immigration Australia
Ask not what Australia can do for You…
But what you can do for Australia… Does the skilled migration visa hint at this? Is this just typical migration conditions anywhere?
When immigrating to Australia on a skilled migration visa you come with:
- your skills/education and work experience,
- a willingness to be a self starter – find a home, job, schools, circle of friends, community/church life to connect to,
- the drive & desire to build a life,
- the ability to contribute and participate in social and community activities so as to be accepted,
- the capacity to shoulder the risk of moving,
- the stamina to cope during the unsettling early months/years until you start to feel a sense of home, (for some this can take longer than others)
In addition, you may be expected to take on a heavy work load at work. Skills are short locally you know.
You may find that you will be the one with the need for a greater social (support/friendship) network – so you initiate the social and group activities to ensure your sanity.
Let me know…what do you know?
Is taking a Citizen Test a barrier?
The new Australian citizenship test which assesses prospective new citizens on their understanding of Australian civics and the responsibilities and privileges of citizenship commenced recently.
The Minister for Immigration and Citizenship, Senator Chris Evans, said the new test is based on the pledge of commitment that new Australians make when becoming citizens.
Topics include Australia’s democratic beliefs, laws and government as well as the responsibilities and privileges of citizenship.
The 20 multiple-choice questions in the new test have been written in plain English and will be conducted in English only. All test questions have been drawn from the testable section of the revised citizenship test resource book, Australian Citizenship: Our Common Bond, which was launched in September.
‘The new test is not a general knowledge quiz about Australia,’ Senator Evans said.
‘We want people applying for citizenship to understand the values of Australian society, our democratic beliefs, our rights and our system of law and what it means to be an Australian citizen.
‘All prospective citizens should understand those concepts so all of the questions in the new citizenship test focus on the commitments that new citizens make in the pledge.’
The new test was developed after an independent review of the old citizenship test last year found that it could be improved by focusing on the pledge of commitment.
People will now need to answer 75 per cent per cent or 15 of the 20 questions correctly to pass – up from 60 per cent under the old test. However, the mandatory questions have been removed to make the test fairer.
All questions are now equally important and a person can no longer answer 19 out of 20 questions correctly and still fail the test because they answered one of the three mandatory questions incorrectly.
A citizenship course is also under development to help a small group of disadvantaged people, who for a range of reasons, such as limited literacy and schooling, are likely to struggle when preparing for and sitting a formal computer-based test.
‘This will ensure that we encourage people to become citizens without the test being a barrier,’ Senator Evans said.
Too Much Fear Around Migration?
It’s true, there are all too often stories about all the complications surrounding immigrating to Australia.
There are benchmarks, tests and skill criteria to meet and satisfy but hang on a moment….there are plenty of migrants out here who have come out on a lot of persistence.
Finding a good agent who will take the time to explain, assist and support you with your application is essential.
The red tape in the application process is of course to protect Australian society and assess if you can have a reasonable quality of life here….there is also a shortage of workers in certain professions, Australia will look after it’s own needs on the journey to building the nation…..with all that though, eliminate the migration fear and live your dreams.
Migrants need to be paid market rates.
The Minister for Immigration and Citizenship, Senator Chris Evans, today announced details of the requirement for temporary skilled overseas workers to be paid market salary rates.
The payment of market rates will ensure subclass 457 visa holders are on the same wages and conditions of employment as those provided to an Australian worker undertaking equivalent work in the same workplace.
Where there is an equivalent Australian worker in the workplace, the market rate will be determined by the industrial arrangements that apply to this worker – for example, a collective agreement, award, award conditions with above award salary rates or a common law contract.
Where there is no equivalent worker onsite, the employer may reference collective agreements or awards for that position to substantiate the market rate. If there is no applicable agreement or award, other evidence such as remuneration surveys or earnings data must be provided.
‘The Rudd Government has made it clear that temporary skilled overseas workers should not be employed ahead of local workers because they are a cheaper option,’ Senator Evans said.
‘The subclass 457 visa scheme is a demand driven program designed to supplement – not replace – the local workforce when there are serious skills shortages.’
Under current arrangements, employers are obliged to pay workers on subclass 457 visas the minimum salary level of $45 220 or the award rate. This means overseas workers can be paid less than an Australian employee in the same workplace who may be paid at above award rates – which is the market rate.
‘For example, tradespeople working on mine sites or other industries where skills are in high demand are often paid well above award rates,’ Senator Evans said.
‘The payment of market salary rates will ensure that overseas workers are not used as a cheap form of labour or used to undercut Australian wages and conditions.’
Market salary rates will apply to all new subclass 457 visa holders from 14 September 2009 except where annual earnings of $180 000 or more are proposed.
Visas will not be granted to new subclass 457 visa applicants if the market salary rate for the position is below a temporary skilled migration income threshold of $45 220. The threshold will be indexed in line with ABS earnings data.
Under transitional arrangements, employers currently paying less than the market salary rate to existing subclass 457 visa holders employed in Australia will have until 1 January 2010 to commence paying market rates.
‘The implementation of market salary rates is part of a package of reforms to improve the integrity of the subclass 457 visa program,’ Senator Evans said.
‘The implementation of market salary rates is part of a package of reforms to improve the integrity of the subclass 457 visa program,’ Senator Evans said.
‘These reforms will ensure local training and employment opportunities are not undermined and prevent the exploitation of foreign workers while enabling industry to access skilled overseas workers where there are skills shortages.’
Reforms to the subclass 457 visa program announced in April include:
- increasing the English language requirements for subclass 457 visas in trade occupations and for chefs
- introducing formal skills assessments for all trade occupations from countries that are not considered low-risk countries
- a requirement that employers of subclass 457 visa holders attest to a strong record of, and commitment to, employing local labour and non-discriminatory employment practices
- developing formal training benchmarks for sponsors
requiring labour agreements for employers of 457 visa holders in ASCO 5 – 7 occupations.
From 14 September 2009, new worker protection laws will strengthen the integrity of the temporary skilled working visa program, assist in improving workplace safety and ensure overseas workers are not exploited.
The new laws will enable specially trained officers with investigative powers to monitor workplaces and conduct site visits to determine whether employers are complying with the redefined sponsorship obligations.
Employers found in breach of the obligations in the migration regulations could be fined up to $33 000 and the department will retain the ability to cancel an employer’s approval as a sponsor or bar them from making further applications for overseas workers.
The new laws will also enable the Commissioner of Taxation to disclose tax information to the Department of Immigration and Citizenship in order to ensure correct salary levels are being paid to visa holders.
Who Are Australians?
Australia is made up of 150 different nationalities…. 4 million (20%) of us were born overseas,
Top 10 birthplaces:
UK and Ireland
New Zealand
Italy
former Yugoslavia
Vietnam
Greece
Germany
China
Hong Kong
Netherlands.
IBISWorld expects are predicting Australia will become increasingly Eurasian as the 21st century progresses.
Budget 2009-10 Migration Program.
Source: Press Release: http://www.minister.immi.gov.au/media/media-releases/2009/ce02-budget-09.htm
The Australian Government has further cut the permanent skilled migrant intake to 108 100 places for the 2009–10 Migration Program, in response to the continued economic slowdown, the Minister for Immigration and Citizenship, Senator Chris Evans, said today.
In March, the Government cut the 2008–09 permanent skilled migration intake by 14 per cent from 133 500 to 115 000. This reduction to 108 100 places represents an overall drop of almost 20 per cent on previous planning levels.
‘The Government remains committed to a strong migration program but unemployment in Australia is expected to increase as the economy slows,’ Senator Evans said.
‘The migration intake in the coming year reflects the economic climate while ensuring employers can gain access to skilled professionals in industries still experiencing skills shortages.
‘The reduction is being achieved through a cutback in places for the general skilled category rather than in the high-demand employer-sponsored category or in areas in which Australia has critical skills shortages.’
In addition to the cutback in places, the Government will be increasing the English language level required for trades-related occupations and introduce a targeted skills-testing regime to ensure that migrants have both the language and skills needed to participate in the labour market.
The Government’s reform measures are aimed at ensuring an appropriate balance between providing skills needed in the economy now (demand-driven employer-sponsored), in the future (independent skilled pathway) and in the regions (government-sponsored pathway).
‘The Government has begun the task of constructing a long-term planning framework for migration as a key component of the current reform agenda,’ Senator Evans said.
The Government will provide more opportunities for family reunions with an increase of 3800 places in the family component of the Migration Program, to 60 300. The increase includes an additional 2500 places for partners, 1000 places for contributory parents and 300 for child visas.
‘We are recognising the importance of family through this boost which will benefit Australians who seek to have their parents, partners or children join them to live here permanently,’ the minister said.
Overall, the Migration Program will total 168 700 for 2009–10, which comprises the 60 300 family places, 108 100 skilled places and a further 300 places for special eligibility.
Overseas Worker Numbers Falling.
Source: Press Release www.minister.immi.gov.au/media/media-releases/2009/ce09043.htm
The number of overseas workers coming to Australia on temporary 457 visas has continued to fall in response to the slowing economy and changes implemented by the Rudd Government to protect local jobs.
The Minister for Immigration and Citizenship, Senator Chris Evans, said that the number of applications for subclass 457 visas lodged in April 2009 was the lowest rate in four years.
The number of temporary skilled migration visas granted in April 2009 was almost 23 per cent lower than in March and 64 per cent lower than in September last year, when the global financial crisis hit.
‘The subclass 457 visa program is showing that it is responding to the economic conditions and reduced demand in the labour market,’ Senator Evans said.
‘While the number of workers coming to Australia under the scheme has slowed considerably, there will continue to be demand for skills in some sectors, such as healthcare, so there will still be a need for employers to access skilled overseas workers.’
Senator Evans said changes announced to the subclass 457 visa program last month will ensure that temporary skilled overseas workers are not employed ahead of local workers or used to undermine Australian wages and conditions.
The seven key reform measures are:
- introducing market salary rates to replace minimum salary level from September 2009 to ensure that overseas workers are paid at least the same as Australian workers.
- increasing the minimum salary level for visa holders by 4.1 per cent from July 1 to ensure that the overseas workers do not fall below Australian conditions.
- increasing the English language skills to for all trades and chefs and lower skilled occupations from 14 April 2009.
- introducing formal trade assessments from July 1 for all trades and chefs from countries that are not low risk countries (ie: countries that do not have access to Electronic Travel Authorities)
- a requirement that employers attest to a strong record of employing local labour and non discriminatory employment practices
developing formal training benchmarks for sponsors
requiring ASCO 5-7 (lower skilled) occupations to have labour agreements.
The Rudd Government’s worker protection laws come into effect in September 2009 which strengthens the integrity of the temporary skilled working visa program by ensuring overseas workers are not exploited or used to undermine local wages and conditions.
A Rumour: A Difference in Migrant & Local Salaries
From what I’ve heard on bush telegraph, skilled temporary migrant workers in Australia are earning on average $15,000 more than Australian counterparts.
That is to say that holders of 457 visas, a 4 year temporary skilled migrant visa, migrants are earning more than the average salaries of local workers across all industries in which they are employed.
There is a local debate on this….foreign workers were blamed for driving down local wages yet at the same time unions and the Rudd Government insist that still many visa holders are exploited by unscrupulous employers.
The 457 visa was introduced by The Howard government in hope of alleviating the growing skills crisis – However, the skills crisis has worsened and the Rudd Government cites it as a key contributor to upward pressure on inflation and interest rates and promising a massive program of skills training as part of its “education revolution”.
Settling in Australia
Looking at the Australian immigration statistics for the past 10 years, it appears that the Net Permanent Migration is slightly below 50% of the total Settler Arrival Numbers.
It seems that people who immigrate in Australia do not always intend to stay permanently. To me there is also a category of people who intended to stay but changed their mind after a while.
Immigrating permanently to any country is no easy achievement and requires total commitment.
Australia being such a remote country, with so much space, can lead to feelings of isolation from the rest of the world… be sure you integrate this factor into your immigration plans.
On the other hand, immigration has contributed 1 million people every 10 years to the Australian population over the past 60 years.
For more interesting staistics on immigration to Australia, have a look at this web-site:
How Qualified Am I?
One of the surprises for many immigrants is that some jobs do require you study for further qualifications before you can practice in your field of work.
Even though the skilled migration board has said you have all the qualifications you need there may be a need to do more.
Two examples we’ve heard of are:
1. A Physio (from the UK) who needed to extend his formal qualifications, even though he had a degree and experience. The job of a physio here has a slightly different focus. It is very difficult to have an international match in terms of job focus and study areas.
2. A Swiss midwife nedeed to take a further language course locally even having passed the IELTS test.
It is worth being prepared for the extra cost and requirements.
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