The findings come from a City of Greater Bendigo-commissioned Regional Impact of International Skilled Migration study, released yesterday.

The study’s authors, Professor John Tomaney and Dr Stuart Dawley, discovered a skilled migration model developed by Bendigo was one of best and could be the solution to skills shortages in other regional centres.

Professor Tomaney is the director of Urban and Regional Studies at the University of Newcastle (UK) and Professor of Regional Studies at Monash University.

The professor said skilled migration was a key to growing local economies and that skilled migrants were key sectors of the local economy because they helped produce wealth and improve quality of life.

In Bendigo, skilled migrants come from all over the globe, particularly Asia, Europe and Africa.

The City of Greater Bendigo’s Economic Development unit manager Brian Gould said the report showed how important migrants were as Australia’s regional and rural areas continued to develop.

“The findings of Professor Tomaney highlight that international skilled migration will continue to play an important role in the development of the Bendigo region in order to address skills shortages.”