Upper Austria/LINZ. Before Social Provincial Councilor Wolfgang Hattmannsdorfer (VP) takes up his new position as WKO General Secretary in Vienna, he looked back on the past three years in the Upper Austrian state government. According to the Upper Austrian, he wants to maintain the new style that he has established in social policy in his work in the federal capital.
Three years ago, on October 21, 2021, Wolfgang Hattmannsdorfer took over the office of State Councilor for Social, Integration and Youth. Today, before he leaves for Vienna, where he takes up his new position as WKO General Secretary, he looks back on his work in Upper Austria.
“I approached my task with a lot of passion and motivation and enjoyed being the Social Provincial Councilor for Upper Austria every day. What was particularly important to me was a new style that doesn’t sugarcoat things, but rather openly addresses problems. That connects and doesn’t exclude. And who, above all, designs based on strategic guidelines and goals and does not engage in troubleshooting,” says Hattmannsdorfer about his government work in the social department.
Ten lead projects
When setting priorities, he adhered to Christian-social principles, based on which ten key projects in the social department were modernized and reformed, said Hattmannsdorfer.
In the area of care and support, this was the lead project of the skilled workers strategy. 300 additional people were enabled to start their careers, salaries were noticeably increased and skilled workers were brought to Austria from third countries, such as the Philippines.
Read more: Nursing staff: New agreement between Upper Austria and the Philippine province of Tarlac
Benefit-in-kind card and “respect” campaign
Another established lead project entitled “German, Work and Respect” strengthened the German course offering and reorganized regional integration work. The 2022 Halloween riots in Linz were responded to with a “respect” campaign with workshops and values courses.
The introduction of the material guidance card for asylum seekers, which started as a pilot project in the Steyr region and is now to be rolled out in the central Linz area and later nationwide, caused discussions.
Read more: Benefits in kind card: Expansion in Upper Austria, nationwide rollout planned for 2025
Inclusion Prize “Flying Fish”
Some projects were also implemented in Hattmannsdorfer’s other areas of responsibility. He also describes the “The Flying Fish” inclusion award as a “heart project”, with which the state of Upper Austria highlights projects and committed people in the area of inclusion of people with disabilities. “Differences are what we have in common” was not only the slogan of the Flying Fish, it also became one of my guiding principles. I really enjoyed working in the social department because it is a colorful and diverse department. I will especially remember the numerous encounters and people I was able to get to know,” says Hattmannsdorfer.
Read more: The state of Upper Austria awarded the “Flying Fish” inclusion prize for the first time
Take over villages and anglers
At a farewell party in his office, Provincial Councilor Wolfgang Hattmannsdorfer thanked the organizations in the social sector for their commitment as well as his employees in the social department of the state of Upper Austria. The agendas will now be handed over to the designated state councilor Christian Dörfel (VP).
Dörfel wants to continue what has been initiated over the past three years: “I will continue working with the social organizations. I would also like to make my opinion clear about integration policy: those who integrate are better accepted and become part of society in Austria more quickly. Integration is not an option, but an obligation.”
The designated state councilor is resigning from his position as mayor of Steinbach an der Steyr. Margit Angerlehner (VP), who is currently a member of the state parliament and mayor of the municipality of Oftering, will take over his position as OÖVP state parliament club leader.
Read more: Christian Dörfel becomes State Councilor for Social Affairs, Youth and Integration
