Chefs and doctors have topped Queensland's list for skilled migration visa applications and approvals in almost every part of the state over the past 12 months.
Inner-city Brisbane, which is seeking more software engineers, was the only region not desperate for the two professions, according to data released by the Department of Home Affairs.
Sunshine Coast senior chef Matt Dobson said he was not surprised the popular holiday destination was crying out for kitchen staff.
Now at The Edge Café, Bar and Restaurant, Mr Dobson said he had spent more than two decades in kitchens and the worker shortage had never been more dire.
"I don't think I've ever seen it this bad," he said.
He said the hinterland venue had not had a full complement of staff for about six months, putting extra pressure on the workers who did turn up every day.
Mr Dobson said that meant he was working up to 80 hours a week over seven days.
"I'm trying to do the extra yards to make sure my chefs don't burn out," he said.
"That's another big possibility as well – being short staffed, the other staff have to pick up the slack.
"It's very easy to burn out."
Mr Dobson said even the international workers who would once help plug gaps throughout the hospitality industry were "few and far between".
"I know that a lot of workers that I worked with in a previous job before COVID – obviously they went back home because there was no guarantee they could stay," he said.
"They booked a flight and they went home and a lot of them never came back."
Doctors to help desperate regions
Australian Medical Association Queensland vice-president and Hervey Bay general practitioner Nick Yim said regional and rural Queensland had been desperate for doctors for a long time.
Recently graduated doctors, or resident medical officers (RMOs), often sought out roles in the Wide Bay where they would be employed as interns and undergo training.
They are also in high demand.
A Home Affairs spokesperson said the biggest number of applications for overseas workers in Queensland in the past 12 months were for graduate doctors.
As a consequence, the department also issued the most visas for those roles.
Dr Yim said the prospect of more doctors was a reason to be optimistic.
"This is fantastic news, obviously, with the opening of borders," he said.
"In the Wide Bay we have had many challenges, and we continue to have challenges to recruit and retain staff, that includes doctors, nurses, and allied health."
He said RMOs trained for three to four years to become a specialist in general practice and was not surprised doctors would opt for regional parts of the state.
"They might have the supervising doctor pop in to consult them, but a lot of the time it is additional mentoring and supervision behind the scenes for that individual doctor," Dr Yim said
"We have seen a growing increase of doctors coming from overseas, and that includes the UK and Asian sub-continent, working in our regions, which is a huge benefit for the Wide Bay.
"In our regions, you do have the amazing lifestyle and a great location"
Most sought and approved skilled migrant visas: Sep 2021 – Oct 2022 | |
|---|---|
REGION |
OCCUPATION |
| Gold Coast | Resident Medical Officer |
| Sunshine Coast | Chef |
| Toowoomba | Chef |
| Brisbane Inner City | Software Engineer |
| Brisbane - North | Resident Medical Officer |
| Brisbane - South | Resident Medical Officer |
| Brisbane - East | Resident Medical Officer |
| Brisbane - West | Chef (most visas lodged) |
Registered Nurse (Aged Care) (most visas granted) |
|
| Darling Downs - Maranoa | Chef |
| Mackay - Isaac - Whitsunday | Resident Medical Officer |
| Moreton Bay - North | Resident Medical Officer |
| Moreton Bay - South | Chef |
| Ipswich | Resident Medical Officer (most lodged) |
Chef (most granted) |
|
| Logan - Beaudesert | Resident Medical Officer (most lodged) |
Chef most (granted) |
|
| Wide Bay | Resident Medical Officer |
| Central Queensland | Chef |
| Queensland - Outback | Chef |
| Townsville | Resident Medical Officer |
| Cairns | Resident Medical Officer |
