Program Closure
After four years of supporting workforce attraction, relocation, and settlement outcomes across regional Australia, Work+Stay has now concluded operations.
What began as a workforce initiative evolved into something broader: helping individuals and families feel welcomed, connected, and supported as they built new lives in regional communities.
While the Work+Stay program has ended, the learnings, partnerships, and impact created through the program continue to inform SSI’s broader employment and settlement work.
Program Closure
After four years of supporting workforce attraction, relocation, and settlement outcomes across regional Australia, Work+Stay has now concluded operations.
What began as a workforce initiative evolved into something broader: helping individuals and families feel welcomed, connected, and supported as they built new lives in regional communities.
While the Work+Stay program has ended, the learnings, partnerships, and impact created through the program continue to inform SSI’s broader employment and settlement work.
More Than Recruitment
Work+Stay was designed to support both employers and people relocating to regional Australia.
Alongside workforce attraction and placement support, the program focused on the human side of relocation: settlement, belonging, local connection, and long-term stability.
Over four years, Work+Stay partnered with employers, councils, regional organisations, and community members across Australia to help create stronger pathways into regional communities.
Four Years of Impact
Over the course of the program, Work+Stay supported:
- Over one hundred regional workforce placements
- Individuals and families relocating to regional communities
- Employers navigating workforce shortages
- Settlement and relocation support across multiple regions
- Community connection initiatives through Welcome Ambassadors and local partnerships
- Long-term workforce participation outcomes through ongoing settlement support
Built on Community
At the centre of Work+Stay were the people, families, employers, and communities who helped shape the program.
From airport pickups and local introductions to helping families settle into schools, housing, and community life, the program demonstrated that workforce retention is deeply connected to how supported people feel after they arrive.
Community connection through Welcome Ambassadors
Over the past four years, Welcome Ambassadors played an important role in helping newcomers feel supported, connected, and more at home within regional communities by:
- Sharing practical local knowledge
- Helping people navigate their community
- Introducing newcomers to local groups, activities, and services
- Supporting long-term connection and belonging
Hear from some of the Welcome Ambassadors who helped bring the community side of Work+Stay to life.
Continuing the Impact
While Work+Stay has concluded, aspects of its legacy continue through SSI’s broader employment and settlement initiatives supporting workforce participation, inclusion, and community connection across Australia.
This extends to newly funded programs helping people facing barriers to employment, including people seeking asylum accessing workforce pathways, opportunity, and long-term community connection.
Thank You
Thank you to every employer, council, regional organisation, Welcome Ambassador, candidate, and community member who was part of the Work+Stay journey.
We are incredibly proud of the impact achieved together over the past four years.
Kate, Heba, Anjali, Caroline, Shannon and the Work+Stay team,
SSI
Social Traders Certified
Work+Stay was certified by Social Traders, recognising the program’s commitment to using business as a force for good through inclusive procurement, social impact, and positive community outcomes.
People and Planet First Verified
Work+Stay was independently verified by People and Planet First as a business prioritising people and planet alongside purpose-led impact, long-term community outcomes, and values-based decision making.
Social Traders Certified
Work+Stay was certified by Social Traders, recognising the program’s commitment to using business as a force for good through inclusive procurement, social impact, and positive community outcomes.
People and Planet First Verified
Work+Stay was independently verified by People and Planet First as a business prioritising people and planet alongside purpose-led impact, long-term community outcomes, and values-based decision making.
