Held by Regional Development Australia Orana, the summit focused on the theme ‘Recruitment and Retention in Tight Times’. Topics covered at the event included the demand for labour, use of apprentices and trainees, strategies for recruitment and retention, and building the workforce of the future.

The keynote address was given by demographer Bernard Salt, who discussed building and connecting stronger regions, as well as managing generational change.

Mr Salt said there needed to be more investment in communities. There was an opportunity and a need to have a centre of excellence in the region, he said.

Orana needed to be thinking globally, instead of on just being the best in the region, Mr Salt said.

The future was in the utilising of resources and taking a cohesive approach to global marketing, the demographer said.

Recruitment guru Greg Savage spoke on recruitment strategy and innovation.

Mr Savage said people stayed with organisations when they were well led. Employers needed to create an environment where people wanted to stay, he said.

The Savage Truth, as he called his speech, gave tips for great leadership, as well as messages of caution.

Staff should never say a bad word about someone to other employees, Mr Savage said, unless it was an employee speaker to their superior. It created discontentment, he said.

As well as the guest speakers, there was also a question and answer panel. The panel included Western NSW Business Chamber’s Vicki Seccombe, Natalie Forsyth-Stock from the NSW government’s Office of Regional Development, EMS Group’s Tom Cavanagh and RDA Orana executive officer Megan Dixon.

Ms Dixon said the aim of the full-day summit was to address the critical gap between employers and employees.

“With more than $6 billion in projects for the region, the demand for skills and labour is significant,” she said.