Last week, we attended the WA Migration Conference, hosted by MIA, Australia’s leading association for migration professionals. The program was broad and provided plenty of interesting insights affecting skilled migration to Australia.
Recent Changes in Australia’s Migration System
As ever, Australia’s migration system is dynamic; a series of changes to Student and graduate visas came into effect last month, along with greater 482 visa holder rights. Meanwhile more changes to skilled visas and the roll out of the National Innovation visa are expected to occur before the end of the year.
The Role of Visas in Supporting Regional Australia
We were updated on the Department of Home Affair’s Migration Strategy, which has been collecting submissions from regional Australian players around the country on the issues affecting them most. The submissions will help to inform immigration policy that better supports services and sectors in regional Australia.
Visas like the working holiday visa and the Labour Market stream are likely to play a role in better supporting regional Australia. Indeed, there here was acknowledgment that skilled visa streams like Labour Agreements need simplifying. However, its unlikely we will we see Labour Agreements simplified before the end of the year.
Migration Professionals: Collaboration and Policy Development
Hearing from fellow agents was valuable. While Australia’s migration system tries to be consistent, sure enough, many agents have encountered the inconsistencies of the system which we then have to help our clients navigate through. It was useful to share these experiences to Department of Home Affairs representatives which we trust will take on board.
WA DAMA: Incentives and Challenges
The WA DAMA was a case in point. The State of Western Australia has gone to great lengths to attract skilled workers, offering a number of incentives relating to required work experience and the roll out of support services for new migrants. Yet the some of the enticing qualifying requirements of the state are not reflected in the federal agency portals, rendering them redundant, at least for the time being.
And so the dialogue between migration professionals and the Department of Home Affairs and state migration offices continues on behalf of our esteemed clients.
In summary, the WA Migration Conference underscored the dynamic nature of Australia’s migration landscape and highlighted the ongoing dialogue between migration professionals and government bodies. While there are plenty of ideas, such as the potential for greater support through visas like the working holiday visa and Labour Agreement stream, challenges remain, particularly in addressing inconsistencies and streamlining processes like Labour Agreements. The exchange of experiences and feedback from migration agents will be crucial in shaping more effective policies. As we move forward, continued collaboration with the Department of Home Affairs and state migration offices will be essential in ensuring that migration strategies are both practical and supportive of our clients’ needs.
Australian Business Migration Group
MARN: 0959139
Call: 1300 794 680
