt acknowledges that it is important for people making the move to a regional area to be supported by the community and values the work of The Welcome Experience.

The Welcome Experience is a free NSW Government program that offers services for both new staff who are considering making the move to a regional area and for veterinary practices who are recruiting. So far, The Welcome Experience has supported forty-six veterinary workers and their families to settle in regional NSW. The Welcome Experience continues to grow too, with the service now being offered across regional, rural and remote NSW.

Playing a key role in the expansion of The Welcome Experience is the dedicated Local Connector in each region. “The Local Connector is helpful for business owners and managers; they provide support that is not necessarily work-related,” comments Matt.

The Local Connector for the Glen Innes region, Jennie Dodds, echoes this sentiment – “The Welcome Experience is a free service that not only supports essential workers, but their families, local businesses and the wider community.” 

Local Connectors, who offer the insights of being a local themselves, provide a customised service for each person, taking the time to understand their unique needs and interests. The main support Jennie provides people considering the move are securing childcare, accommodation, and local employment for partners. People new to the region and business owners are surprised by how hands-on the assistance is. “The approach is personalised. People are appreciative of how much the Local Connectors have supported them in making the transition. If you have an interest, there is someone else into it – we did a call out for a bush walking group, and because our community is so great- one was created!,” Jennie notes enthusiastically.

The Welcome Experience’s thorough approach relieves pressure for the essential worker and the business owner, with Local Connectors helping the individuals and families arriving to get amongst the community in a way that aligns with their needs and interests; “The people who have arrived get involved with the community and become part of the community – it’s not all about the job. We link people in; if they like sport, we help them find a relevant club and can even attend the first practice with them. We support every step of the way,” Jennie shares. For Elliot, Matt’s employee and a Welcome Experience participant, this included a region he could continue his love of fishing and camping.

The ongoing support from the Local Connector extends to business owners and managers and creates peace of mind because new staff and their families are being supported to settle in.  “We look after our relationships with business owners by staying in touch and connecting businesses and potential new staff whenever we can. Our connection with people and positive word of mouth helps,” notes Jennie.

Feeling welcomed and connected is an important part of retention and encouraging workers to stay long term in regional communities. Businesses benefit from workforce stability and local economies benefit from open and available services.  “It may be daunting at first, but from a different perspective it is a brand-new chapter – they walk through town and get to know everyone, and they are valued as an important part of the community,” notes Jennie. “Elliot is well loved, helps the community and is a part of the town; he was just out helping my friends with some pigs recently – being based in a country area is giving him flexibility in his role.”  

The wider community benefits from The Welcome Experience too; seeing people become part of the community while delivering essential services. “Country towns work hard and are proud of their community. The Welcome Experience is a big community effort, and we have local relationships built to support that. We know that newcomers are delighted by how welcoming local people are, and they are excited to get involved in regional living. People are staying and people on shorter-term placement seem to be coming back” notes Jennie.

As a practice owner Matt see the value the program brings to the community and recommends for other business owners to give it a go; “the program is really good for increasing the number of people coming to rural and regional areas, it is getting the awareness out there to help with the workforce shortages, and individuals have the flexibility with what support they need. The people that come as part of the program play an important role in the community.”

Business owners and managers wanting to learn more about how The Welcome Experience can help with recruitment and supporting staff that are new to the region, can email welcome.experience@dpird.nsw.gov.au  to be put in touch with their Local Connector.