Opportunity knocks in rural areas

THE Worland family believe Longreach is a great place to raise a family and take up opportunities otherwise unavailable in metropolitan areas.

Patsy and Jamie Worland, and their children Jack, Matthew and Adam, are an example of how the skills shortage issue effecting rural areas can be turned around to have a positive impact on the lives of families.

Mr Worland admits without intense competition for more qualified technicians, he was able to secure his position at Central West Computer Consultants.

Within seven months, Mr Worland has completed a restricted electrical license and trained in network administration.

“With a lot of kids taking up further study and leaving the area, it has opened up the doors where normally you wouldn’t get a look in,” Mr Worland said.

Mr Worland moved to Longreach in 2001, from Roma with his wife Patsy, and believes the relocation has been well worth it.

“While moving away from home and leaving friends and family was always going to be hard, if I had of stayed in Roma I would have been restricted in what I could do with my life. I probably would have been a concreter or a barman,” Mr Worland said.

“However in Longreach I have been given the opportunity to gain the licence and received more training in a field I enjoy.”

Mrs Worland works at IGA as a front-end supervisor and is happy with her life in Longreach.
“There are different people in town, but they all have the same friendly personalities,” Mrs Worland said.

“We have been welcomed into a number of social groups.

“Perhaps that is the solution to the skills shortage – creating more of a profile of the social activities in town and using them as an incentive get more workers.”

Mrs Worland agrees with her husband that there are more opportunities in rural areas, like Longreach, for blue-collar workers.

“Within 12 months Jamie was accepted into the (Longreach’s volunteer) fire brigade. In Roma he wouldn’t have the chance to do something like that,” she said.

“The opportunities to meet new people, participate in different social groups and get great jobs and training are more available in places like Longreach.”