RSE conference one of the most important annual events

Father and daughter academics Professor Richard and Dr Charlotte Bedford have been involved in researching the Recognised Seasonal Employer (RSE) scheme since it began and always try to attend the Annual conference.

They have been invited to speak at this year’s RSE conference in Mount Maunganui on 28 August, Dr Charlotte Bedford will be presenting the Blue Pacific Interactive Session.

“For us, the conference is one of the most important annual events on the calendar,” says Dr Bedford. “It brings together a wide range of RSE stakeholders to discuss operational, policy and strategic issues in the RSE space, with a strong focus on how the scheme impacts RSE employers.

“The conference plays a major role in ongoing industry-government collaboration over the management of the RSE scheme, as well as facilitating relationships between employers and the Pacific sending country partners who attend the annual event.”

Dr Bedford says that she and Richard, an Emeritus Professor at the University of Waikato, always look forward to both the presentations and the networking opportunities.

“It’s a great opportunity to reconnect with RSE employers and others who Richard and I have met over the years of our involvement in the RSE scheme.

“Many RSE employers and industry representatives have been involved in our research at different times over the past 17 years, and we simply wouldn’t be able to do the work that we do without their support.”

Dr Bedford said they are looking forward to hearing all the speakers, especially Minister of Immigration Hon. Erica Stanford.

“As the new Immigration Minister, Richard and I are both particularly interested to hear her address.

“Hearing the perspectives and experiences of Pacific countries is always valuable, and I’m also looking forward to the session on employers’ perspectives 2014 versus 2024, to learn how employers think the scheme has changed over time and some of the benefits and costs of their participation.”

Dr Bedford is a research fellow in the Development Policy Centre at the Australian National University. Since 2007, she has been closely involved in research on New Zealand’s RSE scheme and, more recently, on Australia’s Pacific-focused temporary labour schemes.

“Speaking at the conference enables us to share some of our research to help inform employers and other stakeholders about how the RSE scheme has developed over time, and some of the impacts for participating worker households and communities.

“We both greatly value the opportunity to take part in the annual conference and consider the event one of the best ways for us stay up to date with what’s happening in the RSE space.

“There have been a number of changes to RSE policy settings post-COVID, and more changes recommended under the long-awaited RSE policy review.

“Hopefully at this year’s conference, we will hear more about plans to progress the RSE policy review’s recommendations, and/or any other policy changes that are in the pipeline.

“In addition, commentary on the wider Pacific labour mobility landscape in which the RSE scheme is situated is always helpful, so I’m looking forward to the Pacer Plus Implementation Unit’s update on the region.”