With International Overdose Awareness Day approaching on 31 August, NSW now has the evidence, the tools and record overdose deaths but lacks the will on permanent, community based pill testing.
Bre Rose, Local Connector, Northern Rivers. Photo supplied
A program called The Welcome Experience, which aims to ensure essential workers who move to the Northern Rivers establish meaningful connections and navigate their new communities has been boosted with a new ‘Local Connector’ position.
Regional Development Australia (RDA) Northern Rivers say they are pleased to announce the appointment of Breannan Rose to the position – Ms Rose will support the Clarence Valley, Richmond Valley and Kyogle local government areas.
RDA is primarily funded by The Australian government, which is providing over $117 million over five years to support the network. The organisation operates in partnership with all three levels of government—federal, state (NSW), and local—to support and attract investment for regional economic development.
According to the NSW government, ‘The Welcome Experience is a free service supporting essential workers (and their families) who are considering applying for or have accepted a job in regional NSW. Local Connectors can help you with the life stuff, everything from the practicalities of finding housing, choosing childcare, exploring job opportunities for partners or even introducing you to your neighbours!’
RDA says, ‘Breannan joins the team at an exciting time, as The Welcome Experience continues to support essential workers and their families relocating to regional NSW’.
‘To date, the service has supported more than 270 essential workers and their families to relocate to the Northern Rivers, with over half of those workers employed in the health sector’.
Put down roots
Photo NSW govt
RDA Northern Rivers Director of Regional Development, Anthony Schreenan, said Breannan’s appointment will further strengthen the program’s ability to support essential workers and their families across the region.
“The Welcome Experience is about more than helping people relocate, it’s about helping them put down roots and become part of the community,” Mr Schreenan said.
“Breannan brings a wealth of local knowledge and a genuine passion for supporting people. Her appointment will ensure essential workers moving to the Clarence Valley, Richmond Valley and Kyogle areas receive the personalised support they need to settle in and make the most of everything these communities have to offer.”
Since its introduction, The Welcome Experience has played an important role in helping address workforce shortages by supporting the attraction and retention of essential workers in sectors including healthcare, education, emergency services, disability support and local government.
Incredible lifestyle and strong sense of belongin
Breannan said she is excited to begin working with new residents and strengthening connections across the three local government areas.
“I’m passionate about regional communities and look forward to helping new residents feel welcome and connected from day one,” Ms Rose said.
“The Clarence Valley, Richmond Valley and Kyogle communities offer an incredible lifestyle and strong sense of belonging, and I’m excited to help people and their families discover all that the region has to offer.”
Mr Schreenan said the appointment reflects RDA Northern Rivers’ commitment to supporting workforce attraction and strengthening regional communities.
“Our Local Connectors play a vital role in ensuring essential workers choose not only to move to the Northern Rivers, but to stay. By helping people establish meaningful connections and navigate their new communities, we’re contributing to stronger, more resilient towns across the region.”
For four decades The Echo has printed the stories some people loved, some people hated, and some pretended not to read. If you want us to keep telling the truth, the real truth, not the sugar-coated version. We’ll need your support to keep the presses rolling.
If you are a local business owner help us and in turn we help you. All The Echo asks for is advertising, not a free ride. It is every advert in The Echo and on www.echo.net.au, which creates the space for all the stories and coverage of community events, happenings and concerns.
If you are a reader you can become a sponsor of The Echo. Your support keeps the us independent.
Even a small one-off or regular donation from you will help keep the echo’s independent voice alive and strong.
Support Us
Become one of the supporters who helps keep independent, local journalism alive in the Byron Shire by contributing anything from as little as the cost of a coffee each month.
You're Wonderful, Thank you for supporting independent journalism in the Byron Shire
You’re supporting The Echo, thank you
Your contribution is keeping independent, local journalism alive in the Northern Rivers.
Because of supporters like you, we can keep every story free for everyone — no paywall, no exceptions. Your money goes directly to funding our newsroom of 40-odd local workers covering the stories that matter to this community.
Tell us what you think, give us your opinion
The Echo loves your letters and comments and is proud to provide a community forum on the issues that matter most to our readers and the people of the NSW north coast. So don’t be a passive reader, email us your epistles at editor@echo.net.au.
The letters deadline for The Echo is noon Friday. Letters longer than 200 words may be cut. The publication of letters is at the discretion of the letters editor. Please remember to include your full name, address and telephone number.
Some of NSW’s most respected and long-standing forest campaigners and scientists have today urged the Greens not to support the Nationals' attempt to disallow the Improved Native Forest Management (INFM) method.
With the absence of all four of its progressive councillors for various reasons, Ballina Council pushed ahead with its agenda at yesterday's monthly meeting, including a decision which is likely to close Ross Lane for months while the road is upgraded.
Imagine Northern Rivers says Mullumbimby is the only community across the region to rank new models of governance and decision-making as the number one element of its preferred future, and last week locals gathered to work out how to make it real.
Choose how you'd like to support local journalism.
$
Become one of the supporters who helps keep independent, local journalism alive in the Byron Shire by contributing anything from as little as the cost of a coffee each month.
✓ You're Wonderful, Thank you for supporting independent journalism in the Byron Shire
For four decades The Echo has printed the stories some people loved, some people hated, and some pretended not to read. If you want us to keep telling the truth, the real truth, not the sugar-coated version. We’ll need your support to keep the presses rolling. 
