Australian Immigration Daily News

THE HON CHRISTOPHER PYNE MP

Minister for Education
Leader of the House

THE HON SCOTT MORRISON MP

Minister for Immigration and Border Protection

MEDIA RELEASE

New streamlined student visas to grow Australian education

The new Coalition Government will move quickly to begin undoing Labor’s damage to Australia’s international education sector—and restore it as one of Australia’s most important economic contributors.

Minister for Immigration and Border Protection, Scott Morrison and Minister for Education, Christopher Pyne announced a package of measures that would simplify student visas through a streamlined assessment-level framework (ALF) and by extending streamlined visa processing arrangements to low-risk non-university degree providers.

“The changes will assist all providers, but particularly the vocational education and training sector, making access to Australia’s education system more attractive for overseas students,” Mr Morrison said.
 
“Assessment levels under the ALF would be reduced from five levels to three, while financial evidence for AL3 students would reduce from 18 months to 12 months, provided funds were from a close relative of the student applicant.  This would mean students from a number of key markets would be able to apply for a student visa with up to $AUD 40 000 less in the bank.”

Streamlining of the visa application process that Mr Morrison announced last week would benefit up to 22 low-risk non-university providers for students enrolled in Bachelor, Masters or Doctoral degree courses or an eligible exchange programme.

Minister for Education Mr Pyne said the measures would attract more overseas students to Australia, benefit our education system, create Australian jobs and stimulate our economy.
 
“The non-university sector is an important contributor to our overall education exports,” Mr Pyne said.
 
“These changes would allow the vocational training sector to contribute more freely to our plan to restore Australia’s tertiary education system to its former peak of almost $19  billion in export income for the nation.

“The non-university education system supports thousands of Australian jobs directly, and indirectly.

“If we cut red tape and allow more students into Australia to access a world-class tertiary education we all stand to gain.”

Invitations to the 22 non-university providers will go out in coming weeks.

Subject to relevant legislative change under the stewardship of the Assistant Minister for Immigration and Border Protection, Senator the Hon. Michaelia Cash, the Government would implement both elements of the package in early 2014.

Further information is available at http://www.immi.gov.au/students/whats_new.htm.

Media enquiries:

Mr Pyne—Adam Howard 0400 414 833

Mr Morrison—Elizabeth Pearson 0448 286 334

Copy of the press release as a pdf is here:

Pyne--Morrison-MR---Streamlined-student-visas.pdf

Senator Michaelia Cash has released a press release today warning about dodgy migration agents.  This is after the DIAC had the complaint since January 2012.  Finally the government is listening and the new DIBP has dealt with it.  The Migration Agents Section (MAS) at DIBP in Canberra have sent a copy of this release to Migration Alliance today.  Special thanks is given to the Migration Agents Section for their timely communication and consultation with Migration Alliance.

Mirgation Alliance reported this on the 19/01/2012 during the time the organisation was called DIAC.  This was during the Chris Bowen reign.   

This was the email I personally sent to DIAC's MAS in Canberra about AUSFIS on 19 Janurary 2012:

It goes without saying that the Australian migration industry as a whole has been rocked by the antics of Mr Eddy Kang.  Now, a RMA within the Registered Migration Agent profession, a new RMA, comes forward to tell her story about how she got caught up in the scandal. 

Again, I have to ask what is the Office of the MARA doing about this?  Is there anything on their website or have there been any warnings to RMAs by news blast or email (in furtherance of their protection of our profession)?  Or is the Office of the MARA our adversary?  I will leave it at that.

Please find below the interview with Cinia which tells her story.

There is a shortage of skilled help on Australian farms, but getting the Department of Immigration to understand the skill-set sought by farm owners is proving difficult.  The skilled occupations list doesn't seem to be cutting it.

A recent article in The Australian newspaper discusses an onion and carrot grower, Yvonne Smith who sponsored two South Africans to Australia under the Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme (RSMS).  Mrs Smith is still facing issues finding local staff as there are simply not enough Australians that would like to work on farms.

Farmer, Mrs Smith is concerned that the Skilled Migration List does not address the skills shortage on farms. Perhaps we need to go back to the days where there were accessible and easy waivers for occupations in groups lower than 4 on the then ASCO (now ANZSCO) for post-codes in regional and / or rural Australia.

The Australian Computer Society has today announced changes to the graduate skills assessment application process to align with changes implemented by the Department of Immigration and Border Protection (DIBP).

The ACS is choosing to implement the changes effective from January 15, 2014, which will provide certainty to those studying courses that are scheduled for completion in the final months of 2013.

The implementation of the ACS graduate application changes will ensure applicants are being assessed in line with the Migration Amendment (Skills Assessment) Regulation 2013 changes announced by the Department of Immigration and Border Protection to take effect on Oct 28, 2013.

The ACS is committed to providing a robust assessment service that accurately identifies an applicant’s ICT skills and their compatibility with the skills that the Australian Government has identified as being in shortage.  To aid clarity and enhance consistency, the ACS has reviewed the current suitability criteria for applicants with an Australian study component in their skills assessment.

The following changes will come into effect on Jan 15, 2014:

·       The ACS Temporary Graduate – 485 skills assessment will clearly state that it is specifically for the purpose of applying for a subclass 485 visa application.  Applicants with an Australian study component that are applying for a subclass 485 visa will be assessed on the Australian qualification only, based on the completion of the relevant Australian Bachelor degree or higher.

·       Applicants with an Australian study component that wish to apply for permanent residency will require either 1 year of relevant work experience or completion of an ACS Professional Year Program to receive a suitable skills assessment which can be used for general migration purposes. 

·       The ACS Post Australian Study skills assessment is intended to support graduates in applying for permanent residency under the General Skilled Migration or Employer Nomination Scheme after completing an Australian study component.

·       The Australian study component is taken into consideration because of the value of studying in Australia and the exposure to Australian culture and language, which in turn places applicants in a better position to be employed in their nominated occupation.

·       The work experience or professional year program is assessed for suitability of the full skills assessment and the applicant is considered skilled from the completion date of the relevant Australian degree.  The Post Australian Study skills assessment can be used for migration purposes in general.