We know there is strong interest in Australia as a migration destination from people across the world who are seeking new careers and a different way of life – and we want South Australia to be at the top of their list.
As a state, we have a lot to offer and a lot that makes us special. The roadshow was a great opportunity to get the word out and raise awareness of South Australia as a great option for people considering moving to Australia. At the same time, our state is facing critical workforce shortages across key sectors that cannot be met by local labour supply alone.
Building on momentum from previous visits by our migration team, we were joined by representatives from public and private sector organisations spanning industries such as health and care, education, social services, construction, motor trades and public safety.
Participating employers are actively looking for people to fill roles such as nurses, teachers, social workers, dentists, medical specialists, police officers, mechanics, engineers, construction and tradespeople and much more, and they will all utilise employer-sponsored visa pathways that offer skilled professionals a streamlined route to live and work in South Australia.
Throughout the roadshow we held 11 events across London, Newport, Manchester, Birmingham and Glasgow, sharing presentations, testimonials, panel discussions, Q&A sessions, information packs and promotional materials with more than 4,000 prospective migrants. There were a further 5,000 people on the waitlist.
Among the information shared were practical insights into the migration process, job prospects and the benefits of living in a region known for our Mediterranean style climate, relaxed lifestyle, lower cost of living, growing economy, and as a great place to raise a family.
We also had the opportunity to answer some more specific questions that many wouldn’t think to address, but which are just as important to someone contemplating moving across the world as the job they’ll take up once they’re here – questions such as quarantine laws for their pets, schools for their children, public transport, and more. We had UK based service providers at the roadshow events who can move people’s furniture, pensions, money and pets. All the essential logistics!
When I was considering moving to Australia, I wish I’d had the opportunity to attend an event like our roadshow, to find out more about the difference between living in the tropical north and places like South Australia – in terms of the weather, cost of living, ease of international and domestic travel, size of the population, places you can live... and of course the scary wildlife!
I also wish I’d had the opportunity to have face-to-face conversations with potential employers, as well as the team responsible for running the state’s migration programs. You can read visa information online, but it’s complex and hard to know where to start.
The DSD Migration team were able to engage one on one with people and discuss their personal circumstances, in terms of occupations, skills and experience. We also provided advice about the different visa pathways and whether their occupations are currently in demand in SA. These people were then able to go and talk directly to the employers who travelled with us to talk about actual job vacancies and opportunities for employer sponsorship visas, which are the smoothest and quickest way for migrants to relocate to SA and for employers to secure their workforce.
Our team also encouraged people to stay in touch with us and attend our Welcome to SA events when they arrive in the state – again, support I wish I’d had during my own migration journey and when I arrived. When you’re trying to settle in a new country on the other side of the world, away from your family and friends, every opportunity to connect and get advice makes a real difference, especially in the beginning.
We have received lots of positive feedback from people who attended the roadshow. People in the UK said they felt inspired by our presentation on South Australia and enjoyed hearing from UK expats who have made the move, and felt that they’d made meaningful connections with employers. These elements all gave them a sense of hope and confidence about building a new life in sunny SA – in fact, 86 per cent of surveyed respondents indicated they were likely to choose South Australia as their migration destination.
The employers who travelled were also very pleased with the number of high-quality candidates and are actively pursuing these leads to capitalise on opportunities post-roadshow. It was a great opportunity for them to meet people face-to-face – a real advantage when considering if a person is right for your organisation – and to have a detailed conversation about qualifications, skills, experience and licensing/registration requirements for working in South Australia.
And a great indication of the roadshow’s success is that everyone is asking if we can make it an annual event – so stay tuned, because planning is already underway for 2026! If you’re a South Australian employer and this sparks your interest, head to migration.sa.gov.au/roadshow to stay informed.
Before and while we were in the UK, our visit achieved lots of positive local media coverage spanning national, regional, trade and university outlets, with most coverage pointing back to our Move to SA webpage, boosting visibility and traffic.
The Move to South Australia UK Roadshow was a fantastic opportunity to enhance global visibility of what South Australia has to offer. By sharing what we already know – that our state is an amazing place to live and work – we are positioning ourselves as a destination of choice for global talent and helping to meet long-term workforce solutions.
Louisa Newstead is the Director of Population and Migration in the Department of State Development.
