As the federal government continues to roll out recommendations of the Knight Review in various stages, industry groups have welcomed a recent announcement that a selection of private colleges and TAFEs will soon benefit from streamlined visa processing for international students, which currently only universities and their students are benefiting from. These benefits include reduced waiting time for visas and less obstacles for student applicants.

Below are some excerpts from a recent article covering this announcement by The Australian;

[Monday's] Council of Australian Governments meeting agreed to bring forward the implementation of the “revised framework for low immigration risk providers”, giving some colleges access to “streamlined” student visa assessments from the second half of this year.

Industry groups have welcomed the announcement, which removes visa processing impediments for these colleges up to six months earlier than had been anticipated.

The new approach means international students seeking visas to study at colleges deemed low-risk will be treated as coming from ‘level 1 risk assessment’ countries. This vastly reduces their waiting time for visas, and scales back onerous requirements to prove that they have plenty of money to cover their expenses in Australia.

The “streamlined” arrangements, which were recommended last September by the Knight review of student visas, reduce the obstacles for visa applicants but ramp up providers’ obligation to ensure they only accept genuine students.

Universities gained access to the streamlined system this month. But TAFEs and private colleges had been told they wouldn’t be included until next year, even if they were deemed low risk, placing them at a competitive disadvantage against universities.

Tertiary education minister Chris Evans has since indicated that the extension to non-universities could be brought forward. The Australian Council for Private Education and Training said it was “delighted” that this had now been confirmed.

The Immigration Department is still reviewing the criteria for determining low-risk providers.

To read the full article at The Australian, click here.

Are you currently studying in Australia and want to extend your stay once you complete your studies? Australian Migration & Visa Lawyers has a dedicated Recent Graudates team of Reigstered Migration Agents who specialise in post-study visas. To submit an enquiry to the team, fill out an enquiry form here or simply contact us by emailing migrate@australianmigrations.com or call 07 3212 2200.

A report in to Australia's farming industry has raised concerns about an "exodus" of Australian farmers who are likely to retire over the next decade, leaving a significant shortage of experienced farmers who can train young farmers in the future. The report also claims that if these predictions do eventuate, the industry will have to import overseas workers to fill the agricultural skills gaps, particularly from Asia, as well as put farms and rural properties on the international property market.

More at the Courier Mail;

The KPMG submission to Australia in the Asian Century White Paper, warns that the average age of Australian farmers was 56 in 2011 and many had no succession plan or exit strategy.

The exodus of older farmers is also likely to lead to the listing of farms on the international property market and for sales to corporate investors and mining and resources companies as farmers look to boost retirement funds.

The predictions are supported by statistics gathered in 2008 when demand for labour in the agriculture sector was 407,000 workers, already 116,000 above supply.

The Productivity Commission has conservatively estimated the sector will generate more than 32,000 new jobs annually.

"There is a risk that there will be a lack of experienced farmers to train younger farmers who will be critical to driving productivity improvements and adapting to challenges such as climate change, increased competition and an increase on focus on the environmental impacts of farming,'' the report says.

"In the long term, agricultural skills gaps will inevitably lead to the need to source labour from overseas migration,'' it states.

"Asia will be an important contributor to bridging the skills gap and Australia will need to develop immigration policies with Asian countries to bridge this shortage.''

The report emphasises a need for the Government to revise its migration policy in collaboration with industry and engagement with Asian investors and for co-operation between the mining industry and agribusiness in sharing and capitalising on the revival of some rural area populations.

To read the full article at the Courier Mail, click here.

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With the recent news that the Australian government will allow skilled workers from the United States (US) to acquire work licences on arrival in Australia rather than acquire them in the US, and the introduction of Enterprise Migration Agreements for large-scale resource projects, Australia is now considered a world leader in skilled migration.

Further details were reported today in the Sydney Morning Herald;

The country's skilled migration program had undergone a revolution from permanent to temporary entry and from points-tested to employer-nominated as the dominant basis of entry, said  Professor Lesleyanne Hawthorne, a consultant to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development on migrant labour to meet global skills shortages.

Temporary skilled migrant arrivals surpassed permanent arrivals in 2007-08 at 110,570 compared with 108,500. Though they had since dropped back, it was clear Australia's "old paradigm" of permanent migration was disappearing, Professor Hawthorne said.

Occupations preferred by employers for importing labour were significantly different from those selected by government. The top five professions selected by government in order were accounting, computing, architecture/building, engineering and nursing. For employers it was nursing, computing, business professionals, engineers and sales and marketing professionals. The choice of source countries also differed, with the government favouring Asian countries and employers favouring English-speaking countries.

To read the full article at the Sydney Morning Herald click here.

Do you need help with your skilled visa application? Australian Migration & Visa Lawyers has a team of Registered Migration Agents who specialise in all visa categories and are committed to the MARA Code of Conduct. For friendly, professional assistance and migration advice, contact us or email migrate@australianmigrations.com.