Department of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs Special Feature
The Commonwealth Government has a range of initiatives in place to attract migrants to areas of Australia seeking higher levels of skilled migration. These initiatives are collectively referred to as State specific and regional migration initiatives. The outcome of the 2001-02 migration program indicates that increasing numbers of skilled migrants continue to go to regional areas of Australia under these initiatives.
For the 2001-02 program year the number of grants reached 4,136, the highest level since the initiatives were introduced. A total of over 17,000 visas have been issued under these initiatives since 1996-97 with most grants made to applicants going to Victoria (51 per cent) followed by South Australia (17 per cent). These initiatives provide direct economic benefits to regional Australia by addressing skill shortages and through business development and expansion.
The June 2002 edition of Local Government FOCUS outlined a series of proposed enhancements to State specific and regional migration initiatives. A number of these enhancements have subsequently been implemented in the areas of skill matching and temporary residence.
Skill Matching – helping to fill skill shortages
If you have skill shortages in your area, the Skill Matching Database could assist you. The Skill Matching Database contains the occupational and personal details of prospective migrants who have yet to make up their mind where they want to live in Australia. These details assist employers and States and Territories to find the skilled people they need. The database is available to State and Territory Governments and a number of regional development agencies. A summary version of the database is available on the Department of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs (DIMIA) Internet site at: www.immi.gov.au/skills/skills.html
Recent changes in the skill matching processes have resulted in record numbers of applicants available for skill matching. September 2002 was a big month for the Skill Matching Database, with a record number of skill matching forms received, boosting the number of applicants on the database to 2,454 as at 30 September 2002. This is compared with 1,331 twelve months ago – an increase of over 84 per cent. In September alone, 762 skill matching forms were received, which is by far the largest number of forms received in any given month to date. This has seen an increase on the database of applicants with occupations in demand such as accountants, chefs, hairdressers, nurses and some health professionals and information technology managers.
Skilled Independent applicants are now put on the database following lodgement of their application, rather than waiting until the application is assessed. If then nominated by an employer, a State or Territory Government, or under a labour agreement, the applicant will receive priority processing rather than waiting a longer period for a decision on their application.
Skill matching is also an option for applicants who may just miss out on reaching the independent pass mark. These applicants can have their details placed on the database. There is now no initial fee and functional English is the minimum requirement. These changes should ensure the continued viability of the database as a valuable tool for regional employers, and individual States and Territories, to fill specific skilled vacancies and address skill shortages in the local labour market.
Priority processing
The commitment of the Commonwealth Government to the development of regional Australia is exemplified in the recent extension of priority processing to encompass all State specific and regional migration initiatives. Priority processing results in reduced processing times.
Temporary residence concessions for regional and metropolitan Australia
From 1 November 2002, exceptions can be provided to the gazetted minimum skill and salary requirements for positions nominated under the Temporary Business (Long Stay) subclass 457 visa. Positions need to be located in regional areas and must be certified by a Regional Certifying Body. Regional Certifying Bodies are currently gazetted to certify positions lodged under the permanent migration Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme (RSMS). The changes draw upon the RSMS model, and would enable Regional Certifying Bodies to certify that the nominated position is necessary for the operation of the business, cannot be filled locally, and meets all relevant awards and employment conditions.
Temporary Residence Doctors
The potential length of temporary residence visas for doctors in ‘areas of need’ has recently been extended for up to four years. The associated policy change made to the Medical Practitioner visa allows the visa to be granted for a period that reflects the period of the job offer. This is up to a maximum of two years for doctors with restricted registration and four years for those with fellowship status with the relevant Royal College, and unrestricted registration. This will facilitate the longer stay of doctors in regional locations.
Nurses
Like most developed nations with ageing populations, Australia faces a growing shortage of nurses in almost all categories across both regional and metropolitan areas of the country. Both temporary and permanent migration can assist in alleviating these shortages. Measures that are being taken include the following.
- A ministerial direction to give priority processing to applications from nurses. This will cover both permanent and temporary entry visa classes.
- Visa requirements will be modified to allow all students and their dependents to apply onshore for long stay temporary residence if they have recognised nursing qualifications. Previously, only students who have successfully completed an Australian diploma or higher qualification could apply without the need to depart Australia.
- DIMIA will work closely with health authorities, especially public health providers, to streamline the processing of visa applications from nurses. This can be achieved through labour agreements with employers, which will make it easier to sponsor nurses. Labour agreements provide flexible and straightforward arrangements for the temporary and permanent entry of nurses.
Future directions
Australia’s 2002-03 Migration Program is the largest and most highly skilled in over a decade, providing an increased capacity for regional migration and regional economic development. With a planning level of between 100,000 to 110,000 places, the 2002-03 Migration Program is 12,000 places higher than the 2001-02 Program. The increased size of the program, in conjunction with successful implementation of regional enhancements, will ensure that migration continues to be a central contributor to economic and social development in regional Australia.
For more information about these schemes and what they can do for you and your region, contact the Department of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs’ Regional Hotline in your State, or visit www.immi.gov.au
Case study
Emma Baldwin came to Australia with a one year working visa, but was so taken by the lifestyle she decided to make Australia home.
“I worked in Perth, Sydney and Alice Springs as a speech pathologist,” Emma said. ”I loved it so much I became a permanent resident through the RSMS (Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme) working in Queensland for the Cerebral Palsy League. Before coming here I worked all over the world, but I really wanted to live somewhere that could offer me the lifestyle I was looking for.”
Coming from London, Emma said she yearned for the sun. She also loves scuba diving and when the opportunity in Australia presented itself, she took the plunge.
“I wanted to be in a warm climate near the sea and was interested in working for remote communities,” she said. “So working for the Cerebral Palsy League in Yeppoon has been the ideal move for me.”
Yeppoon is a small town of about 7,000 near Rockhampton, a regional centre of about 67,000 people.
“I like the small town feel in Yeppoon,” Emma said. “The people are friendly and not as stressed as people in the cities. I love the slower pace, being by the sea and the beautiful views. This country has so much to offer – from the desert to the tropics and everything in between. The weather here is wonderful and I love the outdoor life. An average winter’s day here is like a summer’s day in London and everything in England is focused on indoor activities. I also get the opportunity to enjoy the things I love, like diving at Great Keppel Island, which is within the Great Barrier Reef marine park.”
Emma, aged 32 years, was surprised her application went so smoothly. “It only took six months,” she said.
Emma said that staff from the business centre at the Department of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs helped her with the application process.
“They guided me through the process and made it a whole lot easier,” she said. “The RSMS is great for local businesses because they don’t need to spend large amounts of money trying to find people to fill positions in remote areas.”
RSMS is one of several programs run by the Department of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs to help employers find the right people for jobs. The scheme helps employers in regional Australia who are unable to fill a skilled position in their business from the local labour market.
Keryn Fox, a senior speech pathologist at the Cerebral Palsy League, said employing Emma has been beneficial for both parties.
“While it has provided Emma with the opportunity to work within her professional field in a new country, allowing her to broaden her experiences, the League has also benefited from having an experienced speech pathologist willing to work in a rural area where recruitment can be difficult,” Keryn Fox said. “This will definitely be an option for recruitment in the future.”
Emma believes more people should use the scheme because there are so many jobs available and not enough people in Australia to fill those positions.
“There are so many people who would love the opportunity I have had to work in rural Australia,” she said. “I am so lucky.”
Regional Hotlines
Australian Capital Territory
(02) 6274 4552
dima.businesscentre.act@immi.gov.au
New South Wales
(02) 9893 4927
parramattabusinesscentre@immi.gov.au
Northern Territory
(08) 8946 3131
dima.businesscentre.nt@immi.gov.au
Queensland
(07) 3360 5025
dima.businesscentre.qld@immi.gov.au
South Australia
(08) 8237 6683
dima.businesscentre.sa@immi.gov.au
Tasmania
(03) 6220 4227
dima.businesscentre.tas@immi.gov.au
Victoria
(03) 9235 3613
dima.businesscentre.vic@immi.gov.au
Western Australia
(08) 9415 9221
bcperth@immi.gov.au
For further information please visit www.immi.gov.au/allforms/regional/index.htm
