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The Minister for Immigration and Citizenship, Senator Chris Evans, has set new priority processing arrangements for certain Skilled Migration visas. These arrangements are designed to better address the needs of industry by targeting skills in critical need across a number of sectors. The current priority processing Direction commenced on 23 September 2009.

The Direction applies to applications in the pipeline that have not been finalised, and to applications lodged with the Department of Immigration and Citizenship, on or after 23 September 2009.

To assist the visitors to our site, we have included the Frequently Asked Questions from the Department Website below.

To discuss these latest changes then post a comment at the bottom of this post or visit the thread in our forums which you can find by clicking here. Continue Reading

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The Migration Occupations in Demand List (MODL) is going to be overhauled whilst the Critical Skills List (CSL) will be phased out completely.

The Australian Department of Immigration is near to concluding its review of the MODL. As part of their review, the department will examine and report on the role and purpose of the MODL in targeting skill needs in relation to the General Skilled Migration (GSM) program, to complement the supply of tertiary qualified Australians.

It’s hoped that the review will enable DIMIA to use the MODL as a more strategic tool ensuring that skilled migration is better aimed at responding to future skill needs which cannot be addressed through domestic training and skills development.

The arrangements for the transition to the new MODL will be determined once the outcomes of the review are finalised. Continue Reading

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Australian businesses that want to bring in skilled workers on what are known locally as ‘457 visas’ will have to be prepared to pay them market wages from next week.

The Immigration Minister, Chris Evans, has announced details of the changes to the temporary visa program which are designed to end the potential for workers to be exploit.

“The payment of market salary rates will ensure that overseas workers are not used as a cheap form or labour or used to undercut Australian wages and conditions.” senator Evans said.

Previously migrant workers have been paid as little as $45,000 AUD per year with some companies often choosing cheaper migrant workers over local ones.

The new legislation would protect local workers and also ensure that people immigrating to Australia in search of work would receive a fair deal. Continue Reading

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The 20 hottest spots to find work in Australia were revealed in the results of a new survey published by Australian financial institution Bankwest today.

Using Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) data, the report measured 20 zones across the country to record a minimum five percent increase in employment since November 2007.

Sydney’s north and Perth’s east topped the list, recording a 13 percent growth in employment since November 2007.

In the same period, employment grew by 11 percent in South Eastern New South Wales and 10 percent in Lower Western in Western Australia, Ipswich City, northern-northwest Queensland and inner Melbourne. Continue Reading

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