Skilled Migration Seminar in Brisbane
Hi everyone
I just attended the skilled migration seminar in Brisbane.
Most of the content was taken from DIAC's information papers about the 8 February change, so you would be familiar with it already. I don't have much to add to George Lombard's excellent precis, but here are a few comments that might be of interest.
- The objectives of Australia's migration program include:
- moving from a one year to a three year strategic focus
- assisting States and Territories process sponsored applications faster
- (As we all know) attracting skilled migrants to work in occupations where there is workforce need
- Establishing a demand driven system
- The government has set up an independent advisory body, Skills Australia (Susan's comment - how can it be independent if the Govt pays its members to undertake their duties?)
- The CSL will be revoked when the new SOL comes into effect
- The new SOL will be announced in mid-April, but it is not known yet exactly when it will become effective; it depends on legislative processes. The earliest it could become effective is 18 June and it could be as late as mid-July
- The CSL was developed as a temporary strategy to manage GSM while the MODL was under review (Susan's comment: This seems to be an interesting new spin of DIAC's. When it introduced the CSL there was no mention of it being a temporary measure. DIAC said:
The CSL will be more responsive than the Migration Occupations in Demand List (MODL) in identifying and prioritising applications for skills in critical shortage.
The Critical Skills List will be reviewed regularly, in consultation with the States
and Territories, industry and unions to ensure that it remains valid and current in the changing circumstances..)
Amendments to the migration legislatiion to be brought in this year will enable the Minister to cap application numbers via characteristics such as age, English ability etc,
- The cap for pre-September GSM applications is to be set shortly. Once it is reached, all GSM applications in that group will be cased.
- ENS applications won't be assessed under the Job Ready Program; they'll be assessed under TRA's Skilled Worker Program
- No State Migration Plans are in place yet, negotiations are still underway between State and Federal Governments (Susan's comments: Interesting in terms of DIAC's statement on 8 February that "Individual state and territory migration plans will be developed so they can prioritise skilled migrants of their own choosing").
- Western Australia could be one of the first plans to be finalised. The lack of specific regional workforce data available is making it challenging to meet DIAC's evidentiary requirements for some plans.
- It is unlikely that all the changes (e.g. new SOL, capping and ceasing, State Migration Plans etc.) will be made at the same time; it could take two to three months for them all to be implemented
The presentation ended with the following quote from the Minister's presentation on 8 February at the Australian National University:
I have asked my Department to explore the feasibility of introducing a new system where applicants initially put forward their claim for skilled migration, and are then selected as candidates by employers, by State and Territory governments, or by the Commonwealth.
That way we marry demand with supply, the best outcome for all concerned. That is what I mean by immigration being the job matching agency for the nation, connecting employers to the global labour market where skills cannot be sourced locally.
Best regards
Susan
Tags: CSL, Capping, Ceasing, Migration, Plans, Points, Review, Skilled, State, Test, More…
Views: 5
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Violet on -
Dear Susan,
thanks for the info.
How does it effect applicants' skills that being removed from the state? Where will I be after all these changes?
Thanks.
Violet
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Permalink Reply by Susan Wareham McGrath on -
Hi Violet
The DIAC director that presented the seminar wasn't able to answer that question when it was raised by someone in the audience. It would seem logical that the states would transfer all their current sponsored applications onto their new State Migration Plan, but I have to say that's just speculation on my part.
I'm sorry I can't give you a definitive answer - nobody really knows yet.
Best regards
Susan
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Permalink Reply by Violet on
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Hi Susan,
Thanks for your reply. I hope that's what they are going to do too.
Cheers,
Violet
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Permalink Reply by Susan Wareham McGrath on
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I really wish I could give you some more useful advice Violet, I know how worried you are.
Please be assured that absolutely as soon as Lisa or I hear something that we know is more than just speculation we'll post it.
Take care
S
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Permalink Reply by Zaman on
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Hi Susan,
I am from Bangladesh. I am in cat5, SC-475, lodgment-27 June 2009, CO assign- 1 Sept 2009, status shows everything 'received'. Our country is going to introduce MR (Machine Readable) Passport from the next month. It is mentioned that all existing paper based passport will be revoked. Therefore we have to apply further for new passport. My question is we already have sent our passport copy to DIAC. Now what should I have to do. Please help.
Best regards
Zaman
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Permalink Reply by Susan Wareham McGrath on
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Hi Zaman
Your CO will let you know if they require any further documentation; you don't need to send anything in until you hear from them.
Best wishes
Susan
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Permalink Reply by Jaspreet Singh Bajwa on -
THANKS Susan, for presenting this overview of Brisbane Seminar. Do U have any idea when will they start processing CAP and Ceasing of Pre - September applicants.Because all the Pre - September applicants are in total limbo until we heard about this news. It should be done as soon as possible as things get clear to everyone.
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Permalink Reply by Susan Wareham McGrath on
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Hi Jaspreet
At the seminar, the presenter said the cap would be set shortly. Then visas would be ceased once it was reached.
He wasn't able to give a specific date.
Another example, like Violet's case above, of DIAC not thinking through the process before making its announcement; and causing even more stress to the people who are affected.
Lisa and I will post as soon as we hear anything definite from a reliable source.
Best regards
Susan
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Permalink Reply by Tony John on -
Great effort taken and all well said Susan. Really appreciate it.
I am yet another Cat 5 state sponsored 475 applicant from Dubai waiting fingers crossed for my visa. I was assigned a case officer named Kaneez Dean and as requested by them, submitted all relevant docs, medicals and PCC in September. However, In Jan 2010 the OZ consulate in Dubai had called up my workplace and enquired about my job and other status. This was informed to me by my HR. But, its 2 months after that now, do you think there is a any hope? Please advise.
Cheers now,
Tony
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Permalink Reply by Susan Wareham McGrath on
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Hi Tony
As always, I have to say that I can only give general opinions on this forum because I don't know the details of your case. But having said that, it does sound to me as though your application is close to finalisation.
Best wishes
Susan
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Permalink Reply by Tony John on
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Thanks for your time Susan and of course the inspiring message. Please find below the timelines of my case as of today;
HR Country
Application Submitted: September 2008 (Through MARA agent)
Skilled assessment Submitted: October 2008
VETASSESS approved: December 2008 (Title: Office Manager)
IELTS: May 9, 2009 (Band 8)
State sponsorship applied: June 4, 2009
State sponsorship received: June 26, 2009
SIR 475 visa applied online: June 28, 2009
Acknowledgment received: July 2, 2009
Documents submitted: July 6, 2009 (Except Medical and PCC)
CO Assigned: August 13, 2009
CO asked for Meds: August 13, 2009
Meds Submitted: August 20, 2009
Meds Recieved in Sydney: August 24, 2009
Meds Uploaded: August 31, 2009 (Status showing "Further medical results referred")
PCC Submitted: September 6, 2009
January 2010: Job verification made by OZ Consulate in Dubai: Called up my Manager and asked him about my job and position and how many years I've been working in Dubai.
After that...no updates !
Australia is a beautiful land. I had been there in 2008 for World Youth Day and I found the place very peaceful and environment friendly. People were very generous and I never faced any racist issues anywhere in Sydney, Brisbane, Canberra, Melbourne or Adelaide. There is no traffic problems like in Dubai. I loved the place very much and the climate is also very nice and comfortable which prompted me to migrate.
The following is the message recieved from the adelaide gsm office on my recent enqiury;
re -TONY JOHN,
Thank you for your email in relation to your visa application under
Australia's General Skilled Migration program.
At present your application is undergoing routine processing.
Unfortunately, ensuring all the legal requirements are met in relation
to an application can take some time.
The case officer is following up on the status of your application on a
regular basis to ensure it is being processed as soon as practicable.
You will be contacted if we require additional information to process
your application.
We appreciate your patience in this matter.
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