In late October, Australia suddenly announced that from 1 November it would open its borders to the parents of PR holders and citizens. This grabbed everyone’s attention, and after a few busy weeks, many parents’ travel exemptions and visitor visas were being approved one by one — tickets booked and ready to go.
Then came the Singapore travel bubble. Everyone was hoping it would also open a pathway for international students and skilled migrants — only to discover it was a Singapore-exclusive channel. 0.0
So, it’s already mid-November, Christmas is just around the corner,what about international students and skilled migrants? Anyone? Anyone?
Those wanting to come back are still waiting anxiously, and employers struggling to fill roles are counting every day. Don’t forget them, Government.
They haven’t forgotten — and others are making sure they don’t.
// The Finance Minister: Quality over quantity — matching supply to demand //
So, after all that (talk), at leastgive usa timeframe,please? Please? Please?
// Treasurer: “We’ll see them back before year’s end” //
Now it was Treasurer Josh Frydenberg’s turn to step up.
In an interview on Monday,he said the Federal Government hopes to see skilled migrants return before the end of this year.
He noted that from late November, Singaporeans vaccinated with an approved vaccine would be able to enter Australia without quarantine,and the government hopes to extend this arrangement to a broader group before the end of the year.
“Of course, we also want international tourists and students,and that work is currently under way.”
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Shortage
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Australia’s skilled job vacancies reach a 13-year high
Preliminary results from the Federal Government’s official Job Vacancies Index show that in October, as Victoria and New South Wales progressively began easing restrictions,total job vacancies across Australia rose by 7.8% — that is, 18,100 positions — marking the first time since October 2008 that cumulative vacancies have exceeded 250,000.
New South Wales‘s job advertisements grew16.9%, that is,12,500 positions;Victoriaalso saw15.2%growth,around 9,000 positions. Employerhiring intentioncompared with February 2020 (just before the pandemic)was up 50%.
While the number of job advertisements fluctuated during the pandemic,overall they have remained above pre-pandemic levels since entering 2021, confirming the persistent inability to fill these roles.
So, industries across the board are anxiously waiting for the Federal Government to give the green light and open borders to skilled workers and skilled migrants.International travel restrictions are easing faster than expected, and there is a possibility of further relaxation before year’s end (still year’s end),which should help relieve the pressure.
The Treasurer said → had been working
Competition
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If the pressure on skilled work and migration is primarily driven by domestic demand, the international education sector faces the additional burden of intense external competition.
The latest official statistics, current to November this year, show thatcurrently in Australia —onshore —those holding student visas number259,752,with over half enrolled in higher education or master’s research programmes,while thoseoffshorewho still hold a student visa are also considerable in number,totalling 148,464.
Adventus, an international student enrolment platform partnering with over 1,500 institutions, found that based on data since March this year, study applications to Canada rose 148%, to the United Kingdom by 150%, and to the United States by 422%,while Australia saw a fall of %.
New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, the ACT, and South Australiaall have plans in place for returning international students. If things go to schedule, New South Wales and Victoria will proceed in December — New South Wales has tentatively set 6 December — and as the two fastest-moving states, students are already receiving expression-of-interest emails from their universities. Queensland is also progressing, with quarantine arrangements being finalised. Canberra (ACT) has confirmed a return in early next year, quarantine-free; South Australia has also signalled plans to offer students a quarantine-free return.
New: Northern Territory and Western Australia pilot programmes
The first — and only — jurisdiction to successfully carry out a pilot programme at the end of last year wasthe Northern Territory, which has since been unusually quiet. The Vice-Chancellor of CDU is growing impatient. The NT’s International Education Minister has now indicated that they are preparing a plan to submit to the Federal Government — the current provisional arrangement is that if approval is granted for two flights, each carrying up to 180 students, they would arrive in Darwin in January 2022.
Western Australiahas also revealed its pilot programme plans in the past day or two,anticipating that when the state achieves a 90% double-dose vaccination rate in February next year, international students will be welcomed back to Perth.
Commentary
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