Australian Immigration - May Edition New 2024 (2024)

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Living longer and with fewer children

Australians can expect to live into their eighties. Our increased longevity, alongside below-replacement fertility, means Australia’s population is structurally ageing. The challenges of an ageing population include greater aged care needs, amid a relative shrinking workforce.

In other words, populations like Australia need to work out how to fund more with fewer financial resources or risk declining living standards.

The chart below is a unique way to visualise population projections. It shows the size of Australia’s population for males and females, broken down by age. Over time, some ages balloon out, like the 50–80 year olds. Some ages barely move, like the 0–10 year olds.

Australia’s population growth, 1981-2071

If the population becomes too top-heavy with older people, younger generations may not be able to support them. Population projections also calculate people living 100 years and above, which is why the top of the chart flares outward again.

With Australia on track to become a nation of predominantly middle-aged people (and older) by 2065, a healthy and robust workforce is crucial to economic sustainability.

The shape of population age distribution matters more than ever, especially with evidence indicating children in Australia will be outnumbered by people aged 65 and over in the coming ten years.

Populations of younger (20 and under) and older people (65 and over)

The numbers of people 65 and over are projected to overtake those 20 and under in 2048, as growth among younger people levels off.

Increasing women’s participation in paid work has been one response to Australia’s ageing workforce.

Monthly male and female labour force participation rates, 1978-2024

Participation rates for women have increased dramatically since 1978, but are yet to catch up with the participation rates of men.

And growing intergenerational inequality threatens the future prospects of young people. Job insecurity, housing affordability, gender inequality and climate change are all placing enormous strain on younger people, contributing to their deep uncertainty about the future. Young people just aren’t getting a go.

High short-term growth, potential for population decline

Australia’s population has grown at a historically high rate since the reopening of international borders during COVID-19. Most of Australia’s population growth is from overseas migration, as has been the case since 2005 (except during COVID border closures).

While net overseas migration has increased in the short term, this is projected to decline in the coming years. However, immigration will still contribute the most to population increase.

Annual population increase projections

Showing the two major components of population growth – natural increase and net migration.

Natural population increase – the number of births versus deaths – also contributes to Australia’s rising population. However, this rate is also on the decline. By 2054, official projections anticipate deaths will outnumber births, meaning in the absence of overseas immigration the nation’s population would start declining.

Migration helps offset the adverse consequences of an ageing population. Without immigration, Australia’s population would start shrinking decades earlier than expected. The national budget would be adversely impacted and the societal contributions that migrants make would be lost.

More diverse than ever

Half the world has below-replacement fertility, and the average number of births per woman is set to decline even further. Australia is competing with the likes of Germany, Canada, the United States, New Zealand and the United Kingdom to attract suitable people to migrate.

Australia can no longer rely on migration from countries like the UK to sustain its workforce. From a prior European colonial settlement, Australia now relies heavily on people migrating from alternate parts of the world including India, China, etc.

Not all populations in Australia have the same demography. First Nations people, for example, have a much younger age profile and higher growth rate than the non-Indigenous people. They also have a lower life expectancy and higher infant mortality, reflecting the enduring discrimination First Nations people face in Australian society.

City living

Australia’s population is also highly urbanised, with a high concentration of people living along the southeastern coastline from southeast Queensland to Victoria.

Cities in Australia continue to reign supreme, growing faster than regional areas overall. Vital infrastructure – transportation, housing, education, health care and employment – are a major draw card. Despite numerous attempts throughout Australia’s history, population decentralisation is unlikely.

Annual change (%) in capital city populations, 2002-2023

While Sydney and Melbourne are nearly twice as big as the next largest capital (Brisbane), the rate of change in 2023 shows Perth as the fastest growing

Cities offer the largest opportunities for education and employment, attracting the bulk of international movers. Sydney and Melbourne draw in more than half the nation’s overseas migration intake.

By 2036, Melbourne is projected to be Australia’s largest capital city, not surprising given Sydney has a considerable surplus of people moving to live in other places in Australia. And, no, Melbourne hasn’t already overtaken Sydney – this is just some fancy accounting using unconventional definitions.

Proportion of household types

The proportion of one-person households in Australia has climbed over the past 40 years

Households are changing, too. More people are living alone, and the number of people in each household on average is declining. A close examination of Australia’s demography helps contextualise the country’s housing mismatch.

Perth experiences Australia’s biggest population growth

Perth is Australia’s fastest growing metropolis as record-high immigration pushes capital city population growth to a new all-time high.

New ‘Australian Bureau of Statistics’ data recently released showed capital cities added 517,200 people during the last financial year, for an overall 3 per cent population growth pace.

Beidar Cho, the government’s head of demography, said record population growth in Australia’s biggest cities was ‘largely driven by net overseas migration’.

In Melbourne, Adelaide and Canberra, overseas migrants made up nine-tenths of the population growth.

Meanwhile in Sydney, Hobart and Darwin, the number of foreigners moving in was higher than the overall net population growth number because of a huge exodus to other parts of Australia.

More than two-thirds or 67.5 per cent of Australia’s population lives in a capital city – or 17.991 million people in a nation of 26.6 million.

Hobart is in the extraordinary position of having a zero birth rate, as more residents also leave Adelaide, Canberra and Darwin for another part of Australia.

While Sydney and Melbourne take the biggest share of overseas migrants, Perth was Australia’s fastest growing capital city with a 3.6 per cent growth pace in 2022-23.

This made it Australia’s fourth biggest city, that is home to 2.309 million people.

Overseas migration of 59,331 made up 73 per cent of the West Australian capital’s annual population increase of 81,318 new residents, including 11,329 net births.

Perth is also Australia’s hottest real estate market, with the median house price soaring by 18.6 per cent during the past year to a still relatively affordable $718,560, CoreLogic data showed.

Melbourne, despite being the world’s most locked down city during the pandemic, had Australia’s second highest growth pace of 3.3 per cent.

This occurred as 6,678 people moved out and 27,390 babies were born.

Overseas migration accounted for 87.6 per cent of the city’s 167,484 new residents, with 146,772 foreigners moving in, boosting the population to 5.207 million people.

Sydney is still Australia’s most populated city with 5.451 million residents.

But its population growth of 2.8 per cent was below the national average, owing to an exodus of 38,425 residents, ahead of the 28,511 births.

The scoreboard of residents leaving is outweighing the number of new babies, in a city where the median house price of $1.4 million is a third higher than the capital city median of $949,410.

Sydney’s overseas migration of 156,616 was higher than the overall population growth of 146,702.

Brisbane was Australia’s third fastest growing city with a 3.1 per cent population increase, with 51,801 new foreigners making up 63.8 per cent of the 81,220 increase in new residents – taking the population to 2.707 million.

In Adelaide, with a smaller population growth rate of 2 per cent, the 26,471 overseas migrants made up 94 per cent of the 28,057 increase, taking the overall population to 1.446 million.

Immigration is also a major driver of population growth in the less populated parts of Australia where more residents are moving out than moving in.

Hobart had Australia’s weakest population growth pace of 0.5 per cent in a city of just 253,654 people, with a zero natural increase and 1,961 moving out.

But the 2,780 overseas migrants moving in was still double the net population increase of 1,165, which accounts for deaths and relocations to another part of Australia.

It was a similar story in Darwin with the 2,591 migrants double the net population increase of 1,582 in a city with 150,736 people.

In Canberra, the 8,541 new migrants made up 88.5 per cent of the 9,651 new residents in the national capital of 466,566 people.

Australia: Migration Amendment (Strengthening Employer Compliance)

The Migration Amendment (Strengthening Employer Compliance) Act 2024, which was enacted on February 22, 2024, amends the Migration Act 1958 to strengthen measures for ensuring employer compliance. This new law, which will become effective on July 01, 2024, introduces several important components:

The compliance Notices for Work-related Violations: Outlines how authorized officers can issue compliance notices to non-compliant employers, detailing necessary corrective actions and penalties for non-compliance.

Prohibited employers: Establishes a system to designate individuals or organizations as prohibited employers for failing to comply with migration laws, particularly regarding sanctions against migrant workers. Criteria for designation include past violations and the level of non-compliance, with prohibited employers facing restrictions on hiring certain non-citizens and significant penalties for breaches.

New Employer Sanctions: Imposes penalties, including jail time and fines, on employers who coerce or improperly influence lawful and unlawful non-citizens to accept employment arrangements that violate visa conditions or impact their immigration status.

Enforceable Undertakings for Work-related violations: Introduces a process for enforceable undertakings to resolve compliance disputes outside of court.

Additional Amendments: Makes various changes to improve the functionality of the Migration Act, including adjustments to delegation authority and removal of certain sections.

The legislation underscores the Australian government’s commitment to protecting non-citizens from exploitation by employers and ensuring that non-compliant employers face serious consequences. It aims to strengthen the integrity of the migration system through consistent penalties, enforceable actions, and detailed compliance notice requirements.

Australia’s Growth Card

Migration once again seems likely to keep Australia out of more serious economic trouble. That makes it all the more important to get housing right.

Once again, Australia’s special standing as a magnet for migrants may help save it from any prolonged downturn.

Many of the 40 economists surveyed this month believe that the extra workers and consumers, after half a million people arrived last year in a catch-up surge of migration, will prevent Australia from following New Zealand and parts of Europe into downturns during 2024.

Back in 2008-09, a sharp rise in the working-age population through migration kept Australia out of recession even as the rest of the world collapsed into a post-global financial crisis torpor. It ensured that Australia’s record run of economic expansion from 1991 kept going until 2020, when the pandemic changed everything.

In the short term, the extra demand from more people has been buoying up price inflation while the Reserve Bank has been pushing it down. But over time, migration eases labour and skills shortages that would prolong inflation. Jobs beget more jobs, and it is shortages of labour, skills and talent that will stifle our prospects in the long term.

That helps ensure that a bigger economy is also a better economy for most Australians. Joblessness is set to inevitably rise from its record post-lockdown lows, but the reason why Australian CEOs are generally optimistic about businesses is the resilience of job numbers.

For most mainstream Australians, the most tangible aspect of a decent economy is having a job. Yet even if Australia gets away with at worst only a technical recession of two negative quarters, as most economists suggest it will, the economy at the kitchen-table level will still feel tighter. Per capita GDP growth is down, and the bout of inflation will still leave prices and costs higher than they were.

Australia | Migration strategy reforms begin to take effect

The Australian government has begun the rollout of certain policies announced as part of the migration strategy.

Key Points:

• The strategy is aimed at tightening visa regulations for international students, specifically targeting temporary graduate and student visas in the vocational and private tertiary sector.
• For all student visa applications lodged on or after March 23, the genuine student requirement replaced the genuine temporary entrant (GTE) requirement for student visas so that applicants no longer need to satisfy the GTE requirement to provide that they genuinely intend to only stay in Australia temporarily and that they are not motivated to obtain work authorization status.
• The government has simultaneously granted the Australian skills quality authority the ability to crack down on education providers, focusing on integrity and quality.
• In addition, higher English language levels requirements for temporary graduate and student visa candidates are now in effect and applications for student or temporary graduate visas will now be assessed under the new English language requirements.

Additional Information: The genuine temporary entrant requirement will remain in effect for student guardian visa applicants. The new genuine student requirement is designed to attract international students with studies and qualifications obtained in Australia and allow them to stay and fill key skill shortages and provide post-study pathways to permanent residence. Australian officials describe that the English language reforms for student visas will support international students and prepare them for the workforce should they decide to pursue work after graduation.

Analysis: These measures represent significant changes to the immigration system and are designed to attract greater highly skilled foreign talent and better prepare international students to enter the Australian workforce.

Nadia thought she understood English. When she arrived in Australia, she was shocked

From job opportunities to making friends: new research has highlighted the benefits of English language proficiency for skilled migrants.

When Nadia arrived in Australia from Tehran in July 2018, she had big dreams. The seed was planted at the age of 12 when it became apparent that STEM subjects — science, technology, engineering and maths – were deemed a pursuit for the boys. “I took part in a physics tournament. I put all my heart into it and I had to do this tournament and compete for weeks and weeks in a row,” she said. “But right when I was about to be announced as the winner, the principal of the other school talked to the judges and changed the results to favour my competitor. “So it was right then the injustice made me feel like my future is definitely somewhere else, not in Iran.”

Nadia wanted a future in that field, and growing up hearing about her father’s trip to Australia before she was born, she was intrigued to see if she could be successful overseas. Despite a steady and sustained diet of English-language TV shows and songs, she found it took a few months to get used to Australian English. “I was in the airport grabbing my luggage and I said ‘thank you’; the other person told me ‘cheers,'” she said. “And I was thinking, ‘We are not drinking right now, I don’t know why you said cheers.'” After the first shock, she realised that “vocabularies are different, not only the accents”. “And I would say the first three months was not easy at all.”

Four years after arriving in Australia, after completing a master’s degree in international business, she applied for a permanent resident visa. An English language test became necessary. She undertook the IELTS english exam a few times before achieving a score within the highest percentile. That helped to smooth the way for her visa application and helped with job offers. She said it was also instrumental in making social connections. “It wasn’t just for finding [a] job. English helped me a lot to find friends here from all over the board,” she said. “The diversity in Australia is amazing, and it helped me to have the confidence to go ahead and say hi to new people, the strangers that now are my best friends and they are like my family — the family that I don’t have here in Australia.”

Employment outcomes and ‘filling the gaps’

That trajectory has also been reflected in a report compiled by Pearson of 3,000 visa applicants who took their English language test in the six years until 2023. Those individuals reported higher salaries and employment outcomes, including earning an additional $20,000 per year to the median Australian salary six months after arriving in Australia.

‘It actually boosted my confidence’

Eric John de Guzman is originally from the Philippines, and said his teaching qualifications were not recognised in Australia. This put him on a path to entering childcare and then pursuing a master’s degree in secondary education. Taking the IELTS test with a high score allowed him to eventually get a job offer with a secondary college before completing his master’s. “It actually boosted my confidence in my English skills,” he said. “I believe that the employer also feels the same way; seeing that I have that score, they feel confident that I’d be able to do the job. “So I was able to get a job in different childcare centres, and also with my school right now.” He said he was initially warned against coming to Australia by some who believed he would encounter racism — but that was not his experience. “I’ve seen things like that happen in the media — but coming here now, not at all,” he said. “Actually when it comes to culture and diversity, this is the melting pot … there are just many different people here. “Having that realisation actually makes me feel more comfortable.”

How important is English proficiency for skilled migrants?

Abul Rizvi is a former deputy secretary of the Department of Immigration and a scholar on immigration policy. He said while English language proficiency is not the only determinant of success for skilled migrants in securing a job, it’s certainly a factor. “There are many migrants who have limited English, but still make a really great life in Australia, so it’s not an across-the-board thing,” he said. “But on average, better English increases your prospects of success both in the labour market and in Australian society. So to the extent that we can help migrants improve their English, that can only help.”

State Migration ProgramUpdates – May 2024

Australia is currently facing a shortage of skilled migrants to fill workforce demands. In response, states and territories have been easing the conditions of their visa programs to help attract skilled workers from overseas.

Below is the monthly update for some of the State and Territory opportunities available.

Northern Territory – 1st May 2024

‘Skilled Nominated- Subclass 190’ & ‘Skilled Work Regional (Provisional)- Subclass 491’

Program Status Update

UPDATE: Closure of NT General Skilled Migration (GSM) nomination applications for 2023-24

The number of NT nomination applications received under the GSM program has now exceeded the available allocations for the 2023-24 program year. (Please note, the 2023-2024 program year ends on the 30th June 2024)

Existing applications that have already been lodged through the online MigrationNT portal prior to 4th December 2023 will continue to be assessed under existing eligibility criteria, and eligible applicants will be issued nominations, subject to availability of allocations. Some eligible applications may need to be placed on hold until new allocations are received in the 2024-25 program year (commencing 1 July 2024). You will be contacted via our online portal if this applies to your application.

Once the above mentioned temporary closure is lifted, you may be able to proceed with the NT’s usual skilled migration program. Program details below:

*The Northern Territory (NT) 2023-24 Skilled Migration Program for OFFSHORE applicants.

People residing offshore are eligible to be considered for Northern Territory (NT) nomination. Invitations to apply for Northern Territory nomination will be via the ranking system.

The ‘Northern Territory Offshore Migration Occupation List’ identifies the occupations in current demand in the Northern Territory. This List is important if you want to apply for Northern Territory nomination for either a:

• Skilled Nominated – Subclass 190
• Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) – subclass 491

The ‘Northern Territory Offshore Migration Occupation List’ is only applicable for those applying for NT nomination from outside Australia, under thePriority Occupation stream.

Please note:The Northern Territory government has advised that offshore applicants will generally only be offered a Northern Territory nomination for a subclass 491 visa. Subclass 190 nominations will only be offered in exceptional circ*mstances, such as cases where the applicant has strong connections to the NT.

Applying for skilled migration in the Northern Territory (NT)

The NT advises eligible applicants to apply as soon as they meet theeligibility criteria. To receive a nomination from the NT Government, you must:

• Meet the Australian Government’s requirements
• Meet the NT Government’s nomination eligibility criteria
• Commit to living and working in the NT in your skilled occupation for a minimum of three years following the grant of your visa.

Before submitting an EOI for The Northern Territory, applicants should check that they meet all eligibility requirements.

For a further explanation, see the Frequently Asked Questions page on the Northern Territory Government website.

Queensland – 1st May 2024

‘Skilled Nominated- Subclass 190’ & ‘Skilled Work Regional (Provisional)- Subclass 491’

Program Status Update

*Queensland (QLD) 2023-24 Skilled Migration Program for OFFSHORE applicants.

To manage Queensland’s COVID recovery response, applicants currently residing offshore are now able to apply.

Depending on your occupation and situation, there are two state nomination options available for skilled migrants through Queensland.

• Skilled Nominated – Subclass 190
• Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) – subclass 491

For Queensland state nomination, prospective applicants must meet the Department of Home Affairs requirements, state-specific occupation requirements and have skills in an occupation that is available on the Queensland Skilled Occupation List.

You may undertake employment once onshore in Queensland through:

• work for one or more employers,
• work at two part-time jobs, or
• work in your own business as an owner operator.

Offshore applicants meeting the minimum published requirements are eligible to lodge an Expression of Interest (EOI).

Applying for skilled migration in Queensland (QLD)

NOTE: The 2023 – 24 program opened on 5 September 2023. Migration Queensland will only consider EOIs lodged on or after 5 September 2023 – updated EOIs will not be considered.

Migration Queensland criteria requires you to:

• have a points-test result of 80 or higher for the 190 (unless otherwise specified), and 65 or higher for the 491
• have an occupation on the Offshore Queensland Skilled Occupation List (QSOL)
• have Proficient English or higher (except where otherwise specified)
• have a minimum of 3-years of post-study work experience (except where otherwise specified). Note: You must be employed in your nominated or closely related occupation immediately prior to submitting an EOI.

The agency also requests all applicants to ensure they have carefully read and understood the new criteria relevant to their stream or pathway, and that they meet the criteria before submitting an Expression of Interest (EOI).

The 2023-24 Skilled Migration Program will be open to both onshore and offshore applicants and provide pathways for skilled workers, graduates, and small business owners.

Before submitting an EOI for Queensland, applicants should check that they meet all eligibility requirements.

For a further explanation, see the Frequently Asked Questions page on the Queensland Government website.

Victoria – 1st May 2024

‘Skilled Nominated- Subclass 190’ & ‘Skilled Work Regional (Provisional)- Subclass 491’

Program Status Update

*Victoria’s 2023-24 state nominated skilled visa program is now closed to new Registrations of Interest (ROI). Please note, the 2023-2024 program year ends on the 30th June 2024.

Once the above mentioned temporary closure is lifted, you may be able to proceed with the VIC’s usual skilled migration program. Program details below:

*Victoria (VIC) 2023-24 Skilled Migration Program for OFFSHORE applicants.

Open to offshore applicants, the program provides skilled migrants with a pathway to permanent residency in Victoria. The skills that successful applicants bring to Victoria benefits employers and the broader Victorian economy.

The program provides two visa pathways:

• The Skilled Nominated visa (subclass 190) is a permanent visa for skilled migrants to live and work anywhere in Victoria.
• The Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 491) is for skilled migrants to live and work in regional Victoria and provides a pathway to permanent residency through thePermanent Residence (Skilled Regional) visa (subclass 191).

As with previous years, applicants will first need to submit aRegistration of Interest(ROI) and then be selected on competitive merit to apply for visa nomination.

Applying for skilled migration in Victoria (VIC)

NOTE: If you submitted a subclass 491 ROI for the 2022-23 program, you must submit a new ROI for the 2023-24 program.

If you submitted a subclass 190 ROI for the 2022-23 program, you do not need to submit a new ROI for the 2023-24 program. You should ensure that all information in your ROI is still correct.

Both onshore and offshore applicants are eligible to submit aRegistration of Interest (ROI)for both thesubclass 190andsubclass 491visas.

Your ROI will remain in the system for selection until it is withdrawn, selected or the program year ends.

Before submitting an ROI for Victoria, applicants should check that they meet all eligibility requirements.

For a further explanation, see the Frequently Asked Questions page on the Victoria Government website.

Western Australia – 1st May 2024

‘Skilled Nominated- Subclass 190’ & ‘Skilled Work Regional (Provisional)- Subclass 491’

Program Status Update

UPDATE: Closure of the WA State Nominated Migration Program applications for financial year 2023-24

The number of WA applications received under the State Nominated Migration Program (SNMP) has now exceeded the available allocations for the 2023-24 program year (1st July 2023 – 30th June 2024).

WA Migration Services will stop accepting new SNMP applications from close of business on 2 February 2024.

Existing applications that have already been lodged prior to this time will continue to be assessed under existing eligibility criteria, and eligible applicants will be issued nominations (subject to availability of allocations).

Some eligible applications lodged prior to the program closure date will not be considered as part of the 2023-24 program year. Applicants will be contacted if this applies to their application.

Once the above mentioned temporary closure is lifted, you may be able to proceed with the WA’s usual skilled migration program. Program details below:

*Western Australia (WA) 2023-24 Skilled Migration Program for OFFSHORE Applicants.

People residing offshore are eligible to be considered for Western Australia (WA) State nomination. Invitations to apply for WA State nomination will be via the ranking system.

The Western Australian Skilled Migration Occupation List identifies the occupations in current demand in Western Australia. This List is important if you want to apply for Western Australia nomination for either a:

• Skilled Nominated – Subclass 190
• Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) – subclass 491

Applying for skilled migration in Western Australia (WA)

Please note that to be eligible for an invitation in the WA State Nominated Migration Program, you must meet both:

• the Department of Home Affairs (Home Affairs) criteria for the nominated visa; and
• the WA criteria for State nomination

Before starting your application, you will need to check whether your occupation is available on either the WA Skilled migration occupation list (WASMOL) Schedule 1 or 2, or the Graduate occupation list. You can search for your occupation here. (The occupation list search bar is located under the heading ‘Eligible Occupations’.)

Features of the WA 2023-24 State Nominated Migration Program:

• no application fee;
• equal invitation ranking for Interstate and Overseas candidates;
• prioritised invitations for candidates with an occupation in a WA industry sector with critical demand for skilled workers; and
• reduced employment requirements for candidates invited through a WA building and construction industry sector occupation (as classified on the WA State nomination Occupation lists).

Before submitting an EOI for Western Australia, applicants should check that they meet all eligibility requirements.

For a further explanation, see the Frequently Asked Questions page on the Western Australia Government website.

Australian Capital Territory (ACT) – 1st May 2024

‘Skilled Nominated- Subclass 190’ & ‘Skilled Work Regional (Provisional)- Subclass 491’

Program Status Update

*Australian Capital Territory (ACT) 2023-24 Skilled Migration Program for OFFSHORE applicants.

The ACT Critical Skills List identifies the occupations in current demand in the ACT. This List is important if you want to apply for ACT nomination for either a:

• Skilled Nominated – Subclass 190
• Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) – subclass 491

The ACT Government will update this list every four months to make sure that the ACT Skilled Migration Program adapts and responds to the evolving critical skills needs of the ACT economy.

The Canberra Matrix is weighted to ensure that applicants who will make a positive economic contribution to the Territory and/or have demonstrated a genuine commitment to the ACT are more likely to be ranked and invited to apply for ACT nomination.

*ACT nomination does not guarantee a migration outcome. You must still meet the Department of Home Affairs criteria.

Applying for skilled migration in The Australian Capital Territory (ACT)

Every month, a certain number of nomination invitations are available (prorated on the annual allocation) to those working in the highest ranked Matrix in each occupation.

You can view the ACT’s most in-demand skills for skilled migration by consulting theACT Critical Skills List.

Before submitting an EOI for The Australian Capital Territory, applicants should check that they meet all eligibility requirements.

Once you’ve submitted a valid Department of Home Affairs Skill Select EOI, follow the ACT Government Process to apply for ACT nomination.

For a further explanation, see the Resources page on the ACT Government website.

South Australia (SA) – 1st May 2024

‘Skilled Nominated- Subclass 190’ & ‘Skilled Work Regional (Provisional)- Subclass 491’

Program Status Update

*South Australia (SA) 2023-24 Skilled Migration Program for OFFSHORE applicants.

To manage South Australia’s COVID recovery response, applicants currently residing offshore are able to apply.

Depending on your occupation and situation, there are two state nomination options available for skilled migrants through South Australia.

• Skilled Nominated – Subclass 190
• Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) – subclass 491

For South Australian state nomination, prospective applicants must meet the Department of Home Affairs requirements, state-specific occupation requirements and have skills in an occupation that is available on the South Australian Skilled Occupation List. Offshoreapplicants meeting the minimum published requirements can now lodge anExpression of Interest(EOI).

Applying for skilled migration in South Australia (SA)

There is an enormous range of occupations on South Australia’s Skilled Migration Occupation List in a range of industries – search for your occupationhere.

South Australia will select offshore applicants to apply for state nomination from those who have submitted an Expression of Interest (EOI) throughSkillSelect. Offshore applicants will not need to lodge a Registration of Interest (ROI) for this year’s program. South Australia will be nominating offshore applicants fromover 250 occupationsonSouth Australia’s Skilled Migration Occupation List. To be eligible, ensure all the information in your SkillSelect EOI is up to date and you have selected South Australia as your first preferred state or territory to move to in Australia.

South Australia will be assessing candidates on merit by the following factors, within their nominated occupation:

• Years and field of skilled employment experience
• English language ability
• EOI points score

Before submitting an EOI for South Australia, applicants should check that they meet all eligibility requirements.

For a further explanation, see the Frequently Asked Questions page on the South Australia Government website.

Tasmania – 1st May 2024

‘Skilled Nominated- Subclass 190’ & ‘Skilled Work Regional (Provisional)- Subclass 491’

Program Status Update

*Tasmania (TAS) 2023-24 Skilled Migration Program for OFFSHORE applicants.

Working in Tasmania

The two state nomination options available for skilled migrants through Tasmania are:

• Skilled Nominated – Subclass 190
• Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) – subclass 491

The Tasmanian State Nomination Skilled Migration Program supports Tasmanian businesses and increases the state’s working age population. It does this by attracting and retaining migrants with skills genuinely in need by employers, or with the capacity to settle in Tasmania through skilled employment in the long-term, and business activities that will increase employment opportunities.

Tasmania’s skilled migration program is for people wanting to move to the state who have skills that Tasmania need. Skilled migrants are attracted to Tasmania because of the state’s enviable lifestyle, career opportunities, affordable housing, reputable schools and a globally recognized university.

Applying for skilled migration in Tasmania

The Migration Tasmania Application Gatewayis now available for registrations of interest (ROI) and applications for skilled visa nomination from Tasmania.

Anyone seeking Tasmanian nomination for a Subclass 190 Skilled Nominated Visa or Subclass 491 Skilled Work Regional Visa must first register in the Migration Tasmania Application Gateway.

Before submitting an ROI for Tasmania, applicants should check that they meet all eligibility requirements for either;

• Subclass 190 – Skilled Nominated Visa or
• Subclass 491 – Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) Visa

ROIs submitted before 1 July 2023 will remain valid for the 2023-24 program year.

ROIs and applications submitted from 5 July 2023 fall under the new eligibility requirements.

In cases where new requirements are likely to be beneficial, candidates may wish to withdraw their current ROI and submit a new one. (There is no charge to submit a Registration of Interest)

For a further explanation, see the Frequently Asked Questions page on the Tasmania Government website.

New South Wales (NSW) – 1st May 2024

‘Skilled Nominated- Subclass 190’ & ‘Skilled Work Regional (Provisional)- Subclass 491’

Program Status Update

*New South Wales (NSW) 2023-24 Skilled Migration Program for OFFSHORE applicants.

The New South Wales government has invited applications from offshore migrants under the following nomination streams:

• Skilled Nominated – Subclass 190
• Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) – subclass 491

The NSW State Government announced that offshore applicants skilled in certain ANZSCO unit groups are still eligible for NSW nomination.

*Please note: Invitation rounds occur frequently throughout the financial year with no set date.

Applying for skilled migration in New South Wales (NSW)

NSW invites and nominates SkillSelect EOIs at the ANZSCO unit group level. To be eligible for NSW nomination (for either Subclass 190 or Subclass 491) you must be skilled in an occupation that both:

• appears within an ANZSCO unit group identified here, and
• is eligible for the respective visa

It is important to note that not all occupations within ANZSCO unit groups are eligible for the respective visa. It is the responsibility of the prospective migrant to ensure their occupation is eligible for the visa before obtaining a skills assessment.

Your EOI must be exclusively for the ‘Skilled Nominated visa (Subclass 190)’ or ‘Skilled Work Regional visa (subclass491)’ and seeking nomination from NSW only.

This means that if your Skillselect EOI has multiple visas and/or multiple states selected (this includes selecting ‘ANY’), your Skillselect EOIwillnotbe considered for NSW nomination.

What are the NSW target sectors?

The NSW target sectors are specific industry sectors that have been identified by data research as having critical skills shortages in NSW. They include:

• Health
• Education
• Information and Communication Technology (ICT)
• Infrastructure
• Agriculture

Although all validly submitted SkillSelect EOIs will be considered during an invitation round, priority is given to EOIs in these target sectors.

Is my occupation within a NSW target sector?

The NSW government cannot confirm whether individual occupations fall within NSW’s target sectors. So long as you maintain a validly submitted EOI in SkillSelect, your EOI will be considered in all future NSW invitation rounds.

Will NSW invite EOI’s in occupations outside of the NSW target sectors?

High-ranking EOIs in occupations outside of the NSW target sectors may be considered during invitation rounds; however, it’s crucial to understand that the odds of receiving an invitation are exceptionally low due to high demand and limited spots.

Before submitting an EOI for New South Wales, applicants should check that they meet all eligibility requirements for either;

• Subclass 190 – Skilled Nominated Visa or
• Subclass 491 – Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) Visa

For a further explanation of how the skills list works, see theCommon questions about skilled visaspage on the NSW Government website.

Migration to stave off recession

The Oxford forecasts paint a picture for the economy that has many similarities to last year, when strong population growth was enough to offset three quarters of a per-capita downturn.

On one hand that’s positive because it means a spike in unemployment is unlikely, particularly as strong population growth to date hasn’t really disrupted the jobs market, with analysts saying migrants added as much to labour demand as they have to supply in the post-pandemic period.

NSW struggling to meet housing targets due to funding and labour shortfalls, says Premier

New South Wales Premier Chris Minns reveals the state is struggling to meet housing targets as he calls on the federal government to fast-track tradesman migration into Australia.

The target for New South Wales which was set out by the federal government in August will need to see an average of 75,000 new accommodations built per year over the next five years.

“In the next year and a bit in New South Wales our proportion of the national figure will be extremely difficult to meet.

“I want to be upfront about that.

“We’re coming from a long way behind; we’ve got major constraints when it comes to financing from banks as well as labour to build the actual houses.

“In the long run, it’s important to have targets and in the end, everyone needs to know the scale, particularly when it comes to completions for a major city like Sydney.”

I wanted to make quick money and travel the world — so I moved to Australia and became a FIFO (Fly-in fly-out) worker

As an entry-level FIFO worker, Mcilwaine has around $80K USD before taxes so far this year, and gets a week off every month.

• Cal Mcilwaine gets flown in to Pilbara, Australia to work 12-hour days for three weeks straight.
• So far he’s made around $80K before taxes, has no living expenses on-site, and travels on his week off.
• After a year of working, Mcilwaine plans to use the money he made to go on a 10-month trip.

This is based on a conversation with Cal Mcilwaine, a 29-year-old FIFO worker in Australia. His identity, employment, and salary has been verified.

I’m the lone wolf of my friend group.

Back in Ireland, all of my friends were getting married, buying houses, and having kids. I wanted to set off on an adventure and travel the world.

I started to research different career opportunities that would allow me to make good money that I could spend on travel. I always had an interest in visiting Australia and I had heard about mining jobs years ago.

I figured if I did that for a couple of months, I would have a piggy bank for traveling. So in June 2023, I left Ireland and moved to Perth, Australia to become a FIFO worker, which stands for “fly in, fly out.”

FIFO is an industry that largely exists only in mining fields in Australia, Canada, and Alaska. Mining companies in Australia extract iron ore along with other minerals and send it to crushers and refineries. Then, it goes to Port Hedland, which is the main port in Australia, and cargo ships send it to China.

Australia is one of the most mineral-rich countries in the world, so there are a ton of mining projects and FIFO jobs available here.

But that doesn’t mean it was easy to land one.

I found some YouTube videos about FIFO work, but there was no how-to guide on what to do if you want to enter the industry from a foreign country.

I had to come up with my own game plan, which included applying for a working Visa. I had no experience in mining and I had never driven a truck or bulldozer — I also didn’t have a license in Australia. It wasn’t going to be easy moving to another country and landing one of these jobs, but I was determined.

After arriving in Australia, I spent about three days exploring tourist sites before I turned to the job hunt process. In Australia, you need to get tickets, which are like qualifications. I spent two and a half weeks at a training center getting certified in CPR and working on an elevated platform, along with a heavy rigid license to drive big trucks.

Once I did that, I paid a company called W1n W1n to do my résumé and absolutely hammered job pages and applied to as many FIFO jobs as I could for about 10 days. Within a month of arriving in Australia, I secured a FIFO job.

Now, I help others get into the industry with videos on social media and a guide I made for foreign workers interested in FIFO.

I work 12-hour days for three weeks straight.

I get flown in from Perth to work in Pilbara, a northwest region of Australia that’s rich in iron ore.

I wake up around 4 a.m. to get ready for work, which starts at 5:30 a.m., and I spend the next 12 hours in the mining field.

The conditions are physically strenuous and the average temperature during the day is 95 degrees Fahrenheit. In peak summer time, it hits about 113 degrees.

As a serviceman, I maintain a fleet of 45 or 50 machines, including dump trucks, diggers, dozers, scrapers, and other mining equipment. Throughout the day, I fill them up with fuel, grease them up, top up fluids, and blow out their air filters.

Then I pack everything back into my truck and drive to the next machine. I usually end work at 5:30 p.m., and the ride back to the site takes about 40 minutes so I usually get home at 6:10 p.m.

Normally, when I get back I try to chuck down food and organize lunch for the next day. I aim to go to bed at 9:30 p.m. so that I can get as much sleep as possible for the next day.

During my week off, I get flown back out to Perth. The flight takes about two hours. Some people go on weekend trips to Bali. I like to go on road trips around Australia.

I also have the flexibility to go on breaks during the year. I took seven weeks off around Christmas and went to Esperance, which is on the southwest coast of Australia.

I’ve made around $80,000 so far this year pre-tax, and my expenses on-site are paid for.

As a FIFO worker, companies pay for employee flights to and from the mining field. They also pay for housing accommodations and offer amenities like a food court and gym at the housing site.

My room is dorm-like and it’s nothing special but it has everything I need and I use it for sleep.

There’s a big workout culture among FIFO workers and the gym is well-equipped to satisfy those needs. The gym has a strength room, a cardio room, an outdoor gym, a CrossFit room with classes offered, and a female-only gym. I usually walk about 25,000 steps a day on the job but still try to work out about two or three times a week.

As someone completely new to the industry, I make $5,329 Australian Dollars per week before taxes, which is around $3,477 USD — but I also don’t work every single week of the month. So far, I’ve made around $80,000 before taxes working the last nine months, including a seven-week break I took to travel around Australia.

During my week off, I fly back to Perth and either go away for a week or pay a friend to stay with him for the week. My expenses during my week off usually come out to around $1,300 USD.

I’m getting the adventure I was searching for.

I originally planned to work this job for three or fourth months at most.

But now I’ve been here for nine months and I plan to stick it out for the rest of the year. Once I learned about the machines, became a part of the crew, and started making good money, I didn’t see a point in leaving.

I’m enjoying learning new skills and my bank account just keeps growing. Once I wrap up the year, I’m going on a 10-month trip to Vietnam, Thailand, New Zealand, Indonesia, and the Philippines.

I won’t have to worry about working and I’ll get to experience the adventure I’ve been craving.

Once I’m done, I plan to get right back into FIFO work for my second year and do it all over again.

International students compare studying in Australia to their home countries

A good work-life balance and better career prospects have convinced thousands of students from Asia to come and study in Australia.

International students were quick to praise Australia’s work culture, saying it allowed them to expand their learning and seek opportunities outside the classroom to develop their careers.

Earlier this month, the Asia-Pacific Association of International Education conference took place in Perth, and students shared their experiences.

Work-life balance

Tsubasa Wada is studying for a Master of Accounting at Murdoch University.

The Japanese student has revelled in Australia’s work-life balance culture.

“In Japanese society, it’s often considered desirable to devote my time to work in order to earn good money,” she said.

“When facing my future, I realised that finding happiness in both work and personal life is essential for me.”

Although studying has its challenges, Ms Wada found her life has had more balance in Perth, giving her more fulfilment.

Exploring new opportunities

Sheldon Ying appreciates how Australian students focus on working together instead of competing.

He is studying for a Master of Information Technology at the University of Western Australia and previously worked as a data developer in his home country, China, before returning to university.

He was motivated to pursue a postgraduate degree in Australia to fill the knowledge gaps he found when working at home.

“In Australia, the most important … characteristic I noticed is the choice we have, different courses,” he said.

Having space outside of the classroom has given him time to explore new opportunities through volunteering and community development.

“I think it let me have a better understanding of my role here in Australia,” Mr Ying said.

“I feel like I need to adapt to local culture here, for example, volunteer engagement in social networking … which can give me a chance to explore different things.”

He joined a network of volunteer coders who have helped various charities improve their online presence.

“My job was to redesign websites for charity, helping those [who have] survived domestic violence,” he said.

“Not only did I gain some friendships, but also I combined my professional skills with social responsibility.”

The support international students receive is something Mr Ying has greatly appreciated.

Welcoming community

Andre Aquino is studying for a Master of Professional Communication at Edith Cowan University.

Although he hails from the Philippines, he has felt more connected to other cultures by spending time in Australia.

“Australia has a reputation internationally for being a prime educational provider, and so people from different countries come here to study and you get to meet them,” he said.

The accommodating nature of Australian culture has also allowed him to engage with different types of people.

“[People] are a lot chattier here than they are back home,” he said.

“It’s nice for someone who comes from a country or a culture that, I suppose is more insular, you don’t talk as much to strangers, to a country where people do talk often to strangers.

“It makes you feel more a part of the community,” Mr Aquino said.

Ms Wada has also found the collaborative nature of Australian culture beneficial.

“In Australia, networking and meeting new people is really essential,” she said.

“In Japan, I didn’t experience that … because in the education system, we don’t have it.”

Gaining confidence

Abby Leong recently graduated from Curtin University with a Bachelor of Commerce.

She is from Malaysia and said she gained more independence and confidence to pursue her career goals from studying in Australia.

“The thing that I learned in work [in Australia] is that you have to believe [in] yourself, that you can be built through the work,” she said.

“Currently, I’m more likely to encourage myself, if I really liked the job description, no matter how hard it looks, to just go apply for it.”

Ms Leong feels a strong sense of freedom in Australia, driven by the community-based learning and support networks available.

“I feel so much freedom here, so much freedom,” she said.

“I think when you really put yourself into a situation you can gain [a lot].”