New General Skills Migration Rules for 2010

[Richard]

Hello everyone,

Changes are underway to General Skills Migration:

"The government will dump 20,000 applications from would-be migrants in a crackdown on low-skilled entrants. In changes aimed at making skilled migration more responsive to Australia's needs, the government will tighten the list of target occupations and focus instead on healthcare, engineering and mining.

All general skilled migration applications lodged before September 1, 2007 - when English and work experience requirements were easier - will have their applications withdrawn and application fees totalling $14 million refunded.

The government will also abolish the current list of skills in demand, which contains 106 occupations, and review the points test used to assess migrants to improve selection.

The current points system puts an overseas student with a short-term vocational qualification gained in Australia ahead of a Harvard-educated environmental scientist.

The bar was being raised for applicants without an Australian employer prepared to sponsor them. There were many occupations where the supply of qualified young Australians was adequate. But there were some jobs where there was a high demand for skills such as for hospital nurses, country doctors and resource sector employees."

http://www.smh.com.au/national/austr...0207-nkxh.html

[FamousFive]

Immigration gets harder again. I wonder if the government wants an overall reduction in numbers, or if they just want to change who's coming here?

Employers are supportive. Yesterday, Australian Industry Group chief executive Heather Ridout said: ''The changes should result in a better connect between permanent residency and addressing Australia's critical skills needs.''

In a frank speech to be delivered this morning, Immigration Minister Chris Evans will argue that the skilled migration program has not been working in Australia's economic or demographic interests.

''The program has been delivering self-nominated migrants from a narrow range of occupations with poor to moderate English language skills who struggle to find employment in their nominated occupation,'' Senator Evans will argue.

He said the current tensions and misunderstandings have been made worse by unscrupulous migration agents.

''[These agents] have been misleading many international students into believing that a course in Australia gave them an automatic entitlement to permanent residence,'' Senator Evans said. ''It does not, and it will not.

''We want skilled migrants on terms that work both for Australia and for the migrants themselves. We need a program with integrity and direction.''

http://www.theage.com.au/national/cr...0207-nksr.html

[FamousFive]

From the BBC:

Criticised the current trend for new arrivals to sign up for cookery or hairdressing courses to gain residency.

"Immigration minister, Chris Evans criticised the current trend for new arrivals to sign up for cookery or hairdressing courses to gain residency.

Mr Evans said Australia would abolish the current list of 106 skills in demand and review a points test used to assess migrants.

His comments were welcomed by the mining sector, which is struggling to meet China's demand for raw materials.

"We had tens of thousands of students studying cookery and accounting and hairdressing because that was on the list and that got them through to permanent residency," Mr Evans told Australian radio.

"We want to make sure we're getting the high-end applicants," the immigration minister said.

He said the new immigration intake would focus on health workers, including more doctors and nurses, as well as engineering and mining.

Australia's mining sector is struggling to find tens of thousands of staff to support major firms like BHP Billiton and Rio Tinto as they expand to meet China's growing demand for resources....

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asi...ic/8503438.stm

A lot of this seems to be about cutting the number of foreign students getting Australian residency because they've qualified in Australia with qualifications the government doesn't think Australia needs.

[kelly]

It's all very confusing but my understanding that those who have already applied (after 01.09.07) will be assessed under the existing rules. On the plus side, the changes later this year could be good news for some.

[Martha]

I think the government unemployment levels are masked a little, with plenty of part-time work instead of a full 40 hour week for a lot of people. They will be trying to get people employed that have less skills and a need for a proper income. I think it is a good idea as the majority of students have youth on their side.

[Housewife]

Better skills matching is a good idea both for Australia and the migrants. It's also very diffucult to get professional employment if you have poor english skills.

"Dr Birrell and University of Melbourne migration expert Lesleyanne Hawthorne said too many overseas students were emerging from the nation's universities with little or no official improvement in their English."

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/high...-1225828473695

[flighty]

Originally Posted by Richard

All general skilled migration applications lodged before September 1, 2007 - when English and work experience requirements were easier - will have their applications withdrawn and application fees totalling $14 million refunded.

These people must be feeling absolutely gutted by this news. I don't suppose they'll be able to reclaim other expenses, such as medicals and the like.

[chestnut]

Not much different from the previous priorities as far as I can see. Looks like it’s going to be more worthwhile to get state sponsorship as you get pushed up into category 2 for this.

[heather]

From what I understand applicants are no longer allowed the 15 points from an occupation on the MODL list. This makes it much harder to get the sufficient number of points to qualify, although passing the IELTS test will give you an extra 10 points.