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| Subject: life is tough in Austrailia too! |
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Skilled migrant program failing
John Masanauskas
21jul05
AUSTRALIA´S skilled migration program could face an overhaul after a review ordered by the Federal Government.
Thousands of skilled migrants are either unemployed or languishing in low-skilled jobs.
And figures released yesterday showed demand for skilled workers could be easing, with job vacancies falling in July.
Cabinet boosted the skilled intake by 20,000 places this year, but it is believed that some ministers were sceptical about the increase and wanted evidence that the system was working.
The review by top academics will investigate the points test for skilled migrants and compare it with selection procedures used in the UK, New Zealand and Canada.
The review also follows a recent Immigration Department report showing that many skilled arrivals who were supposed to settle in needy country areas were living in cities.
Thousands of migrant professionals are either unemployed or taking jobs driving taxis or working in restaurants and supermarkets.
The new arrivals typically send out hundreds of job applications, but many fail to get interviews in their fields because they lack Australian experience.
Indian computer specialist Manu Minhas, who works part-time as a security guard and Connex ticket checker, said he was very frustrated.
"If you look in taxis, 90 per cent of drivers are skilled people from India," Mr Minhas said.
"We´ve taken so much risk to come here and the Government has shown confidence in us, but employers are not showing confidence in us."
Mr Minhas, 37, who arrived in December, has sent his wife and two children back to India until he gets a good, steady job.
Business IT specialist Lucian Popa, from Romania, has applied for 200 jobs, but is working as a kitchen hand and doing supermarket night shifts.
"There´s no future for my profession," Mr Popa said.
"I don´t want any money from the Government, I just want a job."
The skilled migration review will be undertaken by population and labour market experts Dr Bob Birrell from Monash University, Dr Lesleyanne Hawthorne from Melbourne University, and Prof Sue Richardson from South Australia´s Flinders University.
Dr Birrell has been critical of aspects of the current system, including the high number of computer experts given visas.
The experts will determine whether the points test used is matching skilled migrants with jobs.
Up to 140,000 migrants are expected to arrive in 2005-06, including 97,500 in the skilled stream.
Skilled migrants must pass a points test based on qualifications needed in Australia, English knowledge and age.
More than a third are former overseas students, who get extra points for finishing their degrees in Australia.
Immigration Minister Amanda Vanstone said it was crucial skilled arrivals met the needs of employers and different regions.
"You can never make a system 100 per cent perfect, but we keep a close eye on what changes we think we can make," Senator Vanstone said.
An Immigration Department spokesman said research showed skilled migrants performed well and international competition for them would become more intense.
[19-08-2005,02:49]
[***.20.170.23]
sharon |
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(in reply to: life is tough in Austrailia too!)
now if I could spell Australia properly things might be better. oooops.
[19-08-2005,02:50]
[***.20.170.23]
sharon |
(in reply to: life is tough in Austrailia too!)
sounds like I am extremely lucky to have a job.
I think Canadian local econmoics isn´t too bad these years.
to myself, i won´t blame Canada for anything, since it´s my own choice to try to immigrate here. And I think some immigrants do excellent jobs to support local econmoics
[19-08-2005,04:11]
[**.66.36.59]
departure bay |
(in reply to: life is tough in Austrailia too!)
why is it so hard to adopt a procedure where they admit immigrants with the skills that are in demand?? if there are no engineering jobs, why continue to admit all the engineers?? what´s wrong with a needs based immigration program??
it can´t be that hard. i think these governments have exactly what they want: suckers to do the jobs that australians/canadians don´t want.
[19-08-2005,11:53]
[**.35.201.52]
degen95 |
(in reply to: life is tough in Austrailia too!)
HEY DEGEN95 and others
There are engineering jobs.....however, the jobs are given to Canadians first...the whole problem is that all these jobs exist but the employers look for Canadian experience and knowledge about the job.
This will be my wife´s problem. She is Polish and she is landing in 12 days. She holds a Master´s degree in International Trade and has worked as an Import Specialist for years. She has experience in East Asia and Central/Eastern Europe. She has been to China and Germany numerous times. She has contacts all over the world and would be an asset to any company. The problem is she has never worked in Canada. We understand this and realize she will likely have to take courses to familiarize herself with the Canadian system. We contacted one firm already and they told us that her credentials look good but she needs Canadian experience.
I have been in Canada since the end of June sending out "feelers" to companies...hoping to make her transition here easier. She does not expect to get a job immedialtey upon arriving. She does not really want one immediately. She wants time to get to know the country and the lifestyle here. She is open for change and will roll with the punches.
People can´t say there are NO jobs. They exisit. Most of them are given to Canadians with the experience desired by the employers. Not the fault of immigration...it is the fault of the companies.
I understand their reasoning. When I was a young and "fresh" teacher, there were no jobs for me in Ontario. They told me the credetials look great, prac teaching looks great, everything is great BUT you have no experience.
I ended up leaving Canada and I lived in Poland for 7 years. I have returned and my wife is joining me. Life will not be easy to start but of you have heart and are ready for a change, things will work out. I am starting out fresh too. It will be an adventure.
If Canada seems like a dream to you and then turns into a nightmare, leave. Go somewhere else.
Have fun, relax, chill out and realize you "are not in Kansas anynmore".
Good luck
[19-08-2005,12:14]
[**.244.235.164]
Rachunek |
(in reply to: life is tough in Austrailia too!)
Great attitude, Rachunek! You are right on! :)
[19-08-2005,13:41]
[**.12.116.5]
wannabecanadian |
(in reply to: life is tough in Austrailia too!)
life is tough anywhere... all u need is to adapt... most immigrants especially from Asia have done that one job their life and feel bitterly odd learning anything new or doing something different.
[19-08-2005,16:26]
[**.89.70.86]
Anonymous |
(in reply to: life is tough in Austrailia too!)
Life´s tough everywhere when you are new. Immigrants always struggle. The best way is to get a qualification from the country you are migrating to.
BTW, Sharon just use the Ozzie accent and it´s very easy to spell Australia
[19-08-2005,20:11]
[**.226.91.113]
sam |
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