Regional Futures Economic and social impact of the Karen resettlement in Bendigo - A JOINT AMES AUSTRALIA AND DELOITTE ACCESS ECONOMICS REPORT
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Regional Futures Economic and social impact of the Karen resettlement in Bendigo A JOINT AMES AUSTRALIA AND DELOITTE ACCESS ECONOMICS REPORT
CONTENTS
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The report is the product of a collaboration INDEX FIGURES
between AMES Australia and Deloitte
Executive Summary 3 Figure 1A: Impact Assessment
Access Economics. AMES Australia
Framework 5
evaluated the social impact of the Karen in 1 Introduction 5
Bendigo and managed the primary survey Figure 1B: Labour market snapshot:
1.1 Purpose 5
data collection, and Deloitte Access Bendigo and Victoria 2016 8
1.2 Impact Assessment Framework 5
Economics assessed the economic
Figure 2A: Map of Greater Bendigo 12
impact of the Karen on Bendigo. The 1.3 Background to Resettlement
Karen population in Bendigo generously in Bendigo 7 Figure 2B: Population of Bendigo,
participated in the data-collecting 1.4 Timeline 10 2016, by age 12
interviews, and members of the Bendigo 1.5 Report Structure 11 Figure 2C: Components in forecast
community were equally generous in population change 2011 - 2021 13
making time to talk to AMES Australia and 2 Regional profile of Greater
Deloitte Access Economics. Bendigo 12 Figure 2D: School attainment in
Bendigo, 2016 14
AMES Australia and Deloitte Access 2.1 Demographics 12
Economics would like to thank the following: 2.2 Economy 13 Figure 2E: Diversity in Bendigo, 2016 15
• Nanthu Kunoo, Nay Chee Aung and 2.3 Social Indicators 14 Figure 3A: Additional Bendigo GRP
Ashin Moonieda who assisted us ($ million) 18
2.4 Population Diversity 15
arrange the interviews with the Karen
population. Figure 3B: Additional Bendigo
3 Economic impact 17
employment (FTE and headcount;
• Members of the Karen community in 3.1 Gross Regional Product 18 cumulative) 18
Bendigo who administered the survey.
3.2 Employment 18
• Staff from Bendigo Community Health Figure 3C: Karen labour market
3.3 Household Consumption 24 employment in Bendigo by Industry for
Services, Bendigo Senior Secondary
College, Bendigo Dental Health 3.4 Demographic Impacts 24 those who responded to the Census in
Services, City of Greater Bendigo, 2011 and 2016 19
4 Social impact 26
Bendigo Justice Service Centre, Figure 3D: Additional Household
Matchworks, Bendigo Baptist Church 4.1 Diversification of Bendigo 26
Consumption in Bendigo ($ million) 24
and Community Care (MADCOW 4.2 Social Capital: Responsive
Cleaning), the Karen Buddhist Services 27 Figure 3E: Current Age Profile Of The
Dhamma Dhutta Foundation, Loddon Karen Population In Bendigo 24
4.3 Employment and Improved
Campaspe Multicultural Services, Standard of Living 32
Hazeldenes Chicken Farm Pty Ltd, TABLES
4.4 Karen Youth: Opportunities and
Keech Castings Pty Ltd, and Urban Table 2.1: Bendigo employment
Career Pathways 33
Garden Designs. by industry (2016) 14
5 Conditions significant in the Table 3.1: Economic modelling
LIMITATION OF THE WORK successful resettlement of the impacts - annual 17
The economic modelling contained in Karen community in Bendigo 36
this report was prepared solely for the Table 3.2: AMES Survey Data 19
1. Employment 37
purpose of assisting AMES Australia
2. Accommodation 37 Table 3.3: AMES Survey of Karen People
in understanding the impact of the
Employment (Numbers Commenced,
resettlement of the Karen people to 3. Leadership 37
Initial Position) 21
Bendigo. The economic modelling in 4. Pathways for young people 38
this report is not intended for any other Table 3.4: Projected Working-age
5. Responsive services 38
purpose and should not be referred to, Population as a Proportion of Total
6. Natural advantage of Population 25
used or relied upon by anyone else without
regional centres 39
the consent of Deloitte Access Economics
Pty Ltd. We accept no duty of care to any
other person or entity, other than AMES
Australia for the use of this report. August 2018
2 Economic and social impact of the Karen resettlement in Bendigo
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Regional settlement of migrants and According to the 2016 Census, over the For the Karen, it is evident in the levels
refugees is an important component ten years since 2006, more than 800 and types of employment they are
in the advancement of Australia’s Karen people settled in Bendigo4; experiencing, improved standards of
migration strategies and, when “Bendigo is a very different place from living, including home ownership, and
well-facilitated, makes a significant what it was ten years ago. It is much greater opportunities and career pathways
contribution to the economic and more multicultural now with different for young people. Karen people see a
social fabric of regional communities. faces on the streets.” 5 good and sustainable future in Bendigo.
The purpose of this study is to
Resettlement of the Karen in Bendigo has In addition to this social contribution,
examine one example of such
been sustained – evidencing the region’s economic modelling undertaken by
migration, as well as further illuminate
attractiveness as a settlement location for Deloitte Access Economics provides an
the community facilitation and the
this community – and has progressively indication of the scale of the economic
conditions that need to be in place in
contributed to a more ethnically diverse impact. In net present value terms
order to deliver better economic and
Bendigo, impacting many aspects of (NPV) over a 10 year period, the total
social outcomes from the regional
Bendigo society, including an increase economic impact from the regional
settlement of migrants.
in social capital. Social capital has been resettlement of the Karen population on
This study is the product of a research directly linked to broader concepts such the Bendigo economy is estimated to have
collaboration between AMES Australia and as social cohesion, democracy, economic been $67.1 million, with an associated
Deloitte Access Economics and focuses wellbeing and sustainability.6 In similar impact on employment of 177 full-time-
on resettlement of Karen refugees in findings to the Nhill study, the research equivalent (FTE). Further modelling of
Greater Bendigo (Bendigo), a substantial undertaken to inform this report finds the demographic profile of the Karen
regional centre in central Victoria with a increased social capital for the host population, which currently comprises a
population of 110,4791 in 2016. This study, community and new settlers alike. disproportionately high share of people
part of a program of focus on regional aged under 18 indicates, that all things
For Bendigo, not only is the city now
and rural resettlement, is a companion being equal, the Karen labour force will
a more diverse community, but the
report to Small towns Big returns2 a study continue to grow over time, adding to the
community itself values that increased
of resettlement in a much smaller rural productive capacity of the region in years
diversity. This is evidenced by the
economy (Nhill, with a population of to come.
responsiveness of local services who have
2,2783). These companion studies provide
found ways to support the resettlement of
an analysis of the social and economic
the Karen in Bendigo.
impacts of the Karen on these locations
over time, and the factors contributing
to the success of the resettlement of
the Karen in these two very different
regional contexts.
1 Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2016 Census of Population and Housing, accessed through TableBuilder on 15/01/2018 www.censusdata.abs.gov.au.
2 AMES and Deloitte Access Economics, 2015, Small towns Big returns: Economic and social impact of the Karen resettlement in Nhill.
3 Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2011 Census of Population and Housing (the most recent Census at the time of writing Small towns Big returns).
4 Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2016 Census of Population and Housing, accessed through TableBuilder on 15/01/2018 www.censusdata.abs.gov.au.
5 Matthew Parkinson Community Care Director Bendigo Baptist Community Care Inc.
6 Australian Institute of Family Studies, Stronger Families Learning Exchange Bulletin No.4 Spring/Summer 2003 p.13-16;
http://www.aifs.gov.au/sf/pubs/bull4/ws.html (accessed 14 August 2014).
A joint AMES Australia and Deloitte Access Economics Report 3
As in the small rural economy of Nhill, the However, while critical in both locations, Indications are that benefits will continue necessary factor in the success of the employment was not of itself sufficient to accrue as the community continues to Karen resettlement has been employment. for successful resettlement. A number integrate, and the assets and aspirations The availability of regular, reliable and fair of other contributing factors have also represented by the younger Karen work at a large employer, Hazeldenes been identified: population are realised in Bendigo. Chicken Farm Pty Ltd, has been a • capacity and capability of local Considered in conjunction with Small significant drawcard in attracting and services to respond to new settlers towns Big returns, this report tells us that, retaining the Karen in Bendigo. Willingness • leadership and support from local large or small, rural communities can to adapt or develop workplace practices champions, and leadership from within benefit economically and socially from to facilitate the integration of these new the Karen community regional resettlement, when approached settlers was integral to this attraction • opportunities for young people to in (contextually) appropriate ways. Herein and retention. participate in training, employment lies additional economic and social Over the ten years of the Karen and in the community contributions for Bendigo into the future, resettlement, the number of businesses • affordable housing for both rental but more particularly for other regional employing Karen workers has grown and purchase Australian communities to catalyse. to more than 50, and the number of • the natural advantages of large industries where the Karen are employed regional centres that offer services increased from three to eight between and opportunities within an easier to 2011 and 2016 7. navigate environment. 7 Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2016 Census of Population and Housing, accessed through TableBuilder on 15/01/2018 www.censusdata.abs.gov.au. 4 Economic and social impact of the Karen resettlement in Bendigo
1. INTRODUCTION
1.1 1.2
PURPOSE IMPACT ASSESSMENT FRAMEWORK
Over 2013 – 2015 AMES Australia The assessment framework used to determine the impact of the resettlement of the Karen
documented the resettlement of a sizable people in Bendigo is illustrated in Figure 1A below.
community of Karen refugees (from Burma/ FIGURE 1A: IMPACT ASSESSMENT FRAMEWORK
Myanmar8) in the small rural township
of Nhill in western Victoria. The resulting
TOTAL ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL IMPACT
report, Small towns Big returns: economic
and social impact of Karen resettlement in
Nhill, was prepared in research partnership
with Deloitte Access Economics and SOCIAL IMPACTS ECONOMIC IMPACTS
provided an analysis of the economic
impacts for Nhill, systematic documentation Areas of analysis Areas of analysis
of the headline social impacts and • Impact on community diversity • Impact on Gross Regional Product
described the factors that contributed to • Impact on service provision • Impact on employment
the success of the resettlement. • Impact on other social determinants • Impact on household expenditure
• Intergenerational effects • Impact on demographics
The findings of that study were widely
reported and the successful resettlement Inputs Inputs
of the Karen in Nhill continues to generate • AMES survey data • Economy-wide modelling informed
considerable interest across a range • Case study / interview data by ABS data and AMES survey data
of communities and stakeholders. For • ABS data
instance local governments, especially
in regional Victoria, have demonstrated
interest in exploring opportunities to
apply similar approaches to growing their
rural communities.
In 2015 – 2017 AMES Australia and
Deloitte Access Economics undertook a
similar assessment of the economic and
social impact of the Karen population on
the larger regional economy of Bendigo
in central Victoria. Bendigo as a regional
city and a local economy is large, with
over 110,000 residents compared to Nhill’s
population of around 2,200.
And while similar to Nhill in that the Karen
population in Bendigo is also large
and established, it nevertheless makes
up a much smaller percentage of the
overall population.
This report is the product of a research
collaboration between AMES Australia and
Deloitte Access Economics.
8 In 1989, the military government of Burma announced that they wanted foreigners to stop using the words Burma and Burmese. Instead they wanted the world to
use Myanmar for the country and its national people, and Bamar for the majority ethnic and linguistic group. Thus, members of the ethnic minorities – the Karen,
for example – would be Myanmar by nationality and Karen by ethnicity, … (Refugees from Burma: Their Backgrounds and Refugee Experiences, Culture Profile
No. 21, Published by the Center for Applied Linguistics, Cultural Orientation Resource Center, Washington, DC , June 2007).In this report the term Burma has
been used to reflect how the Karen involved most commonly refer to their country of origin.
A joint AMES Australia and Deloitte Access Economics Report 5
1 INTRODUCTION
1.2.1 • Interviews with Karen community 1.2.2
leaders: four of the Karen living in
PRIMARY DATA COLLATED Bendigo who are recognised as ECONOMIC ANALYSIS
Where possible, quantitative data has leaders in their community were The economic impact has been assessed
been gathered as evidence of the interviewed. using the Deloitte Access Economics’
impact of the Karen resettlement, and is • Interviews with service providers Computable General Equilibrium (CGE)
augmented by qualitative data. Primary based in Bendigo: a number of local modelling capacity. The key outputs of
data has been collected from four business and service providers were the modelling and analysis are estimates
main sources: interviewed. These included staff of the additional Gross Regional Product
• Structured surveys conducted with and senior management at Bendigo (GRP), FTE employment and household
Karen people living in Bendigo: Community Health Services, Loddon consumption expenditure generated, from
data from 116 Karen households Campaspe Multicultural Services and the date of the first arrivals of the Karen in
(comprising 574 individuals) was schools that Karen children attend. Bendigo in 2007 to 2016.
collected by field assistants using a • Interviews with employers: the
standardised survey tool. All interviews Human Resource Manager of
with the Karen were conducted in Hazeledenes Chicken Farm Pty Ltd
the Karen language. This ensured agreed to be interviewed, as did
that information collected was representatives from Keech Bendigo
comprehensive and accurate. The and Matchworks employment services.
surveys sought basic demographic Several smaller businesses where
profile data, employment data and Karen workers are currently, or were
disposable income data. previously employed, also contributed
to the qualitative data collection.
Bendigo: a regional city
6 Economic and social impact of the Karen resettlement in Bendigo
1 INTRODUCTION
1.3
BACKGROUND TO The 2016 Census13 recorded
32,656 Myanmar-born people
RESETTLEMENT IN in Australia, an increase of 50%
BENDIGO from the 2011 Census, and an
increase of 164% since 2006. The
Northern
Territory
Queensland
3,176
201 10%
Over the ten years since 2007 at least 800 2016 distribution by state and 1%
Western Australia
Karen people settled in Bendigo9. This territory shows Victoria as having 8,707
South Australia
27%
section provides background on the key the largest number with 10,971 1,575
5% New South Wales
stakeholders in the resettlement of the followed by Western Australia 7,124
Karen community in Bendigo, including: (8,707), New South Wales (7,124) 22%
Australian
• the Karen people and Queensland (3,176). In Capital
Victoria Territory
• Greater Bendigo addition, Victoria has seen the 10,971 611
largest growth in its Myanmar 34% 2%
• employers
population since 2011, Tasmania
1.3.1 at approximately 50%. 292
1%
THE KAREN PEOPLE No census data records the
number of people in Australia Ancestry: In the 2016 Census Burmese
On a global level, over the last ten years (13,694) and Karen (4,816) were the two
that identify as ethnic Karen, as
refugees from Burma (Myanmar), Iraq, top ancestries reported by Myanmar-
the Australian Bureau of Statistics
Bhutan, Somalia and, most recently, Syria born people.
records country of birth, rather than
have been the target of a large number
ethnic group. However, reported Language: the main languages spoken
of UNHCR resettlement submissions to
‘ancestry’ and ‘main language at home by Myanmar-born people in
resettlement countries like Australia.
used at home’ provide a good Australia were Burmese (13,218), English
In regards to refugees from Burma, more indication of the number of Karen (5,407) and Karen (5,329).
than 140,000 refugees live in camps along in Australia.
the Thai-Burma border. Most of these
identify as ethnic minority Karen.10
Like most new arrivals, the majority of the The Karen are predominantly from
In 2005, the United Nations High Karen live in metropolitan areas when rural backgrounds and live in Burma as
Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) they first settle in Australia. In Victoria, for subsistence farmers in small mountain
began the registration and resettlement of example, of the 5,177 individuals in the villages, growing rice and vegetables
people from these camps. 50,000 Karen state who reported speaking Karen at and raising animals. Younger people
refugees have been resettled in America, home14, around 2,400 have settled in the may have spent all or most of their lives
Canada, Australia, and some European Wyndham Local Government Area (LGA).15 in refugee camps. Coming from these
countries.11 Other Karen communities have been backgrounds, a number of Karen people
The majority of the Karen have settled established in areas including Greater find the prospect of living in a smaller city
in America, with Australia taking in the Geelong (590 individuals), Maroondah (333 (compared to Melbourne) quite attractive.
second highest number.12 individuals), Hobsons Bay (329 individuals)
and Hindmarsh (136 individuals).
9 Based on the 2016 ABS Census of Population and Housing number of individuals selecting `Karen’ as the language spoken at home. Anecdotally, it was
indicated in a small number of interviews that the Karen population in Bendigo may be higher than this, however, the ABS Census data were used as the
basis of the quantitative analysis included in this report.
10 UNHCR, 2014 UNHCR country operations profile – Myanmar and Thailand, http://www.unhcr.org/pages/49e4877d6.html.
11 http://kcssf.org.au/about-us/the-karen-people/.
12 Bird, J., Brough, M., & Cox, L., QUT, 2012 Producing solidarity: a settlement strategy of the Karen refugee community in Brisbane.
13 Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2016 Census of Population and Housing, accessed through TableBuilder on 15/01/2018 www.censusdata.abs.gov.au.
14 Includes Karen born in Australia.
15 Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2016 Census of Population and Housing, accessed through TableBuilder on 15/01/2018 www.censusdata.abs.gov.au.
A joint AMES Australia and Deloitte Access Economics Report 7
1 INTRODUCTION
Karen people are strongly community 1.3.2 The 2016 Census20 shows that in Bendigo:
oriented and place high importance • the unemployment rate (15+) was 6.4%
on family and respect for elders and GREATER BENDIGO • the employment rate was 69.9%
community/religious leaders. A number Bendigo, located in the Central Goldfields • the participation rate was 58.2%
of people cited joining family, other Region approximately 150 kilometres
Karen and/or their religious leader as a north west of Melbourne, is Victoria’s Compared to Victoria, these statistics
reason for moving to Bendigo. The 2016 second largest regional economy and show that a similar proportion of the
Census16 indicates that roughly 22% of the fourth most populous city in regional working age population (15-64) are
the Karen in Bendigo are Buddhist and Victoria. Classified ‘Inner Regional’ on employed, but that a lower proportion
74% are Christian (with 47% of the Karen the Australian Standard Geographic of the working age population choose
population identifying as Baptist). This Classification (ASGC) Remoteness to participate in the labour market.
is consistent with AMES survey data in Areas, at August 9, 2016 Bendigo had Additionally, Bendigo’s unemployment rate
which around two thirds of the participants a residential population of 110,47918. was 0.2% lower at the time of the Census
identify as Christian, and a quarter as Bendigo provides a service and than the Victorian state-wide rate at 6.4%.
100%
Buddhist. infrastructure centre for north central FIGURE 1B: LABOUR MARKET SNAPSHOT:
90%
Victoria, and has a strong and diverse BENDIGO AND VICTORIA, 2016
The main Karen community organisations
business economy. 80%
in Bendigo are the Karen Culture and
Social Support Foundation (Incorporated), Manufacturing is Bendigo’s largest 70%
known as the Karen Buddhist Dhamma industry by economic output but there
Dhutta Foundation until 2016, and the has been substantial growth in all 60%
Karen Organisation of Bendigo.17 other sectors. Bendigo’s business and 50%
manufacturing industry includes multi-
national, national and small to medium 40%
enterprises. Bendigo and Adelaide Bank 30%
is one of Bendigo’s largest businesses,
with engineering, food manufacturing, 20%
gold mining and defense equipment being 10%
other strong business areas. Growth areas
catering for the expanding population 0%
Unemployment rate Employment rate Participation rate
include retail, finance, education and
(+15)
health services.19
■ BENDIGO
■ VICTORIA
Source: ABS Census of Population and Housing
(2016)
As a large regional city, Bendigo hosts
many large and small community events
including farmers’ markets, food and wine,
art, music and literary events. At Easter,
as a tribute to the Chinese influence in
Bendigo’s history, the Chinese dragon
parade through the streets marks the
beginning of the annual four-day Bendigo
Easter Festival, Australia’s longest running
cultural festival. In recent years the
Karen have added their cultural events
to the annual calendar and Bendigo now
celebrates Karen New Year, Wrist Tying
16 Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2016 Census of Population and Housing, accessed through TableBuilder Festivals and the Annual Water Festival
on 15/01/2018 www.censusdata.abs.gov.au.
17 http://www.karen.org.au/karen_people_in_bendigo.htm. (Buddhist New Year Festival).
18 Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2016 Census of Population and Housing.
19 http://www.economyprofile.com.au/bendigo.
20 Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2016 Census of Population and Housing, accessed through TableBuilder
on 15/01/2018 www.censusdata.abs.gov.au.
8 Economic and social impact of the Karen resettlement in Bendigo
1 INTRODUCTION
DIVERSITY IN BENDIGO An overview of the demographic profile of Bendigo and demographic trends is provided
in Chapter 2.
In its Diversity Plan, the City of Greater
Bendigo refers to the increasing number
of migrants from non-English speaking “Increasing cultural diversity in Bendigo has meant increasing religious diversity.
backgrounds in Bendigo’s population, The Karen are religiously diverse and include Buddhist and different Christian
and notes that: denominations. There is a small but growing Sikh community, Hindu community and
a revitalising progressive Jewish community. Muslims have resided in Bendigo for
• between 2006 and 2011 residents from
many years and the Bendigo Islamic Association was established in 2003. Having
non-English speaking backgrounds
a place of faith for worship, social gatherings, programs and education is important
increased by 43% - a greater increase
for community participation, identity and religious expression. Consequently, there
than regional Victoria generally.
has been growing interest to establish different places of worship. This has included:
This is reflective of Australian and
approved planning approval for a Karen monastery in Eaglehawk, a Bendigo
Victorian immigration patterns, and
Mosque, and expressions of interests for a Gurdwara (Sikh temple). The Stupa of
the settlement of refugees, particularly
Universal Compassion is not only a place of Buddhist spiritual connection, but also a
Karen, Karenni (from Burma) and
place of inter-faith dialogue.”
Hazara (from Afghanistan). Settlement
in Bendigo also included many small (Greater Bendigo Cultural Diversity and Inclusion Plan; Document Set ID: 3439349;
culturally, linguistically and religiously Version: 1, Version Date: 18/08/2016)
diverse communities, such as the
Sikh, South Sudanese and Nepali
communities; and
• the resettlement of a significant
community from a single ethno-
cultural group, the Karen, is an unusual
demographic characteristic not seen
in Bendigo since the Chinese arrived
during the gold rushes.
The results of the 2016 Census21 provide
a more up-to-date picture of cultural
diversity in the municipality and show:
• since 2006, the number of individuals
reporting an ancestry other than North
West European or Australian has
increased from 4% to 7% of Bendigo’s
total population.
• an increased proportion of residents
speaking a language other than
English at home - from 6% in 2006 to
11% in 2016.
• in 2016, 16% of the population of
Bendigo identified a country of
birth other than Australia, although
this remains a lower share than the
Australia-wide inner regional average of
29%, or the Victoria-wide share of 35%.
Plans for a new monastery complex:
Ashin Moonieinda with Karen community members
Photographer: Adam Holmes/Fairfax Syndication
21 Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2016 Census of Population and Housing, accessed through TableBuilder on 15/01/2018 www.censusdata.abs.gov.au
A joint AMES Australia and Deloitte Access Economics Report 9
1 INTRODUCTION
1.3.3 OTHER EMPLOYERS
Other businesses have been able to These businesses cover a diverse range of
EMPLOYERS capitalise on the additional labour supply sectors including: construction, agriculture/
HAZELDENES CHICKEN that the Karen have created, and/or have horticulture, cleaning, hospitality, education,
FARM PTY LTD responded to greater demand for services health and community services. This is
The initial resettlement of the Karen as a result of the settling Karen population. expanded on in Chapter 3.
in Bendigo was prompted by work
opportunities at one of the larger local 1.4
employers, Hazeldenes.
Hazeldenes is a family-owned company. TIMELINE
The business has been in operation The resettlement of the Karen in Bendigo has been a gradual process. The idea of
for over 60 years and includes farming, sponsoring Karen refugees was initially proposed by members of the Bendigo community
hatching and processing chickens largely in 2005. Information about the Karen people and their lives in the refugee camps was
for the domestic market, where customers shared through church groups and sponsorship was organised.
include major supermarket chains. A small
percentage of products are exported to
the Asian market, where demand for fresh TIMELINE AMES SURVEY (574 individuals)
products is growing.
MAY 2007 END 2007
GROWTH • Three Buddhist monks, followed by a • 13 individuals have settled in Bendigo:
Hazeldenes has created 290 new jobs family of four, arrive in Bendigo two families, two couples and three
for direct employees over the past six individuals
• Accommodation arranged for the
years – an increase of 60% in their directly
monks in a church property; the family • Two adults are enrolled in ESL classes
employed workforce.22 The business now
is provided temporary accommodation and the teenager in secondary school
employs 850 - 860 local employees and
through the Bendigo Friends and • Adults are seeking work, but no-one is
contractors including youth, mature-aged
Mentors group employed apart from the monks in their
workers and people from many different
religious capacity
cultural backgrounds. This includes
between 125 and 130 Karen people, 2007 - 2010
20 Hazara people from Afghanistan, • More Karen refugees arrive directly • 167 individuals have settled in Bendigo
as well as many Chinese, Vietnamese, from refugee camps on the Thai-Burma (41 households)
Filipinos, Pacific Islanders, South Africans, border • 12 adults are enrolled in ESL classes
Indians and Sri Lankans.23 • Others relocate to Bendigo from and five in further education (TAFE
Melbourne and other places in Australia or University); 20 children enrolled in
COMMUNITY
• By 2010 the Karen community has primary school; 34 in secondary school
Hazeldenes is a strong supporter of the local
grown to 42 families and includes • 15 people (14 households) have paid
Bendigo community. As well as employing a
and a number of single people25 employment; nine of these are employed
large number of local people, the business
(Data on the number of individuals is at Hazeldenes
supports many social and community
not available) • 18 people/families are buying houses
services across regional Victoria; is heavily
involved with a locally–based national charity 2011
for children with Autism Spectrum Disorder;
• By the 2011 Census26, 284 people • 219 individuals have settled in Bendigo
works with disenfranchised young people
speak the Karen language across (55 households)
and young people with disability; sponsors
Bendigo, the most common language • 35 people (27 households) have paid
local football, education and community
other than English (Bendigo City employment; 21 of these are employed
events. The Hazeldenes Bendigo Easter
Council Annual Report 2015-2016) at Hazeldenes
Festival is an iconic and inclusive event.24
• 22 people/families are buying houses
22 https://www.facebook.com/hazeldeneschickenfarm/photos/rpp../1350153214998859/?type=3&theater.
23 Interview with People and Performance Manager Hazeldenes Chicken Farm Pty Ltd (teleconference, 19th March 2018).
24 http://www.hazeldenes.com.au/community-spirit/.
25 Couch, Adonis & MacLaren, ACU, 2010, What Makes a Welcome? Exploring Karen refugee settlement in Bendigo.
26 Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2016 Census of Population and Housing, accessed through TableBuilder on 15/01/2018 www.censusdata.abs.gov.au.
10 Economic and social impact of the Karen resettlement in Bendigo1 INTRODUCTION
A timeline describing key features of the resettlement is provided below. The data in
the first column has been collated from a range of sources including interviews, local
reports and census data. (Note: indications are that the total Karen population is
under-represented in the Census) AMES survey captured approximately half the Karen
population in Bendigo. Together, the two sets of data provide a comprehensive picture of
the Karen resettlement in Bendigo.
TIMELINE AMES SURVEY (574 individuals)
2015
• Local estimates put the Karen • 487 individuals have settled in Bendigo
population in Bendigo at more than (109 households)
1,000 (Sources include City of Greater • 113 people (109 households) have paid
Bendigo Community Partnerships employment; 48 of these at Hazeldenes
Manager; Karen leaders)
2016 - 2017
• The 2016 Census27 records 870 people • A further 33 individuals arrive in 2016.
who speak the Karen language across Just under half of these (14) are pre-
Bendigo. However, the Bendigo school or primary school age
community estimate that between 1500 • 23 children in pre-school, 85 at primary
and 1700 Karen are settled in Bendigo and 85 at secondary school (in total 193
from initial and secondary migration28 children)
• Many families have children enrolled in • 21 attend TAFE; four are enrolled at
local primary and secondary schools, university
with 325 of the 870 Karen-speaking • 40% of working age adults (127 people)
individuals identified in the 2016 have had one or more jobs since they
Census aged 15 or under arrived in Bendigo
• The 2016 Census records 201 • 57 of these have worked at Hazeldenes,
employed Karen individuals, with 30 of them for five or more years.
126 employed full-time. 19 individuals Retention is high
were unemployed, and the remainder • A further 50 plus businesses have
were not in the labour force employed Karen workers
• Over 125 Karen are employed at • 29 families are buying a house
Hazeldenes
• Local agencies report that at least
52 houses have been purchased by
the Karen population
27 ibid.
28 Many local people interviewed believe the population to be underrepresented in the 2016 Census due to the fact that a percentage of the Karen community
would not understand the Census and its purpose nor would they have the computer literacy required to complete the Census online.
A joint AMES Australia and Deloitte Access Economics Report 112 REGIONAL PROFILE OF GREATER
BENDIGO
2.1
Greater Bendigo (Bendigo) is a major regional centre servicing the towns and rural areas
of the Loddon Campaspe Region, about 150 kilometres north west of Melbourne. DEMOGRAPHICS
The city is connected to Melbourne and other regions by high-quality road and rail The official population of Bendigo as of
infrastructure, and much of the city comprises suburban communities based around key the 9th of August, 2016 is 110,47930 and
transport corridors. Bendigo is the largest regional centre in
the Loddon Mallee Region31. On the night
FIGURE 2A: MAP OF GREATER BENDIGO
of the 2016 Census, there were 53,589
males and 56,890 females in Bendigo.
The median age in the population was
39 years, slightly older than the median
age across Victoria which is 37 years.
Based on the 2016 Census, Bendigo’s age
profile shows a lower proportion of people
in the prime working age group of 25-49
(30.6% in Bendigo, compared to 34.6%
in Victoria), with youth and children, and
residents aged over 50 over-represented
compared to the State of Victoria
(Figure 2B).
FIGURE 2B: POPULATION OF BENDIGO,
2016, BY AGE
85 and
over
80-85
75-79
70-74
65-69
60-64
55-59
http://knowyourcouncil.vic.gov.au/councils/greater-bendigo 50-54
45-49
The economic history of Bendigo The city has approximately 66,500 local 40-44
35-39
dates back to the 1850s when alluvial jobs29, across more than 7,500 local 30-34
gold deposits were first discovered in businesses (Remplan 2016). Large 25-29
the region. During the 1900s the city employing businesses include the 20-24
15-19
established itself as a manufacturing base Bendigo Health Care Group, Bendigo
10-14
for primary industries operating in the Bank and Hazeldenes, however the 5-9
region. While still significant, traditional majority of businesses are small, with 97% 0-4
reliance on manufacturing has decreased of all businesses having fewer than 20 0.0% 1.0% 2.0% 3.0% 4.0% 5.0% 6.0% 7.0% 8.0%
in recent years, with the development of a employees. (Draft Plan Greater Bendigo, ■ BENDIGO
strong health, education and retail sector March 2017) ■ VICTORIA
in the city. Source: ABS 2016 Census of Population and
Education is also a major employer in Housing
Both Bendigo and the Loddon Campaspe the region with Bendigo offering a full
Region have been experiencing strong range of higher education opportunities
economic growth in recent years. While (including La Trobe University and
the economy in the city is diverse, Bendigo Kangan Institute of TAFE), private
the most common industries include and public secondary schools and a large
health care and social assistance, retail number of primary, pre-school and child
trade, education, construction and care facilities.
manufacturing.
29 Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2016 Census of Population and Housing, accessed through TableBuilder on 15/01/2018 www.censusdata.abs.gov.au
30 Ibid.
31 The Loddon Mallee region includes the two sub-regions of Loddon Campaspe and Mallee.
12 Economic and social impact of the Karen resettlement in Bendigo2 REGIONAL PROFILE OF GREATER
BENDIGO
2.2
This could impact on the local economy FIGURE 2C: COMPONENTS IN FORECAST
over the next 15 years if a large proportion POPULATION CHANGE 2011 - 2021 ECONOMY
of the working age population retire 35%
Bendigo has over 7,500 businesses and
and Bendigo continues to lose workers
a workforce of around 66,500 people. By
aged in their twenties to Melbourne. The 30%
industry, Bendigo has experienced strong
dependency ratio32 is expected to reach
employment growth in construction; arts
close to 29% by 2021 - higher than the 25%
and recreation services; transport, postal
Victorian average.
and warehousing; healthcare and social
20%
The population of Bendigo is anticipated assistance; professional services and
to grow on average at 1.4% annually33. financial and insurance services. The
15%
This is below the state average of 1.8%, number of individuals employed in each
but higher than the majority of Victoria’s industry in 2016 is shown in Table 2.1.
10%
regional areas. The expected rate of Bendigo is also the headquarters for the
growth in Bendigo is the third-largest of Bendigo and Adelaide Bank, which is now
5%
all Victorian regional cities, behind Greater a top 70 ASX-listed company and employs
Geelong and Ballarat, with Bendigo’s approximately 1,000 people locally
0%
diverse employment and housing across head office, six branches and two
Net migration Natural increase Deaths Births
opportunities, proximity to Melbourne, community bank branches.
■ BENDIGO
cultural and social amenities and ■ MELBOURNE
Other major businesses include
increasing health and education facilities Sources: ABS 3235, VIF 2016 Rural Finance Corporation, Hofmann
continuing to attract inward migration from
Engineering, Keech Castings, Parmalat,
neighbouring LGAs, Melbourne and New
Hazeldenes, Bendigo Health, Latrobe
South Wales.
University and Bendigo TAFE.34
Compared to Melbourne, Bendigo is
forecast to have lower relative population Major Businesses Industry
growth. By 2021, the population of
Bendigo Bank Banking
Bendigo is predicted to increase by
34% from 2011 levels, compared to Rural Finance Corporation Financial and insurance services
Melbourne’s 45% increase. The difference Thales Defence
in relative population growth is driven
Hofmann Engineering Primary and fabricated metal product
by lower net migration, as well as lower
manufacturing
natural population increase and births than
Melbourne. Further, Bendigo’s death rate Keech Castings Primary metal product manufacturing
is significantly higher than Melbourne’s, (steel castings)
reflecting a relatively older population Parmalat Dairy product manufacturing
in Bendigo.
Hazeldenes Chicken Farm Pty Ltd Meat product manufacturing (poultry)
Bendigo Health Health care and social assistance
La Trobe University & Bendigo TAFE Tertiary education
The Gross Regional Product (GRP)35 of the Greater Bendigo LGA is estimated to be
$6,700m in 2016, accounting for approximately 1.5% of Victoria’s total Gross State
Product (GSP).
32 The dependency ratio expresses the number of individuals in a population aged 0-14 years old or 65 and over as a proportion of the working-age population
(those aged 15 to 64).
33 Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning 2016, Victoria in Future 2016. Accessed online on 15/01/2018 via: https://www.planning.vic.gov.au/__data/
assets/pdf_file/0014/14036/Victoria-in-Future-2016-FINAL-web.pdf.
34 www.rdv.vic.gov.au/bendigo.
35 Gross Regional Product is the total level of final goods output produced by factor inputs within a geographic region over the course of a financial year. GRP is
measured using imputed methods as it is difficult to accurately allocate factor inputs to specific regions and the ABS does not publish a series on it, the estimate
presented is based on Deloitte Access Economics calculations.
A joint AMES Australia and Deloitte Access Economics Report 132 REGIONAL PROFILE OF GREATER
BENDIGO
2.3
TABLE 2.1 BENDIGO EMPLOYMENT BY INDUSTRY (2016)
Industry Employed persons % SOCIAL INDICATORS
Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing 2,859 4.3 Bendigo is classified as ‘Inner Regional’
on the Australian Standard Geographic
Mining 913 1.4
Classification (ASGC) Remoteness Areas.
Manufacturing 5,867 8.8 Currently there are significant levels of
Electricity, Gas, Water and Waste Services 778 1.2 disadvantage in both the city and region.
According to the most recent release
Construction 5,757 8.7
of the SEIFA Index of Relative Socio-
Wholesale Trade 1,213 1.8 Economic Advantage and Disadvantage
Retail Trade 7,142 10.7 (SEIFA, 2011)35, Bendigo is more
Accommodation and Food Services 4,333 6.5 disadvantaged than the Victorian average.
Bendigo has an Index of Relative Socio-
Transport, Postal and Warehousing 2,284 3.4 economic Disadvantage index score
Information Media and Telecommunications 823 1.2 (IRSEAD) of 983.1 compared to Victoria
Financial and Insurance Services 2,230 3.4 which has an IRSEAD index score of
1,009.6.36 With a score of less than 1000,
Rental, Hiring and Real Estate Services 703 1.1
Bendigo is relatively more disadvantaged
Professional, Scientific and Technical Services 3,117 4.7 when compared to the whole nation.37
Administrative and Support Services 1,842 2.8 In line with this, residents have lower
Public Administration and Safety 4,097 6.2 educational attainment than the state
Education and Training 6,007 9.0 average, with 46% of relevant Bendigo
residents having completed a secondary
Health Care and Social Assistance 10,527 15.8 education (relative to 57% across Victoria),
Arts and Recreation Services 1,057 1.6 while 38% have not completed schooling
Other Services 2,407 3.6 beyond year 10 (relative to around one
third in Victoria).38
Inadequately described 1,815 2.7
FIGURE 2D: SCHOOL ATTAINMENT IN
Not stated 685 1.0 BENDIGO, 2016
Total – all industries 66,456 100.0
100%
Source: 2016 ABS Census of Population and Housing
In 2016, the median weekly household The proportion of households where 80%
income in Bendigo was $1,184. This is mortgage repayments were 30% or more
below the Victorian ($1,419) and Australian was lower (5.9%) than the State (7.5%) and
weekly household medians ($1,428). National (7.2%) values. 60%
Yet the percentage of households
At the time of the 2016 Census, the
experiencing housing stress is fairly similar
unemployment rate in Bendigo was 40%
to the state and national average, with
slightly lower than the State average (2016
households for which rent makes up more
Census: Bendigo 6.4%, Victoria 6.6 %).
than 30% of income (10.3%) on par with 20%
Victoria (10.4%) and slightly lower than
Australia (11.5%).
0%
BENDIGO VICTORIA
36 The SEIFA index of Advantage and Disadvantage has “been constructed so that relatively ■ YEAR 12 OR EQUIVALENT
disadvantaged areas have low index values while relatively advantaged areas have high values”. ■ YEAR 11 OR EQUIVALENT
37 Australian Bureau of Statistics 2011, Socio-Economic Indexes for Areas (SEIFA 2011) cat. no. 2033.0.55.001. ■ YEAR 10 OR EQUIVALENT
(Most current release). ■ YEAR 9 OR EQUIVALENT
38 For Statistical Areas Level 1 (SA1s) across Australia, the average (population weighted) SEIFA score on ■ YEAR 8 OR BELOW
the index of disadvantage is 1,000. Therefore areas with an index above 1,000 are above the Australian ■ DID NOT GO TO SCHOOL
average and so relatively less disadvantaged, while index figures below 1,000 indicate areas of
relatively greater disadvantage when compared to the nation. Source: ABS 2016 Census of Population and Housing
39 ABS 2016, 2016 Census of Population and Housing, accessed through TableBuilder on 15/01/2018
www.censusdata.abs.gov.au.
14 Economic and social impact of the Karen resettlement in Bendigo2 REGIONAL PROFILE OF GREATER
BENDIGO
2.4
POPULATION DIVERSITY
Traditionally not a noticeably multicultural FIGURE 2E: DIVERSITY IN BENDIGO, 2016
community, in the past 10 years Bendigo Proportion of residents born in Australia Latest proportional increase in ancestry
has come to include a growing culturally, 2016 from 2006 to 2016
religiously and ethnically diverse
100% x 2.9 x 2.9 x 1.5
residential population. The City of Greater
Bendigo has invested focus in promoting
an inclusive community that presents
80%
equal opportunities for all residents.
60%
Growth
40%
20%
SOUTH EAST SOUTHERN CENTRAL NORTH AFRICAN
ASIAN ASIAN AND MIDDLE
EASTERN
■ 2006
0%
■ 2016
BENDIGO VICTORIA AUSTRALIA
Languages Other Than English spoken at Change in religious affiliation from 2006
home 2016 to 2016
1%
5% 6%
15% 11%
0.8%
4%
7% 0.6%
0.4%
30%
22%
0.2%
■ NORTHERN EUROPEAN 6%
■ SOUTHERN EUROPEAN 11% 0%
■ EASTERN EUROPEAN 4% Buddhism Hinduism Islam Judaism
■ SOUTHWEST AND CENTRAL ASIAN 7%
■ SOUTHERN ASIAN 22% ■ 2006
■ EASTERN ASIAN 30% ■ 2016
■ AUSTRALIAN INDIGENOUS 15%
■ OTHER 5% Proportion of Bendigo affiliated to certain religions
A joint AMES Australia and Deloitte Access Economics Report 152 REGIONAL PROFILE OF GREATER
BENDIGO
In 2016, a higher proportion of residents This increase in diversity is similarly Another indicator of cultural diversity is
in Bendigo had been born in Australia reflected in an increased proportion of the increase in affiliation with a range of
(85.5%) in comparison to the proportion residents speaking a language other different faiths. Both Hinduism and Islam
across Victoria (64.9%), Australia than English at home increasing from have more than doubled their relative
(66.7%), or other Australian inner regional 6% to 11% between 2006 and 2016. The prevalence in Bendigo, increasing from
areas (71%). largest increase in language spoken at 0.14% of the population to 0.45% of
home was Southern Asian Languages the population and 0.15% to 0.42% of
The most common countries of birth were
increasing from 0.3% of the population the population respectively. Buddhism
England 1.8%, New Zealand 0.7%, India
to 1.3%, followed by South East Asian increased from 0.53% of the population to
0.6%, Myanmar 0.4% and Thailand 0.4%.40
Languages. Asian languages are also the 0.98% of the population.
The most commonly spoken language
most common languages spoken at home
other than English in Bendigo was Karen,
after English.
spoken by almost 1% of Bendigo’s
population (compared to 0.1% in Victoria
and 0% in Australia).
Over the 10 years between 2006 and
2016, the number of individuals reporting
an ancestry other than North West
European or Australian increased from
4% to 7% of Bendigo’s total population.
This is equivalent to an increase of 5,467
residents. The ancestry with the largest
proportional increase was those with
South-East Asian ancestry41 (288%),
followed by Southern and Central Asian
(286%) and North African and Middle
Eastern (148%).
New faces: increased diversity in Bendigo
Photo supplied by AMES Australia
40 Note that many of the Karen coming to Australia were born in refugee camps in Thailand, so their official country of birth is Thailand.
41 Includes people from Burma (Myanmar) - Burmese, Karen, Chin, Rohingya (http://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/Lookup/2901.0Chapter652016#5).
16 Economic and social impact of the Karen resettlement in Bendigo3 ECONOMIC IMPACT
The resettlement of the Karen people has This chapter of the report outlines the In net present value terms (NPV)44, the
had measureable economic impacts on modelling approach and underlying data, total economic impact on the regional
Bendigo. These impacts were estimated and presents the results of this analysis. economy over the 10 years to 2016 is
by Deloitte Access Economics based on estimated to have been $67.1 million (with
The key outputs of the modelling and
a combination of data obtained from the an associated impact on employment of
analysis are Gross Regional Product
2016 Census and information collected 204 employed persons, and 177 full-time-
(GRP), FTE employment and household
via a survey of the Karen in Bendigo equivalent (FTE) employment).
consumption expenditure, from the date
conducted by AMES Australia in 2015.
of the first arrivals of the Karen in Bendigo
The estimation of the economic impacts in 2007 to 2016 (in keeping with the
comprised: available data).
• collection and collation of the AMES As the consultations with local employers
survey data did not unequivocally indicate that the
• extraction of data relating to the arrival of the Karen alleviated some
Karen from the 2016 ABS Census of existing labour and skills shortages (which
Population and Housing on its release was the case in Nhill)42,43, the economic
in July and October 2017, to augment impacts are largely driven by the indirect
and validate the AMES data effect of an increased demand for labour
• analysis of the demographic impact of in Bendigo arising out of the needs of the
the age profile of the Karen population additional Karen population, which itself
in Bendigo led to increases in employment in other
• consultation with the larger local sectors of the local economy.
employers of the Karen in Bendigo,
TABLE 3.1: ECONOMIC MODELLING IMPACTS – ANNUAL
to test the assumptions made in
the economic modelling and to FY ending 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016
determine the qualitative nature of June
the Computable General Equilibrium Employment 11 22 33 44 54 83 106 130 153 177
(CGE) model inputs – i.e. the short-run (Cumulative,
counterfactual assumptions FTE)
• calibration and then execution of
GRP 0.6 1.3 2.1 2.8 3.6 5.1 6.7 8.3 10.0 11.7
the CGE modelling, and analysis of
($ million)
the results.
Household 0.3 0.7 1.1 1.4 1.8 2.5 3.2 3.8 4.5 5.2
consumption
($ million)
Source: Deloitte Access Economics (2018)
42 AMES and Deloitte Access Economics, 2015, Small towns Big returns: Economic and social impact of the Karen resettlement in Nhill. The modelling in this study
was conducted on the basis that there was some existing unmet demand for labour in Hindmarsh, Victoria, driven principally by a large local employer,
Luv-a-Duck. The resettlement of the Karen people increased the supply of labour in the region, largely satiating this demand.
43 It is important to note that the figures presented in this report are not directly comparable to those presented in the Nhill case for a number of reasons, including
the fact that this report is in 2016 dollars and the previous report was in 2014 dollars, but also because of updates to databases underlying the model since the
production of the Nhill report.
44 The Net Present Value (NPV) has been calculated using a standard 7% discount rate, to convert the value of past economic impacts to current equivalents.
A joint AMES Australia and Deloitte Access Economics Report 173 ECONOMIC IMPACT
3.1 3.2
According to the 2016 Census45, of
GROSS REGIONAL EMPLOYMENT those who listed a profession, 64% of
PRODUCT The additional employment generated
the working Karen population in Bendigo
stated that their occupation was a
in Bendigo (comprised largely of Karen
The LGA of Greater Bendigo (which forms labourer, consistent with the information
workers) increased from a small number
the basis for the economic modelling), obtained from the AMES survey of the
of individuals in 2007 to 58 people (54
had an estimated GRP of $6,700 million Karen (which indicates that 63% of
FTE) in 2011, and to 204 people (177 FTE)
in 2016, which was estimated to be 0.17% employees reported as being a factory
in 2016 (Figure 3B). This represents a
higher as a result of the additional $11.7 hand, packer, worker, or farm worker).
0.3% increase in the number of employed
million GRP attributable to the Karen The next most prominent occupations
persons in Bendigo. At the same time,
population in that year (Figure 3A). The were Community and Personal Services
the arrival of the Karen in Bendigo had
increase is broadly commensurate with (16%) and Machinery Operators and
flow-on employment impacts on other
the increase in population over the period, Drivers (7%). The Karen engaging in
local employers, who provide goods and
but includes an element of compounding hands-on work is also reflected through
services to the Karen.
return to the initial population growth. the industries they tend to work in. Over
half are employed in the Manufacturing
FIGURE 3A: ADDITIONAL BENDIGO GRP FIGURE 3B: ADDITIONAL BENDIGO
($ MILLION) EMPLOYMENT (FTE AND HEADCOUNT; industry, followed by Agriculture,
CUMULATIVE) Forestry and Fishing, and Health and
Social Service.
12.0 250
In comparison to 2011, the 2016 Census
data shows that the proportion of Karen
10.0
200 workers in the Manufacturing industry
has decreased from 73% to 54%, and the
8.0 variety of industries the Karen work across
150 has expanded from three to eight major
6.0
industries. This is likely to be a reflection of
the concentration of the initial roles taken
100
up by the Karen with a small number of
4.0
businesses, in particular Hazeldenes, with
a subsequent diversification in the number
50
2.0 and type of employers.
0.0 0
2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016
Source: Deloitte Access Economics (2018) ■ EMPLOYMENT (FTE)
■ EMPLOYMENT (HEADCOUNT)
Source: Deloitte Access Economics (2018)
45 Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2016 Census of Population and Housing, accessed through TableBuilder on 15/01/2018 www.censusdata.abs.gov.au.
18 Economic and social impact of the Karen resettlement in Bendigo3 ECONOMIC IMPACT
FIGURE 3C: KAREN LABOUR MARKET 3.2.1 TABLE 3.2: AMES SURVEY DATA
EMPLOYMENT IN BENDIGO BY INDUSTRY
Karen employed at Work
FOR THOSE WHO RESPONDED TO THE EMPLOYMENT IMPACT ON
CENSUS IN 2011 AND 2016 Hazeldenes ended
LOCAL BUSINESSES
80% Year Number Number
HAZELDENES
2009 2
70% The single major employer of the Karen
in Bendigo is Hazeldenes. The family 2010 3
60% owned business was established in 1938 2011 20
breeding chickens for egg sales. With
50%
2012 39 1
the move to growing chickens for meat
in 1972, the business grew to employ a 2013 36 1
40%
staff of six. An expansion of facilities and 2014 37 0
30% investment in innovation between 2006 2015 49 2
and 2010 grew the number of workers
20% employed at Hazeldenes to 480. By 2016, 2016 50 1
with a further investment in automation, Unknown 7 1
10%
Hazeldenes employed 730 staff. The Total 57 6
company now employs 850 – 860
0%
local people. Once the first Karen found work at
ADMINISTRATIVE & SUPPORT SERVICES
PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION & SAFETY
MANUFACTURING
AGRICULTURE, FORESTRY & FISHING
HEALTH CARE & SOCIAL ASSISTANCE
EDUCATION & TRAINING
OTHER SERVICES
CONSTRUCTION
The first groups of refugees and migrants Hazeldenes, there was a gradual but
employed in manufacturing at Hazeldenes steady growth in the number of Karen
in the 1970s and 1980s were Vietnamese, employed by the business. Of those
Chinese and Filipinos who had settled captured in AMES survey data, in 2009,
in Central Victoria. In the early 2000s the two were employed at Hazeldenes and
first waves of Karen from Burma, and by 2016, 57 of the survey participants had
Hazara from Afghanistan, commenced worked at Hazeldenes. Of these, only
work at Hazeldenes. Describing its current six had subsequently left, and this was
workforce the company reports: for a range of reasons – including to go
■ 2011
■ 2016 to other jobs. Hazeldenes’ People and
Today - we have between 125 and 130
Performance Manager confirmed that in
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2016 Karen people, 20 Hazara people from
Census of Population and Housing early 2018, the company employs more
Afghanistan, as well as many Chinese,
than 125 Karen. This equates to 14.7% of
Vietnamese, Filipino, Pacific Islanders,
the organisation’s workforce, and around
South African, Indian and Sri Lankans
half the Karen workforce in the region. In
that comprise a significant component
the 2016 Census, 5,867 people in Bendigo
of our 850 strong workforce.46
were employed in the manufacturing
sector, of which Karen workers at
Hazeldenes were likely to represent
around 1.6%.
46 Ann Conway, People and Performance Manager, Hazeldene’s: The Multicultural Workforce, Shepparton
Interfaith Network News, November 2017. http://sheppartoninterfaith.org.au/?p=2929
A joint AMES Australia and Deloitte Access Economics Report 193 ECONOMIC IMPACT
In a presentation at a regional conference Reflecting this opportunity for secure In addition, the MADCOW Cleaning
in 2016, Ann Conway, the People and employment and proactive employment social enterprise has been established
Performance Manager at Hazeldenes, approaches, the young leaders in the by Bendigo Baptist Community Care,
outlined the benefits of a multicultural Karen community report that Hazeldenes driven specifically by the will to assist the
workforce as: is very supportive of their Karen workers. Karen settle and participate in the Bendigo
workplace diversity; a committed, The community also appreciates that community through employment.
engaged workforce; increased Hazeldenes sponsors Karen events
And in yet other cases new positions
applicant pool – particularly important including providing chicken for the Karen
have been created by service providers
in regional areas; and a significant New Year event.
in response to increased demand for
contribution to Hazeldenes growth.47 While a large part of additional services in Bendigo from the growing
The majority of jobs at Hazeldenes employment was absorbed by Karen community (eg multicultural aides
are full-time permanent positions with Hazeldenes, the resettlement of the Karen in schools and Bendigo Community
additional fixed term contract staff taken to Bendigo has also generated flow-on Health Services).
on to meet seasonal demand. Hazeldenes benefits to other businesses in the region.
has also been proactive in implementing (Table 3.3).
support systems for their non-English In some cases, businesses were able to
speaking workers. Initiatives include capitalise on the additional labour supply
translating key policies and procedures that the Karen have created (eg Keech)
and identifying Karen staff with higher or the aptitudes/work ethic that the Karen
levels of English and paying them an brought to the workforce (eg Urban
allowance to act as interpreters in small Garden Design; Dental Health Services;
group meetings with other Karen workers. horticulture/agriculture).
This ensures messages are passed on
clearly, and facilitates feedback from the
Karen workers.
MADCOW® social enterprise:
training and employment pathways
Photo supplied by Matthew Parkinson
Community Care Director at Bendigo
Baptist Community Care Inc
47 ibid.
20 Economic and social impact of the Karen resettlement in BendigoYou can also read
