jobs

Where Do Australia’s Migrants Come From

11 December, 2019

Australia’s Biggest Source Of Migrants For 2017-18

For the second year in a row, India has been revealed as Australia’s biggest source of migrants to Australia.

Over 20.5 per cent of the total permanent migration program outcome for 2017-18 came from India. 33,310 places of 162,417 places were granted to Indian citizens.

China accounted for 15.5 per cent of migrants and the United Kingdom accounted for 8.4% of migrants in 2017-18.

The largest source countries of migrants for 2017–18 were:

India with an outcome of 33,310 places (20.5 per cent of outcome), down from 38,854 places in 2016–17;
China with 25,145 places (15.5 per cent), down from 28,293 places; and
The United Kingdom with 13,654 places (8.4 per cent), down from 17,038 places

The Skill Stream accounted for 68.4 per cent of the total 2017–18 migration program outcome. The Family stream (excluding Child) accounted for 29.4 per cent of the total 2017–18 migration program outcome with Child stream accounting for 2.1% of the outcome.

The total permanent migration program outcome for 2017–18 was 162,417 places:

Skill stream – 111,099 places;
Family stream – 47,732 places;
Special Eligibility stream – 236 places; and
Child visas – 3350 places.

Migrants choose to settle in NSW and Victoria

New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland and Western Australian were the top four states migrants chose to settle in 2017-18 with 52,251 choosing to settle in NSW and 41,005 choosing to settle in Victoria.

New South Wales 52,251
Victoria 41,005
Queensland 17,870
Western Australia 13,480
South Australia 12,017
Australian Capital Territory 3277
Tasmania 2775
Northern Territory 2483

*There were 17,259 places where there was no state or territory intended residence indicated.

See the below video about who we are as a nation.

Waves of Australian Migration - Behind the News

Wondering About Moving To And Becoming An Australian Citizen? – Here’s the Drum

10 December, 2019

Did You Know? - Australia Is The Most Successful Multi Cultural Society In The World

Wondering how you would be accepted as a new arrival in Australia? – Read on

Australia is the most successful multicultural society in the world. We are as old as our First Australians, the oldest continuing human culture on earth, who have cared for this country for more than 50,000 years.

Australia is an immigration nation. Almost half of our current population was either born overseas or has at least one parent born overseas. And we come from every culture, every race, every faith, every nation. We are defined not by race, religion or culture, but by shared values of freedom, democracy, the rule of law and equality of opportunity – a “fair go”.

See our multi cultural statement here

Becoming An Australian Citizen

Becoming a citizen of Australia is the final legal step in your migration story. It is a process in which a non-Australian citizen voluntarily becomes an Australian citizen. Australian citizens pledge their loyalty to Australia and its people and are then entitled to its protection and to exercise their rights and responsibilities as citizens.

Overview

Being an Australian citizen is a privilege not a right. While you are granted entitlements as a citizen of Australia there are important responsibilities you must accept too.

Responsibilities and privileges

As an Australian citizen, you have new responsibilities to:

behave in accordance with Australia’s democratic beliefs
respects the rights and liberties of Australia
follow and obey the law
vote in federal and state or territory elections, and in referenda
defend Australia if necessary
serve on jury duty if summoned
Citizenship entitlements
As an Australian citizen, you are eligible for certain entitlements. You can:
apply for an Australian passport
leave and re-enter Australia as many times as you want
ask for help from an Australian consulate if in trouble overseas
vote in federal, state or territory elections
vote in a Constitutional referendum or plebiscite
seek election to parliament, if you are aged 18 years or over and are not dual citizen
register the birth of your children in another country as an Australian citizen

Australia Today

Multicultural Mosaic

Australian Citizenship - Our Common Bond Clip 1 – Introduction

Great News For Internationally Qualified Nurses To Emigrate To Australia In 2019 -20

9 December, 2019

Nursing Has The Maximum Number Of Places In This Year’s Occupation Ceiling For Visas - A Whopping 17,000+ Places

In Australia nurses provide nursing care to patients in hospitals, aged care and other health care facilities, as well as in the community. Depending upon the roles set in the healthcare sector, the occupation is often divided into two roles – enrolled and registered nurses. Historically nursing serves as an excellent platform for various high-paid job opportunities and permanent residency visa pathways in Australia.

In 2019–20 nursing serves as the best occupation when it comes to career and permanent residency choices for people wishing to emigrate to Australia. Australia’s migration program offers over 17,000 places for nurses, which is also the highest number for any occupation in the Occupation Ceiling. All other occupations are offered less than 9,000 places.

Australia offers both temporary and permanent visa options for skilled nurses who have local or overseas qualifications, language skills and relevant work experience and nurses need to be registered to work in Australia and for migration purposes. Furthermore a new assessment model is now applicable to overseas nurses and midwives seeking registration in Australia, which has simplified the process. See our previous blog here.

Nurses and midwives are in huge demand all over Australia, including regional and remote areas and this demand is projected to not only be sustained, but also increase due to the growing needs and ageing population of Australians.

Take note this opportunity only covers 2019–20, so there is no guarantee it is going to be repeated past this time frame.

If you are interested in a “New Life Adventure” in Australia, we recommend you work closely with us with some gusto, to take advantage of this fantastic opportunity while it lasts. At the moment it is a “Perfect Storm” in Australia, for people with nursing qualifications who are serious about their future.

Read our previous blog here regarding our service offering in the healthcare sector.

For mental health practitioners you will be interested in the opportunities in Australia for you. See our previous blog here regarding the state of mental health in Victoria and the opportunities this is creating.

See the below videos for useful information on Australia for you.

Migrate To Australia | Top 5 Reasons ! 2018

Come Live Our Philausophy

The 10 Best Places To Live In Australia | Study, Job Opportunities

Royal Commission Into Mental Health In Victoria Australia Hands Down Interim Report

8 December, 2019

Victorian Royal Commission Hands Down Its Interim Report

Victoria is the second largest state in Australia by population (approx 6.4 million) and is located in the South East of the Australian mainland. Earlier this year the Victorian Government established a Royal Commission into Mental Health – the first of its kind in Australia.

In Australia a royal commission is a major ad-hoc formal public enquiry into a defined issue. A royal commission is similar in function to a commission of inquiry. It has considerable powers, generally greater even than those of a judge but restricted to the terms of reference of the commission. The commission is created by the head of state on the advice of the government.

Royal commissions are called to look into matters of great importance and usually controversy. These can be matters such as government structure, the treatment of minorities, events of considerable public concern or economic questions.

The Victorian Government asked for the Royal Commission to investigate ways to prevent mental illness and intervene earlier, to provide better access to high-quality and safe mental health services for people who need them, and to connect mental health services with other health and social services. They also recognised the importance of the Royal Commission hearing the stories of people with a lived experience of mental illness, their family members and carers.

Victorians who shared their views in the consultations see the Royal Commission as a once-in-a-generation opportunity to create a positive vision for the future of mental health services. It has been tasked with providing a comprehensive set of recommendations on how to best support Victorians with mental illness, including Victorians at risk of suicide.

The Royal Commission will provide recommendations to the Victorian Government by October 2020 and the Government has already committed to implementing every recommendation from the Royal Commission.

On the 28^th of November 2019, the Royal Commission handed down its interim report highlighting the need for fundamental reforms to better support people affected by mental health issues. The Commissioners’ view is that the current crisis-driven mental health system is a result of continual poor investment decisions driven, ultimately, by stigma and discrimination. This has led to enormous inequality and in turn, has led to barriers to access with treatment often dependent upon socioeconomic status and geography.

The report further outlines the changes that need to happen in Victoria’s mental health system, to better meet community needs and expectations. An overarching theme is the acknowledgement that stigma and discrimination underpin the deficiencies in design and resourcing of the system, and acts as a barrier for people to receive appropriate care.

The Interim Report has highlighted that chronic under-investment has resulted in a system that is crisis-driven with demand far exceeding capacity. The report also speaks to structural inequity including access barriers according to socioeconomic status and geography, as well frequent inappropriate entry to the system through emergency departments and police. The Commissioners also acknowledged that while not all suicides occur amongst people with a mental illness, suicide represents the ultimate failure of the mental health system.

The Interim Report has highlighted the scale of the problem and urgency for wide-ranging reform across the system identifying a number of priorities for immediate action. The early recommendations are to:

create a Victorian Collaborative Centre for Mental Health and Wellbeing to bring together expertise in lived experience, research and clinical and non-clinical care.
expand the role of lived experience in service delivery through establishment of Victoria’s first residential mental health service designed and delivered by people with people affected by mental illness, as well as increasing consumer and family-carer workforces.
the government design and implement a new revenue mechanism (a levy or a tax) for providing mental health operational funding.

As a result Daniel Andrews the premier of the state of Victoria announced his government will introduce a special tax as early as next year to help fund mental health services and fix the state’s “broken” system. Initial estimates indicate they will seek to raise an additional A$1 billion. See a Media Report here

A large component of the funding will go toward workforce development to address the workforce challenges that are even more pronounced in regional and rural Victoria. The recommendation includes additional graduate placements, scholarships, supporting international recruitment and adding Certificate IV in Mental Health to the free TAFE list.

The education initiatives will have a 2 to 4 year time lag to take effect, so the only immediate remedy to the workforce problem is international recruitment. It is estimated Victoria will require hundreds of mental health staff to address the problem. This presents great opportunities for mental health professionals across all disciplines.

We are looking for forward thinking mental health career professionals to work with, to take advantage of the opportunities this Royal Commission presents. If you are interested in career opportunities and a new life adventure then Contact Us as soon as possible for a confidential discussion to position yourself early.

If you know any healthcare professionals, including medical practitioners as well as nurses, across all disciplines, currently working in mental health we would like to hear from them. Go to our Referrals Page fill in the form and be rewarded.

For further information see the below videos.

Interim Report Video

New Mental Health Tax

Vic Government To Introduce New Levy To Fix Broken Mental Healthcare System

Blog Series – Working In The United Arab Emirates (UAE) – Part 1

7 December, 2019

Part 1 – Introduction & Everything You Need To Know About Getting A Work Permit In The UAE

Expats from all over the world have been, and are attracted to seeking career opportunities in the UAE. In fact our managing partners have done so.

As a result of fielding many enquiries about living and working there, how to secure a position etc we thought we would produce a series of blog posts to answer the many questions.

We will publish a weekly blog post every Saturday to provide you with some lazy weekend reading for a period of time, chunking down everything you need to know about working in the UAE.

So here we go, let’s start with:

A snapshot of the UAE, and
The work permit.

The United Arab Emirates, is a country in Western Asia at the southeast end of the Arabian Peninsula sitting on the Persian Gulf. The monarchy is a federation of seven (7) emirates comprising the capital Abu Dhabi, Ajman, Dubai, Fujairah, Ras Al Khaimah, Sharjah and Umm Al Quwain. Each emirate is governed by a ruler. In 2013 the population was 9.2 million, of which 1.4 million were Emirati citizens and 7.8million expats. That’s a whopping expat population of 83%, so there’s a well worn track leading there regardless of where you come from.

If you are an expatriate and want to work in the UAE, then you cannot do so without a visa

It starts with securing a position, which can be achieved via a range of classified sites, or by engaging with a recruitment consultancy such as “The Aristos Group”. Generally securing a position occurs in one of three ways:

Securing a position from overseas;
Already there on a visit/tourist visa and find a job; or
Already have a job there but are moving to another company.

Regardless of how you secure the position here is the process:

Obtaining a ‘work permit’ from the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MoHRE).
The employer who is the sponsoring company has to bring you in on this permit first, following which they will convert it into a residency visa.
The work permit allows the holder to enter the UAE for employment, and it is valid for two months from the date of issue.
After the employee enters the UAE on the basis of the work permit, the sponsoring company arranges to complete the formalities of medical testing, obtaining UAE Resident Identity (Emirates ID) Card, Labour Card and stamping the UAE Residency Visa on your passport within 60 days.
The UAE Residency Visa on the employee’s passport denotes the passport holder is sponsored by the company he/she is employed by.
All costs for the Work Permit, medical testing, Emirates ID and UAE Residency Visa are borne by the employer.
After the employee receives a visa, he/she can sponsor his/her family members and bring them into the country.
If you are on a tourist/visit visa, then you can obtain a work permit by exiting the UAE, be it to a neighbouring or your home country. There are airlines offering this ‘visa run’ facility on the Dubai-Oman-Dubai leg, such as Air Arabia and Fly Dubai.
The other option for the company is that the status can be changed inside the country through a ‘Changed Status’ process by the General Directorate of Residency and Foreign Affairs (GDFRA) of the emirate that the company is located in, which works in tandem with the federal authority MoHRE.

Important note

Signing employment contract from abroad:

If you are hired from overseas, the MoHRE and Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation have set up centres outside the UAE. At the centres, you are able to discover your rights, duties and terms and conditions of employment and all privileges, in the language you understand.
This mechanism ensures a transparent contractual relationship between employers and employees and prevents any fraudulent attempt to replace job offers upon the arrival of the employee in the UAE.

What are the documents a company will need from you to apply for a work permit?

A colour photograph with a white background.
A copy of your passport, which has to be valid for a minimum of six months.
If evidence of academic qualifications is required (post-secondary diploma, university degree or equivalent), a copy authenticated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the home country is necessary.
A letter of approval from the relevant authority is necessary in case of a physician, pharmacist, nurse, and teacher (your employer will guide you on it).
You cannot be below the age of 18 years.
Your qualifications have to be commensurate with the company’s activity.

If everything is in order and your employer has followed the due process, you should get a work permit issued within two weeks.

Age Limits – You cannot get a work permit if you are below 18 years however there is no maximum age limit.

The UAE’s Labour Law No. 8 of 1980, as amended does not specify a particular age to terminate employment contracts on the basis of age or seniority.
As per Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MoHRE), the fees for issuing an initial approval for a work permit for those who are 65 and above is AED 5,000 every two years.

So there you have it – The first step in the journey. See you next week.

Between now and then we suggest you have a look at the video below, have a look online at different sites for suitable positions, conduct due diligence on cost of living, local laws etc, check out our “JOBS” and “ABOUT” page and also have a read of a previous BLOG Post on our service offering and contact us for a confidential discussion if you wish.

Have a great weekend.

Opportunity Of A Lifetime – Australia’s New Regional Visa Program Has Been Launched

6 December, 2019

Migrants Are Being Encouraged To Settle In Regional Areas Under An Australian Government Initiative

Migrants are being encouraged to settle in regional areas under an Australian Government initiative to bust congestion in the major cities and support regional economies. Two new skilled visas have been rolled out, which provide skilled migrants with the opportunity to live and work regionally for three years and then gain access to permanent residency instead of having to wait the normal four years. Great news if you are looking for a new life with great career opportunities, a buoyant economy, safe environment, stunning landscapes and a relaxed lifestyle.

Immigration Minister David Coleman said the new visas would help ease population pressures on Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane and give regional communities access to skilled workers. “We are promoting growth in those regional areas that need more people, by requiring migrants to live and work in a regional area for at least three years. We are encouraging them to put down roots in those communities, meaning they are more likely to stay long term.”

The two new regional visas will also be introduced including:

A skilled employer-sponsored regional visa for people sponsored by an employer in regional Australia and
A skilled work regional visa, for people who are nominated by a state or territory government or sponsored by an eligible family member to live and work in regional Australia.

The Federal government has allocated 25,000 places for the regional visas.

When the word regional is mentioned it tends to conjure an image in one’s mind of a remote location out the back of nowhere. Not so under this initiative. Both the Gold Coast (pictured above) and Perth Western Australia are included as regional areas. In fact everywhere in Australia outside Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane are designated as regional for the purposes regional migration visas. We have included videos of both locations below to provide you with an understanding of what regional means under this initiative.

Regional visas will also receive priority processing and have access to a wider range of jobs than those applying to migrate to major cities. The Federal government has deployed a team of Regional Outreach Officers to support regional employers and says there was a 124 per cent increase in the number of regional visas granted in the first quarter of this year.

This is potentially a once in a lifetime opportunity for forward thinking individuals who are looking for a new life adventure for themselves and those near and dear to them.

We suggest you aggressively pursue this opportunity as once it has fulfilled its purpose it is likely to be taken off the table.

We are working with a portfolio of clients who have numerous opportunities across a range of skill sets and qualifications nationally, which includes many regional areas. Contact us for a free consultation, we are here to help.

A full list of eligible occupations can be found at the Department of Home Affairs website.

Gold Coast - Queensland

Perth - Western Australia

The Brexit Conundrum – Should I Stay Or Should I Go??

5 December, 2019

Whether You’re In the UK Or Elsewhere, The Same Question Applies!!

See if you can work this out, we’ve tried and we can’t.

So far in the UK election campaign, migration has largely bubbled under the surface of public debate, given the overriding focus on the parties’ spending plans and the ongoing clashes over Brexit. But a study of the party’s manifestos suggests that, despite this lack of focus, the election is almost certain to be a turning point for migration policy. The main parties are pledging a new direction on migration, signalling a difference in approach from Theresa May’s punitive and restrictive agenda. Yet while the direction is broadly positive, the detail is sorely lacking.

The Conservatives say they will make it easier for doctors and nurses from around the world to work in the UK after Brexit, if they win the election. The party would introduce an “NHS visa” as part of a promised “points-based immigration system”. But Labour said the policy was “full of holes,” with nothing to say about low-paid nurses and other hospital staff. And the Royal College of Nursing said “more ambitious” plans were needed to address NHS staffing shortages.

The Conservatives say they also plan to end free movement of workers from EU countries when the UK leaves the EU – something they have promised will happen on 31 January 2020 if they are returned to power on 12 December 2019. The party would introduce a “points-based system” for migrant workers from EU and non-EU countries. It has yet to spell out in detail how this will work – but it has announced that extra points will be awarded for coming to work in the NHS.

Furthermore this time round, there is a new liberal tone to the agenda, the much-derided net migration target has been jettisoned and there are a range of proposals intended to liberalise the system, from a fast-track visa for NHS professionals to a post-study work route for international students and a start-up visa for entrepreneurs.

The manifesto promises a new ‘Australian-style’ points-based system. This is a popular idea with voters, but it’s hard to shake the feeling that this is more a slogan than a policy – one intended to symbolise a hard-line approach to immigration while simultaneously offering reassuring signals to business. How this plays out in practice is less clear.

On the one hand, a points-based system could signal a shift towards introducing faster pathways to settlement, greater powers for nations and regions to determine their own skills needs, and new visa routes that prioritise the personal characteristics of applicants over stringent salary requirements – all hallmarks of the Australian model. On the other hand, it could signal a more selective approach, heaping on additional requirements for migrants to make it harder to enter the UK for work.

The Liberal Democrats propose to replace visas for skilled workers with a ‘more flexible merit-based system’. But this leaves open a whole host of questions relating to how such a policy should work in practice – and how indeed it differs from the Conservatives’ proposal for an ‘Australian-style’ points-based system.

There is a welcome recognition that arbitrary numerical targets have failed. There is a renewed focus on developing an immigration system that supports the UK’s economic ambitions. One thing for sure is there will be plenty of blanks to fill in for future immigration policy, no matter who wins on the 12th of December.

Don’t discard the concern of British expats either. There has been a surge in expat voter registrations which is now around the 40,000 mark, which could see a record number of expats voting in what is being termed the Brexit election. The outcome of the election could have a significant impact on their lives. See the below video.

So whether you are in the UK wondering whether you should stay or go, or outside the UK wondering whether you should stay where you are, or go to the UK, all we can say is you be the judge and if you can work it out with some clarity, then please let us know. We think the best advice at the moment is to wait and see. See the below links to add a bit more confusion.

https://lnkd.in/gM5EVGG

https://lnkd.in/gqKCpTD

https://lnkd.in/gS_tfqE

Migration Visa Guide For Australian Businesses

4 December, 2019

Employers Now Have More Visa Options To Choose From For Sponsorship

Employers now have more visa options to choose from when considering the sponsorship of overseas workers and may find they require more than one subclass to achieve recruitment outcomes. Options available include:

subclass 400 – useful for short term, highly specialised work of no more than six months. This visa is often used by businesses with international offices which require an overseas employee to undertake a short term project in Australia.

subclass 408 (Exchange Arrangement Stream) – useful for businesses with overseas offices wanting to provide reciprocal staff exchange opportunities. This visa can be granted for up to two years.

subclass 482 (Temporary Skill Shortage) – the most common employer sponsored visa allowing businesses to sponsor skilled workers for up to four years. A pathway to permanent residence only exists for occupations on the medium term occupation list.

subclass 494 – commenced from 16 November 2019, this visa is specifically for businesses operating in regional Australia, which now includes Perth and the Gold Coast. This visa offers a much larger occupation list, a pathway to permanent residence and a five year visa

Designated Area Migration Agreements (DAMA) – operate in regions of Australia which have entered into a formal agreement with the Australian government providing flexibility for those regions to respond to economic and labour market conditions. DAMA’s use of the subclass 482 visa however can provide concessions to the market salary, English language, skills, and occupations which may not be available under other programs. Each of the six approved DAMA regions have their own specific occupation lists which can include semi-skilled positions.

labour agreements – can be negotiated by an industry or an individual business to provide concessions for occupations, market salary, English language etc. There are already a number of industry templates available to the meat, pork and dairy industry as well as for fishing and fine dining restaurants. These agreements use the subclass 482 and 494 visas.

Global Talent Employer Sponsored – for highly-skilled niche positions that cannot be filled through other standard visa programs. This program is useful for businesses operating in the science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) fields where they want to employ workers who can help innovate in an established business, or for start-ups in a STEM field.

With so many options to choose from, how do you know which one is right for your business?
That will depend on the position, its location, and long term objectives.

Please Note: It is important to remember that visa conditions will differ from subclass to subclass and so too will sponsorship obligations.

Please don not hesitate in contacting us if you have any enquiries or require assistance regarding the visa system.