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English language requirement changes take effect from 1 January 2010
22 December 2009
The English language requirements for General Skilled Migration will be raised to a minimum IELTS score of 6.0 in each of the four components.
This change has already been introduced for offshore Skilled Regional Sponsored Visa application in July 2009 and will now affect onshore Skilled Regional Sponsored applications and all applicants who nominate a trade occupation from 1 January 2010.
The General Skilled Migration program is designed to attract migrants who are likely to obtain skilled employment when they arrive in Australia. The English language requirement is designed to support this objective and to ensure migrants have the best possible opportunity of settling into life and work in Australia.
The Australian Government uses the migration program to address skill shortages and meet the needs of the economy. In light of the current social and economic needs of Australia, the Government is able to adjust migration levels and entry requirements according to the current situation. Meeting the English language requirement is just one of many requirements to qualify for Skilled migration to Australia that can and does change through immigration policy.
More Jobs available in Australia
11 December 2009
According to November data from "Australian Labour Force", Australia's unemployment rate has remained steady at 5.7%, 0.2% lower than predicted. Also, overall employment has increased by 31,200.
Full time employment has increased by 30,800, with part-time employment increasing by 400. These figures confirm Australia's strong recovery and subsequent growth, which can be attributed in part to Australia's successful skilled immigration program.
Australia's low unemployment rate and increasing labour market demand, has resulted in a "gap" in skills that are needed by Australian employers. Immigration, in conjunction with education policy to train local labour, helps to address these needs, and ensures that Australia continues to hold strong economically.
These figures demonstrate the demand for skilled migration in Australia, making Australia a highly desirable option for skilled migrants wanting to live & work overseas.
L’Australia sorpassa altre economie avanzate
4 December 2009
Le recenti previsioni economiche (Economic Outlook) dell’OCSE hanno fornito ulteriori prove che l’economia australiana sta andando meglio di quella delle altre economie avanzate mondiali.
L’Australia ha una crescita maggiore, meno debiti, meno deficit, ed è uno degli unici tre paesi con previsione di crescita quest’anno.
L’OCSE prevede che l’Australia crescerà dello 0.8% nel 2009 e del 2.4% nel 2010. Con queste prospettive, l’economia australiana starebbe ancora sotto il livello di massima capacità produttiva, con la potenziale di ancora crescere di più.
Facendo un confronto, l’OCSE prevede che gli altri membri economici avranno un ribasso di 3.5% quest’anno, ed una crescita di solo 1.9% il prossimo anno.
Il ministro del tesoro australiano, Wayne Swan, ha dichiarato che il rapporto dell’OCSE conferma inoltre che le finanze del governo australiano “rimarranno tra le più forti tra i membri dell’OCSE”.
Australian Immigration Intake at Record High
4 December 2009
New statistics show that over 500,000 long-term or permanent migrants arrive in Australia each year.
Figures released from the Bureau of Statistics Australia have confirmed that 510,564 migrants, students, and long-term workers have arrived in Australia in the year to June. This is an increase of 15% on the previous year.
According to the preliminary statistics, Australia has grown by 443,139 or 2.07%. The growth comes due to a number of factors including a significant increase in births, with more than 300,000 new babies born, bringing Australia's fertility rate back to 1.98.
Though fertility rates have improved, two thirds of Australia's population growth still comes from immigration.
Within Australia, Western Australia grew the most at 3.03%, and Perth is forecast to house 2 million people in the near future.
Victoria's population grew by a record 2.14% for the state, and is expected to reach a population of 5.5 million by February 2010. It is estimated that Melbourne reached 4 million people in September 2009, and is now growing at approximately 2000 a week.
Australia will need 1.4 million extra skilled workers by 2025
17 November 2009
According to a new report by the Victorian Employers Chamber of Commerce, Australia will have a skills shortage, and will require 1.4 million additional workers by 2025, unless steps are taken.
The report indicates that under current trends and government policies, the nations participation rate (The percentage of Australia's working-age population that is employed or seeking employment) would fall from 65.2 to 61.8 by 2025.
Based on their findings, the organisation has recommended a number of measures, including removing barriers to work for older people, and boosting skilled immigration intake.
In an interview with The Australian, one of the reporters, Darin Ritchie said "To meet moderate levels of labour-demand growth, Australia's participation rate would need to be 68 per cent,"
"To address this workforce deficit, Australia needs to raise the average retirement age, increase the workforce participation of disadvantaged groups, increase migration, or offset labour demand through productivity growth.
New visa measures to assist international students in Australia
10 November 2009
The Australian Government has announced new measures designed to assist international students who have been affected by the closure of their university or other education provider.
Under the new changes, students who require a new student visa to complete their studies at another school will be exempt from the $540 student visa application fee.
In 2009, twelve education providers had been closed, affecting 4,700 students.
Regarding this, Senator Chris Evans, Minister for Immigration & Citizenship, stated "In situations where an education provider can no longer offer a course, the government's primary concern is the welfare of the student".
Another change announced by the Government was that from 2010, students will be required to demonstrate that they have access to at least $18,000 a year to fund their studies. Currently international students are only required to have access to $12,000 a year.
The increase has been made, according to the Government, to better reflect the costs involved in living and studying in Australia.
Living costs represents one component of the financial requirements for obtaining a student visa to Australia. International students must also have sufficient funds for tuition fees, travel costs, and more.
Minister expects Australian migration changes
5 November, 2009
Australia's immigration minister says it is likely the migration rate will change as a result of the global economic crisis.
Minister Chris Evans met industry leaders is Perth today to discuss future migration needs.
The minister says he will be further investigating a state by state migration policy.
"I think it is true to say that we have a number of different economies inside Australia," he said.
Western Australia and Queensland were flagged as special cases that require more skilled workers as a result of their mining booms.
The minister also plans to change the migration policy to give preference to workers sponsored by businesses, but the WA Chamber of Commerce and Industry is concerned that this would only attract skilled workers when there is also a shortage of unskilled labour.
Changes to the migration rate are expected in the near future.
- ABC Do not reduce migrant intake, engineers warn
29 October, 2009
ENGINEERS are warning the government against reducing skilled migrant intake in the face of uncertain economic conditions.
According to Engineers Australia, there is an estimated shortage of 28,000 engineering professionals in Australia. Any attempts to cut the skilled migration program would need to be carefully targeted to avoid impacting the necessary skills base for future infrastructure and industrial maintenance projects.
The association said governments are looking to fast-track major infrastructure programs to stimulate economic activity. Engineers are a key part of the equation.
The skilled migration program is being seen as a temporary measure to overcome the skills shortage crisis until such time when education reforms will be able to deliver the necessary numbers of local technicians and engineers.
- Factory Maintenance
Australia rethinks Snoop Dogg visa approval
27 August, 2009
CANBERRA (Reuters) - Australia is re-thinking a decision to give gangsta rapper Snoop Dogg a visa after public complaints that he should not tour in October in a double act with Ice Cube, an immigration official said on Tuesday.
Snoop Dogg, whose real name is Cordozar Calvin Broadus Jr., was refused permission to even apply for a visa to enter Australia in 2007 because of his criminal record, sinking plans for him to co-host the MTV Australia Video Music Awards.
But immigration officials this week cleared the way for an October tour visit, until a spate of public complaints from Australian victims of crime groups on Tuesday.
"As a result of public concern and interest, the department has decided that in fact we will be undertaking a more thorough assessment of Mr Broadus' character," a senior immigration official told Reuters.
The decision does not mean Snoop Dogg will again be barred from Australia, but he could be counseled before arrival and given strict behavior rules to abide by while in the country.
Snoop Dogg was first barred by Australia's former conservative government, which lost power last year to the centre-left Labor government of Prime Minister Kevin Rudd. Labor has steadily softened tough immigration laws while in power.
Critics say Snoop Dogg's lyrics are racist and sexist. The rapper has sold over 17 million records.
His criminal record counts several drugs and firearms charges since 1990, including a 1993 acquittal for murder. He has also been denied entry to Britain.
After learning of a change of heart by officials on barring the controversial rapper, Australian victims of crime groups complained to the government to have the decision overturned.
"Snoop Dogg trades in toxic messages of menace, violence, misogyny and lawlessness," Angela Conway, of the Australian Family Association, told the Herald Sun newspaper.
The immigration official said a fresh assessment of an approval for Snoop Dogg to apply for a visa -- clearing the way for a 17-day visit from October 21 -- had already begun.
"We've advised his tour promoter and he and Mr Broadus will have an opportunity to respond. We clearly will look at his criminal history," he said.
- Rob Taylor, Reuters Immigration criticised over visa delays
28 July, 2009
The Department of Immigration and Citizenship has come under fire for taking too long to respond to and process invalid visa applications.
The department takes anywhere between one day and two years to assess an application as invalid or incomplete, a new report by the Immigration Ombudsman has found.
Professor John McMillan said many applications were ruled invalid due to issues such as missing paperwork.
He was concerned the delays put some applicants at risk of being declared unlawful or having their visa options severely limited.
The Invalid Visa Applications report identified more than 200 cases between 2006 and 2008 where this had occurred.
"Processing delays and inconsistencies could have serious consequences for the immigration status of applicants," Prof McMillan said. The report found the average length of time to process an application as invalid was 38 days.
Prof McMillan recommended applications be assessed in a more "timely manner".
- AAP
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