457 visa holders to get fairer deal

Skilled migrants employed on temporary visas will have to be paid the same rates as local workers who do the same job, under changes introduced by the Australian government today.

Previously, employers were required to pay 457 visa workers an immigration specific wage of as little as $38,000 a year, regardless of the sector they worked in.

The new market pay rates are designed to prevent migrant workers from being exploited and employers have until January next year to comply or face fines of up to $33,000.

says the changes will also protect local jobs.

It “ensures the proper price signals are in place for employers to find local workers first,”Immigration Minister Chris Evans said in a statement.

Earlier this year, the Rudd government lifted the minimum English language requirements of temporary migrant workers in trade occupations and hospitality.

This brought the language standards in line with those required for migrant workers on permanent sponsored visas.

A formal skills assessment process is also being developed to ensure the skills of temporary migrant workers meet the expectations of Australian workplaces.

Come to Down Under Live! to find out how your visa application will be affected by recent changes to Australian Immigration Law

Clerical and secretarial jobs in Australia and New Zealand

There will be a host of job opportunities at Down Under Live! on the 19th and 20th September at the National Motorcycle Museum in Birmingham.

These include -

Personal Assistant

Western Sydney, $55K + super

Based near Epping, this position has an extremely wide range of day-to-day tasks that will see you maxing out your multi-tasking abilities. Liaising with staff members, your manager, contractors and clients you will be a smooth communicator, able to negotiate and empathise with ease.

You already possess advanced MS Office skills and have a flair for PowerPoint presentations, which will be shown to professional clients on a regular basis. This is a high level PA role, attracting an excellent salary for the great responsibility you will have. The manager you will support is a high flyer, busy but extremely friendly who needs assistance to manage his busy week!

This role is within the construction industry and therefore, I am ideally looking to recruit candidates who have direct experience in the construction industry, however, similar industry experience will be considered.

Personal Assistant to CFO
Adelaide, $55 000

Hays Office Support has an exciting opportunity for an experienced PA to support the CFO of a successful international manufacturing company.

Providing support to the CFO, and Financial Executive Team, this role requires a proactive team player with strong attention to detail with experience in office management, liaising with suppliers, clients and board members, managing daily calendar appointments for the CFO, typing of confidential information including Board minutes, maintaining necessary files for legal matters, secretarial duties for Management Meetings and corporate finance administration.

You will show a high level of initiative and have the ability to identify areas of improvement whilst relating to a diverse group of people and personalities. It is essential for the successful applicant to have advanced knowledge on MS Office, typing speed of 65wpm along with previous experience in a Senior Support position. Experience or knowledge in finance and accounting would be a distinct advantage for this role.

Corporate Receptionist
Eastern Melbourne, $40 000

This is an exceptionable opportunity to join a global market leading company who are an innovative and diverse client. Working in a vibrant, sharp and modern environment this is the chance for you to join a successful and globally established organisation.

You will be operating a computer console switchboard with a large focus on face-to-face meeting and greeting of business clients and customers. Other duties include, arranging and coordinating meeting rooms, catering for seminars, managing the stationary budget and supplies, organising couriers, assisting with Powerpoint presentations, working with Excel Spreadsheets and MS Word.

You must be polished in presentation, hold exceptional communication and interpersonal skills, alongside a pro-active, positive and professional manner. Successful applicants will have a sound background running a corporate reception, the ability to learn new software, work calmly under pressure and possess Intermediate MS Office skills.

In return this client offers a fantastic company culture, whereby people work as a team and enjoy their environment.

Office Manager/Personal Assistant Role Inner West Location
Sydney CBD, $55 000

A construction and property company are looking to recruit an Office Manager to commence immediately. This company is a major player in the construction and property market with an annual turnover in excess of $25 million.

An experienced PA is required to manage the day-to-day runnings of an office of approximately 35 people. The main duties of the role include diary management and admin support to the Managing Director. You will also be answering phones, providing admin support to staff, purchasing stationary, collating and assisting with tender requests and submissions, organising staff functions, coordinating personal training courses, along with various other ad hoc administrative duties.

To be eligible for this role you MUST have a car and a drivers license as you will be required to run errands outside the office. Previous experience working in a property and construction company is highly advantageous. You must have experience working as a PA or an office manager. The ideal candidate will have excellent organisational and time management skills, have the ability to work under pressure, have initiative and excellent personal and communication skills.

Executive Assistant
Auckland CBD, $65 000

One of New Zealand’s leading innovative Telecommunication companies is looking for an exceptional Executive Assistant to provide efficient and effective assistance to 3 Executives. This is an outstanding opportunity to join a dynamic company that is in a growth stage in New Zealand. This company provides solutions to service providers, enterprises and governments across the globe to deliver voice, data and video communication services to their end-users.

This is a varied and fast paced role where no two days are the same! However, certain key responsibilities make up the foundation of the role. These include minutes of meetings, monthly reporting, travel arrangements, diary / email management, organise company staff and client functions as required, information management, as well as some HR duties (Interviews, screening, contact point for agencies).

This unique role is looking for a unique talent, who has gained experience overseas, and who ideally has knowledge of the Telecommunications industry. As this is a high-level support role, exceptional verbal and written communication skills are required. You will have intermediate to advanced level usage of all Microsoft Office products, and have a natural flair for organising yourself and others. You will also be a natural relationship builder, and always maintain working relationships in the highest level of professionalism.

To get your tickets for the show, call our hotline on 01179 323586 or visit the website – www.downunderlive.co.uk

More Brits seek jobs down under

The number of Brits seeking jobs in Australia and New Zealand has risen by 20% in the past year, according to new figures from Hays, the leading international recruitment group.

Hays now has up to 200 enquiries a week in the UK from people seeking work in Australia and New Zealand, but tighter immigration controls and a shrinking jobs market is making it more difficult to secure work. Of those applicants 60% are from the UK and Ireland seeking new opportunities down under. The numbers of Australians and New Zealanders departing the UK to head home has grown significantly and now makes up 20% of the total. The remaining 20% is made up of other nationalities looking for work abroad.

Although in common with all developed economies fewer jobs are available in total in Australia and New Zealand, specialist skills continue to be in demand, particularly in areas like specialist IT, engineering and renewable energy.  In the past 12 months Hays has placed more than 400 candidates in jobs in Australia and New Zealand from overseas.

If you are interested in a new job in either Australia or New Zealand, then why not come to Down Under Live in Birmingham ? Hays will be there with state sponsored jobs in Australia and many other skilled migration vacancies.

Down Under Live! hits the UK

The first ever show in the UK dedicated to life Down Under is expected to attract thousands of visitors eager to get a taste of what both Australia and New Zealand have to offer.

The exciting new event, Down Under Live! will take place from the 20-22 March 2009 at London’s Excel.

In the past year, 23,223 UK residents permanently emigrated to Australia (an increase of 31% over a two-year period) and 15,000 people emigrated to New Zealand, making them among the most sought after migration destinations.

The unique format of the show, which is being launched by Merricks Media, the award winning publisher of Australia & New Zealand magazine, is to allow visitors to experience a true taste of Australia and New Zealand while gaining essential information on how to make the move of their lives.

The show’s unrivalled content will highlight the diversity of each country and its varied travel and cultural experiences, showcasing the best that life Down Under has to offer.

Backed by the leading title about Australia & New Zealand in the market, and the recruitment website, www.workingdownunder.co.uk, the show is set to become a fixture in the travel and migration calendar.

The show highlights will include appearances by celebrity chefs like  Bill Granger, a cookery school, cricket nets and photo competition, as well as a host of top name travel and migration exhibitors.

A dedicated migration area will allow visitors to assess their suitability for migration, and seek expert advice and information from migration agents, recruitment agencies and state governments at the show.

Lisa Doerr, managing director of Merricks Media comments “We’re very excited about the launch of Down Under Live!, which will offer a show experience completely unlike any other.

“Our own research has shown that those planning to emigrate will travel to Australia and New Zealand at least two or three times prior to migrating. Travel and migration are inextricably linked and with the UK’s growing passion for Australia and New Zealand, today’s travellers are tomorrow’s potential migrants.”

New Australian law to protect overseas workers

Australia’s Minister for Immigration and Citzenship, Chris Evans, has introduced a bill to improve protection for temporary overseas workers.

The Migration Legislation Amendment (Worker Protection) Bill 2008 will strengthen the integrity of temporary working visa arrangements – which will have a positive impact on those entering the country on the Working Holiday Visa program, which in 2007-08 saw almost 60,000 visas granted to people from overseas.

Evans stated: ‘The temporary working visa scheme is only sustainable if the community is confident that overseas workers are not being exploited or used to undermine local wages and conditions.’

The amendments proposed in the Bill outline four main measures to protect workers from exploitation, and include:

• expanded powers to monitor and investigate possible non-compliance by sponsors
• the introduction of penalties for employers found in breach of their obligations
• improved information sharing across all levels of government
• defined sponsorship obligations for employers and other sponsors

Specially trained officers with investigative powers will monitor workplaces and conduct site visits. Fines of up to A$33,000 are proposed for employers found to be in breach of the obligations in the migration regulations. The department will retain the ability to cancel an employer’s approval as a sponsor for a period of time.

The Bill proposes amendments which will allow the Commissioner of Taxation to disclose the tax information of visa holders, former visa holders, approved sponsors and former approved sponsors to the Department of Immigration and Citzenship, in order to ensure correct salary levels are being paid.

It contains regulations that clearly set out the sponsor obligations employers must satisfy when taking on a temporary overseas worker, plus the period of time and manner in which this must be satisfied. The regulations will be the subject of consultation with stakeholders and will be finalised in the coming months.

The Australian government is making a concerted effort to ensure the welfare of overseas workers, including those on the Working Visa program/

The bill follows the 2008-09 Budget, which allocated A$19.6 million to improve the processing and compliance of the temporary skilled migration program, and changee in the law last month, which saw minimum salary levels for temporary skilled overseas workers  increased by 3.8 per cent, despite the fact they had been frozen for over two years.
 
In April this year, industrial relations commissioner Barbara Deegan was also appointed to conduct a broad review into the integrity of the temporary skilled migration program. Ms Deegan has released two discussion papers, and will report next month after the release of her third and final paper.

Source – Working Down Under

White flight Down Under

The number of white middle-class Brits leaving the UK has leapt to 70,000 per year – and most of them are heading to Australia and New Zealand.

Thousands of Britons are leaving our shores every year for a new life abroad, official figures have shown.

But although 75,000 ‘white British’ men and women are moving away, the population is still rising because of an influx of ethnic minority groups.

According to Government estimates, the established white population of England dropped by nearly 250,000 between 2002 and 2006.

Official figures have previously indicated that about 50,000 Britons head for Australia each year and about 30,000 for New Zealand. Last year, a record 400,000 left the country to live abroad for at least 12 months.

Yesterday’s estimates, which show how each ethnic group grew or diminished between 2005 and 2006, provide further evidence of so-called white flight’.

The white British population went down by 70,400 over the year through emigration. And the white Irish population fell by 4,600 because of emigration, bringing the total decline in the existing white population to 75,000.

The figures have been calculated for every year back to 2002  -  and this was the biggest decline yet.

In the previous year, there had been a drop of just 42,300.

In 2004, there was a fall of 74,100. Even though there were more births than deaths, the white British and Irish population still fell by almost 15,000 in 2006.

Immigration increased the numbers in other groups, notably among those officially categorised as ‘other white’, including arrivals from Poland and Eastern Europe. This group grew by 70,600 in 2006.

There were also increases in the Indian, Pakistani, African and Chinese ethnic populations.
The estimates were greeted with alarm by the immigration think-tank Migration Watch.

Its chairman Sir Andrew Green said: ‘The unavoidable conclusion is that the whole nature of our society will change very rapidly unless the Government moves from spin to serious action, which the vast majority of the public want to see.’

Previous surveys by officials have shown that most of those who emigrate go to Australia, New Zealand, France, Spain or the U.S.

The most popular is Australia. About 220,000 more Britons have gone to Australia than vice versa between 1996 and 2006.

For information about skilled migration jobs, why not visit Working Down Under

40 jobs slashed from Australian immigration list

Immigration South Australia has revised its list of sponsored skilled jobs. On 23 September, 40 jobs were removed overnight from the List of Occupations for Provisional Visa sponsorship, meaning that some migrants that had been eligible for migration to this state, are no longer eligible – some, not at all, while 10 new jobs have been added.

Sponsorships will only be considered if the nominated occupation and matching skills assessment is on this list. Applications after this date which are affected by these changes will be unable to proceed with their application. MIA members have been advised that the 176 Permanent Residency List is also being revised.

No advance notice of these changes could be given as the amendments were dependent upon labour market conditions and associated changes. When planning levels for each occupation on the list are achieved, the occupation is taken off the list and is not available for sponsorship. The list is also revised if labour market conditions change to justify any additions.

To view the current updated list, visit: http://www.immigration.sa.gov.au/pdfs/gsm/OccupationList_Provisional.pdf

Maryanne Gruar, Director, True Blue Migration (www.truebluemigration.com) told Australia & New Zealand magazine readers: “This change is a prime example of the fluidity of migration eligibility. You’ll need to reassess your visa options. Is your skilled job on another state list? Could your partner be the primary applicant? Do you have relatives who could sponsor you? Ask an experienced agent to review your situation”

Look out for the January issue of Australia & New Zealand magazine, which will explore in more detail the issues surrounding state sponsorship with recommendations for those who find their migration application affected by changes to job lists.

ADDITIONS
Ambulance Officer
Community Worker
Customer Service Manager
Electrical Power Line Tradespersons
Financial Dealers and Brokers, nec
Financial Investment Adviser
General Gardener
General Mechanical Engineering Tradespersons
Head Chef
Library Technician
Lift Mechanic
Massage Therapist
Welfare Worker

DELETIONS
Aircraft Maintenance Engineer (Structures)
Applications and Analyst Programmer
Branch Accountant (Financial Institution)
Business and Information Professionals, nec
Chemistry Technical Officer
Computing Support Technician
Education Officer
Environmental Health Officer
Financial Institution Branch Manager
General Clothing Tradesperson
Historian
Hotel or Motel Manager
Internal Auditor
Interpreter
Management Consultant
Marketing Specialist
Occupational Health and Safety Officer
Organisation and Methods Analyst
Picture Framer
Project and Program Administrator
Property Manager
Real Estate Agency Manager
Research and Development Manager
Sales Representative (Industrial Products)
Sales Representative (Information and Communication
Products)
Sales Representative (Medical and Pharmaceutical Products)
Small Offset Printer
Smallgoods Maker
Software Designer
Supervisor Aircraft Maintenance Engineers
Supervisor, Bakers and Pastry Cooks
Supervisor, Bricklayers
Supervisor, Communications Tradespersons
Supervisor, Meat Tradespersons
Supervisor, Metal Finishing Tradespersons
Supervisor, Vehicle Body Makers
Systems Designer
Systems Manager
Tailor

Oz economy gets cash boost

Kevin Rudd will deliver a one-off Christmas bonus to pensioners and low-income families of over A$1000 and triple the first home buyers grant for newly constructed homes to kickstart the economy.

The Prime Minister has outlined a A$10.4 billion stimulus package in light of the global financial crisis today that will include a boost to family payments for 3.8 million eligible Australian children.  

The strategy includes five key measures, Mr Rudd said.
 

• A$4.8 billion for an immediate down payment on long-term pension reform; 
• A$3.9 billion in support payments for low and middle income families; 
• A$1.5 billion investment to help first homebuyers buy a home; 
• A$187 million to create 56,000 new training places in 2008/09;

 
Accelerate the implementation of the Government’s three nation-building funds and bring forward the commencement of investment in nation building projects to 2009.

Televised address

Mr Rudd also made an unusual televised address to the nation, outlining his government’s plan. The three-minute address was transmitted around the nation.

The last time a prime minister made such an address was when John Howard decided to send troops to Iraq in March, 2003.

“Many Australians have become concerned, anxious and even fearful as to the future,” he said.

“The truth is that we are going through the worst financial crisis in our lifetime.

“I’ve described it as the economic equivalent of a national security crisis,” he said.

He said that as prime minister, he would act to ensure the stability of Australia’s financial system, but warned the country would not be immune from the crisis impacting around the world.

“As prime minister, it is my job to level with the Australian people. I don’t intend to gild the lily,” he said.

“There will be tough times ahead.

“But the Government remains determined to take whatever action is necessary in the future to steer the economy through this global financial crisis.

“And I have absolute confidence that as a nation, we will get through these tough times together.”

Find more Australian news on Homes Worldwide.

Snip your way to Oz!

Can you believe that Australia is experiencing a shortage of hairdressers ?

The Pivot Point International Academy in Melbourne are advising that they will be in London in the middle of November 2008 for the purpose of assessing hairdressers from the UK, leading to the issuing of an AQF Certificate III.

The programme will run over two days, Saturday 15th and Sunday 16th November, and will take place at The Academy, 22 Dering Street, London, W1. Candidates will need to be available for both days from 8am to 6pm although depending upon their existing skill set their assessment may not take the entire two days.

Candidates will be required to provide three separate models for assessment – two ladies (one short hair the other long hair and one must have a solid perimeter) and one man.

The timetable for the weekend will be as follows:

Saturday 15th November
Recognition interview & folio presentation

Mannequin assessments (Pivot Point to provide mannequin heads) for long hair, perm (wind only) and chemical straightening

First interview – 8am
Last interview – 4pm

Candidates will be advised what time to arrive

Sunday 16th November
Model assessments – 2 x ladies & 1 x man

Set, colour, blow-wave & cut

All candidates required from 8am to 6pm

All official paperwork from the assessments will be given to candidates migration agents within two weeks of completion. However students will receive verbal confirmation on the day from the assessor as to their competency. Successful candidates will be issued with an AQF Certificate III in Hairdressing.

An AQF Certificate III granted after a workplace assessment can reasonably be expected to allow a pathway to skilled migration to Australia, given sufficient documented skilled work experience.

Such a qualification should also improve the prospects for employment in Australia, as a Certificate III is a generally recognised qualification – Pivot Point has also advised as follows:

Regarding job prospects, Australia is currently experiencing a severe skill shortage of qualified hairdressers. Salon owners are no longer advertising jobs in the paper or online due to the cost of having these vacancies go unfilled. Consequently all jobs are now filled via work-of-mouth.

Police check fees increase to Oz

The Australian Federal Police have announced fee increases for police checks. These fees may affect some individuals applying for visas to Australia.

The Australian Federal Police (AFP) has announced an increase in the cost of National Police Certificates (NPCs) from October 2008.

The new fee structure will impact immigration applicants who are required to obtain a police check as part of their visa application. A police check from a Government Department or individual has increased from $32.73 to $43.00.

Other services provided by the AFP have also increased slightly:

    * A$49 (£20 )for a non-Government organization (For example, commercial entities such as brokers and migration agents)
    * A$145 (£58) for fingerprints taken and processed by the AFP

Seeing red in Auckland

Mick Hucknall, lead singer of Simply Red, is coming to Villa Maria’s Auckland Winery on 15 February 2009, to belt out Simply Red’s greatest hits in the beautiful surroundings of Villa Maria’s Auckland Estate.

As well-known for his love of good wine (having launched his own Sicilian wine brand in 2004) as for his flaming red curls and distinctive gravelly voice, the singer will play an open air concert within the grounds of the Villa Maria Winery and Vineyard park in Auckland.  

The park sits inside the collapsed crater of an extinct volcano, which forms a natural amphitheatre making it an ideal venue to host open-air concerts throughout the year.

Simply Red have been around for 25 years, achieving world-wide success with well-known hits such as ‘Stars’; ‘Money’s too tight to mention’; ‘Holding back the years’ and ‘If you don’t know me by now’ and releasing six albums.  With all this under his belt Mick has “kind of decided that the 25 years is going to be enough, so I intend that the 2009 tour will be the last Simply Red tour.”

Oz agents hit by red tape

The Australian Government urgently needs to review current legislation on company-sponsored 457 visas…

Frustrated recruitment firms have warned that Australia’s public healthcare system is close to breaking point as a result of skills shortages that have left them struggling to fill ever-growing lists of vacancies.

Final details of the current government’s plans are yet to be revealed, but many doctors and at least one state health minister have expressed concern about how this accountability might be measured, recorded and publicised.

And if the situation doesn’t turn around, the result could be a “significant decline in healthcare services”, says Debbie Loveridge, CEO of specialist recruitment network Vedior Asia Pacific.

Loveridge says that the federal Government urgently needs to review current legislation on company-sponsored 457 visas in order to meet predicted jobs growth.

“With jobs growth in the healthcare sector expected to rise to 3.6 per cent in the latest quarter, the demand for overseas skilled workers will increase to meet the demand for healthcare professionals,” she says.

“Current legislation allows unskilled workers to be in the country within 24 hours. Whilst applauding the Government’s strategy to open up migration for readily available unskilled labour, registered nurses and allied health professionals face a lengthy process and they are the people we need urgently.

“Walk through any hospital or healthcare facility and you’ll see the effects of the skills shortage. There is no option but to open our doors to candidates from abroad in order to provide better health services.”

But bringing in overseas-trained healthcare professionals can be easier said than done. Before anyone can look for a nursing or allied health job, their qualifications need to be recognised in Australia and they need to meet a range of other requirements, including one or two year’s experience in their field.

Nurses and allied health professionals then need to register with the relevant regulatory body — such as the relevant state nursing board — before being legally entitled to work.

For nurses, the current wait is five to six months, but for allied health professionals it can be a lengthy process of up to 18 months.

Megan Warrin, general manager Asia Pacific of healthcare recruitment company Clinical One, says she sees daily cases of qualified and skilled professionals not being granted 457 visas to work in Australia — and thus we lose them to other countries more willing to readily accept their skills.

“We recently conducted highly successful international recruitment campaigns for registered nurses wanting to work in Australia,” she explains. “We had an overwhelming response but due to working visa restrictions and the fact that we now have to find sponsors for these workers, the process is taking a lot longer and in many instances we have had to place these nurses in Canada, New Zealand, Asia and the Middle East,” she says.

Recruitment firms claim that legislative changes introduced in October 2007 are responsible for creating a “dire” outlook for healthcare services.

Under the laws, recruitment firms fail to qualify as business sponsors for sought-after staff — leaving them with the sole option of applying for a labour agreement. Yet labour agreements carry a range of restraints which make them unappealing.

“For a recruitment company to qualify for a labour agreement, strict requirements have been put in place which make the process difficult for all recruitment companies to embrace,” says Warrin. “For example, 2 per cent of wages must be paid out in training before (recruitment firms) can sponsor overseas skilled workers.

“This 2 per cent may not sound like a lot, but if you have 20 nurses out at 38 hours per week on a salary of A$65,000 (including penalties) you need to pay A$26,000 in training.

“This comes on top of the extensive costs that are already associated with healthcare recruitment for agencies, such as public liability and indemnity insurance, workcover, medical malpractice, and midwifery insurance.” Warrin says this may not be a concern for cashed-up industries such as mining, but “everyone knows that hospitals and aged-care facilities do not have money to play with”.

She says that Clinical One has sponsored nurses who have worked in hospitals and the community and aged-care sectors since 2001.

“Throughout this time we have sponsored hundreds of candidates who have filled gaps in the system,” she says. “We now only sponsor a handful of candidates who were employed with us prior to last year’s legislative changes. (Yet) nurses are listed on the skills shortage list (and so) we should be using every mechanism possible to recruit them from overseas.

“Limiting who is eligible to sponsor makes us less competitive with other countries, which do not have the same restrictions in place. We have a crisis now and the hands of those in healthcare recruitment are tied in being able to assist.’

Allied health jobs in particularly high demand are occupational therapists, pharmacists, physiotherapists, radiographers and sonographers.

In some states, including New South Wales, South Australia and the Northern Territory, the major pull for allied health jobseekers is currently coming from rural and remote areas.

In particular, there is an extremely high demand for hospital pharmacists in non-metropolitan hospitals.

New website launches for life Down Under

A new social network is set to be the number one community for anyone interested in Australia and New Zealand.

The site, Get Me Down Under  (www.getmedownunder.com) comes from Merricks Media, the publisher of award winning Australia & New Zealand Magazine.

That magazine is now the fastest selling title dedicated to all things antipodean on the UK newsstands, and Get Me Down Under is set to provide an ideal companion online.  Members of the site will be able to post photos, videos and contribute to the blog, as well as tailoring their profile and sharing advice and information on all aspects of life down under.

Social networking is the fastest aspect of internet life in the UK, with an estimated 60% of internet users having created a profile online. Get Me Down Under aims to replicate the success of sites like Facebook ; offering users a community with which to share experiences and information, and advertisers a highly targeted and passionate audience.

The site will be promoted across the Merricks online portfolio, which already boasts more than 100,000 visitors every month, as well as through the pages of Australia & New Zealand Magazine. Get Me Down Under joins sites like Homes Worldwide, Working Down Under and others as Merricks looks to expand its audience online as well as in print.

John Weir, Publishing Director at Merricks Media said “Its vital that magazines serve their communities as closely as possible, and extending the conversation we are having with our readers in print onto the internet is absolutely essential. There is a wealth of knowledge and interest about both Oz and New Zealand waiting to be tapped, and we are sure that this network will prove a hit with anyone wanting to find out more about travelling or living down under.”

Australian apprentices benefit from skilled migrants

An Australian recruitment firm will fund a new scholarship program for Australia’s largest publicly funded provider of vocational education, Swan TAFE. In return, Interstaff Recruitment will be allowed to sponsor up to 100 temporary overseas workers in areas of skills shortage under the nation’s 457 visa scheme.

The scholarships will help apprentices and trainees gain work skills; Australian employers will also benefit as they will now be able to recruit badly needed skilled workers from abroad.

Interstaff Recruitment’s will spend two per cent of its total wage bill on training which meets one of the main requirements for the labor agreement with the government, according to Immigration Minister Chris Evans.

“The funding of the scholarship program is an innovative solution which will provide training opportunities for young Australians while meeting the immediate skills needs in industries where labour is still in demand, especially in Western Australia and Queensland,” Evans said.

“This is a win-win agreement for young apprentices and industry,” he added.

Australia depends heavily on skilled immigration to fill gaps in its labour market; this is despite the current global economic downturn.

The 457 visa program and permanent skilled immigration schemes such as the General Skilled Migration program are very popular. Australia is one the most popular destination Countries for mobile workers.

Engineering jobs in Victoria

The Aussie state of Victoria has undertaken a number of overseas recruitment activities to attract engineers to the state.

The Victorian Government in partnership with the engineering industry has recently undertaken a number of overseas recruitment activities to attract engineers to Victoria. These initiatives included attending overseas recruitment events/expos, running information seminars and publishing an on-line guide to help recently arrived engineers make the most of their skills in Victoria.

As part of the international recruitment drive, the Victorian Government hosted a ‘Live in Victoria’ pavilion at recent UK events. The ‘Live in Victoria’ pavilion included Victorian employers, Bilfinger Berger Services (Australiasia) Pty Ltd, the Department of Human Services, GHD and the City of Warrnambool.  

These events give overseas engineers the opportunity to learn about job and lifestyle opportunities in Victoria, as well as important information about visas and nomination. The involvement of industry partners in these activities gives engineers the opportunity to meet potential employers and allows industry partners to connect with high quality candidates.

Following the success of the expos, the Victorian Government in collaboration with Engineers Australia held an engineering information session at Australia House in London. The session included the launch of a new online guide Working in Victoria, an Engineer’s Guide.

This guide assists engineers to orientate themselves after they arrive in Victoria; and provides an easy-to-follow overview of Victoria’s labour market for engineers. Sponsored by the Victorian Government, written by experienced engineer and migrant mentor Ian Little and produced by multicultural publisher Tribus Lingua, the guide provides easy access to key information and advice to support an engineering career in Victoria.

For more engineering vacancies in Victoria, visit Working Down Under , or visit Down Under Live for information on jobs in Australia.

Oz reforms for skilled migrants

Temporary workers should be guaranteed market wages rather than a minimum salary according to a new report.

A report on Australia’s temporary skilled migration visas has been conducted by industrial relations expert Barbara Deegan recommending temporary workers be guaranteed market wages rather than a minimum salary.

Released recently by Federal Immigration Minister Chris Evans, the report could affect Australia’s mining industry, which employs significant numbers of workers on 457 visas.

The 457 visa is an uncapped program driven by labour market demand which enables employers to sponsor workers to fill nominated positions for up to four years.

The report is designed to address fears that the scheme has been used more as a source of cheap labour rather than skilled workers.

Other recommendations include profiling employers according to risk of exploitation, 457 visa holders be limited to eight years in Australia and employers make greater use of labour agreements to prevent mistreatment of workers.

According to Evans, the report will help to inform the Government’s reforms to the skilled migration program in 2009.

“We are closely assessing the report and decisions to implement individual recommendations will be taken as part of our budget process,” he said.

 “The visa scheme is an important source of skilled labour in Australian industries with skills shortages, and demand will continue.

For more information on Australia’s skilled migration programme, please visit Working Down Under

“The Rudd Government is committed to ensuring the subclass 457 visa scheme operates as effectively as possible in continuing the supply of skilled labour where needed, while protecting the employment and training opportunities of Australians and the rights of overseas workers.”

Irish exodus Down Under

Ireland’s young professionals and skilled workers are leading the massive migration to Australia & New Zealand.

A new wave of emigration among Ireland’s young people has begun in the first week of 2009, as Irish travel agencies were swamped with hundreds of one-way bookings.

The exodus is across the board – from construction workers to architects, as one travel agent put it.

As Ireland battens down the hatches for the toughest year in a quarter of a century, professionals and skilled workers are leading the massive migration.

In the past two months, Trailfinders, one of Ireland’s leading travel specialists, has noted a 25 per cent increase in bookings to Australia, with visa applications up 35 per cent on last year. Dave Hayeems, general manager at Trailfinders, says the company has noted a dramatic turnaround in the nature of bookings in comparison to January 2008.

“Last year we had a lot of 30- to 40-year-olds booking high-spend holidays where they would be staying in luxury resorts and paying for it with their SSIA money or other savings. But now the trend has shifted towards skilled labourers and professionals in the 20 to 29 age bracket and Australia seems to be the dominant destination.”

Mr Hayeems explained how flights to Australia are almost completely booked up for the first half of January.

“Bookings up until January 11 and 12 are very busy. There’s a lot of talk about emigration, and we’ve had brickies and architects and everyone in between enquiring about flights.

“Only this morning staff were telling me how a significant number of workers from one particular Irish bank had been in contact to say that they were taking a year or two sabbatical and enquiring about round-the-world trips. So it’s mainly professionals and tradesmen and people with skills who are travelling.”

The Central Statistics Office (CSO) has reported that emigration is at its highest level for nearly 20 years, with 45,300 workers leaving the country in the year to April 2008. The majority of these (11,300) have left for Australia and New Zealand.

As the Trailfinders manager explains: “Australia provides a core market for us so we are usually busy booking flights for that destination all year round. But recently staff at our visa desk have reported that every other caller is enquiring about visas to work there.”

Engineers, social workers and interior designers are among the latest list of workers being sought by the Australian Government as part of its Migration Occupations in Demand List (MODL). The list is updated twice a year and prospective migrants who have occupations on this list get extra points towards their visa.

Looking to find out more about a life Down Under ? Then visit www.downunderlive.co.uk

New Aussie Online Visa System

The new Australian online visa system makes it possible lodge, check the status and check visa entitlements online at any time through the Visa Entitlement Verification Online (VEVO) service. Visa holders no longer need a visa label attached to their passport to travel to or work in Australia.

“VEVO enables visa holders to view their visa details online,” a Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) spokesman said. “The system is also for employers, who can use it to ensure their workers have the entitlement to work in Australia.”

“VEVO represents a huge step forward. Visa labels attached to passports provide limited information about visa status and conditions that apply to the visa. Now, visa holders can find out all about their visa status and visa conditions at the click of a button.”

VEVO is becoming more and more popular. At least 50,000 people log on monthly to look at their visa details. Fewer and fewer people need to personally visit a DIAC office to get their visa evidenced.

To take an example in July 2008, immigration staff in New South Wales checked 5500 working holiday visas. By the end of the year the monthly numbers were down to just a few hundred. 13 000 organisations are also using VEVO to check the entitlements of visa holders who are seeking to work or study while in Australia.

“It’s crucial that employers know for certain their employees are entitled to work,” the DIAC spokesman said.”

There are severe penalties for employing or referring illegal workers; fines of up to A$13,200 for individuals and/or two years’ imprisonment per illegal worker. Companies also face fines of up to A$66 000 per illegal worker.

Free job listings for Australia and New Zealand

Need a boost in these credit crunch days ? Its Free February over at Working Down Under. Any firm wanting to post a job can put unlimited postings up there for the next 30 days.

Find a job in Australia at Down Under Live

 

 

 

 

Want to make that dream move down under ? Or are you looking for more information on what jobs are on offer in Australia and New Zealand ? Whatever your question, you’ll find the answers at Down Under Live, the UKs number one event for migration and recruitment to Australia and New Zealand.

There are a number of exhibitors with valuable information for the would-be migrant, including visa experts, recruitment specialists, banks, travel firms, finance companies and a host of other exhibitors who can help you make that move of a lifetime.

And the really good news is that it will only cost you £5 a ticket for a strictly limited time – its £10 on the door. Visit www.downunderlive.co.uk for more information.

New issue of Australia & New Zealand magazine

The new edition of Australia & New Zealand magazine is in the shops now, priced £3.99.

The magazine comes with a free Working Down Under supplement and loads of helpful advice on getting a job Down Under.

 

 

Get it at WH Smith, Tesco and all good outlets

Australian Government cuts immigration numbers

Government cuts migration program.

The Rudd Government will cut the 2008-09 permanent skilled migration program by 14 per cent to protect local jobs while ensuring employers can access skilled professionals in industries still experiencing skills shortages. As has long been the case, the Government can adjust immigration levels according to the economic circumstances of the day and last week Cabinet agreed to cut the permanent skilled migration program in light of the worsening global economic situation.

Clearly, the economic circumstances in Australia have changed as a result of the global financial crisis so it is prudent to reduce this year’s migration intake accordingly. The changes to the program are:

 •A 14 per cent cut in the 2008-09 permanent skilled migration program intake from 133 500 to 115 000.

•Removing building and manufacturing trades from the Critical Skills List, such as bricklayers, plumbers, welders, carpenters and metal fitters.

The list will now comprise mainly health and medical, engineering and IT professions. These changes follow measures announced in December that resulted in only those migrants sponsored by an employer or in an occupation on the Critical Skills List being granted visas under the permanent skilled migration program.

Almost half of the permanent visas granted are to applicants already living and working in Australia. The Critical Skills List will remain under constant review and the Government will remove occupations from the list if demand for those skills can be satisfied by local labour. The overwhelming message from business and industry is that Australia still needs to maintain a skilled migration program but one that is more targeted so that migrant workers are meeting skills shortages and not competing with locals for jobs. There are still skills shortages in some sectors, such as healthcare, and these measures will enable industry to continue to source the skilled professionals they need while protecting local jobs and the wages and conditions of Australian workers.

The Rudd Government remains committed to a strong migration program but will continue to monitor the migration intake and will set the 2009-10 migration program to reflect the economic climate as part of the Budget process. Skilled migration plays a crucial role in stimulating the economy and combined with the Government’s Nation Building and Jobs Plan, will help Australia come out of the global economic downturn.

Seminar line-up announced for Down Under Live

Anyone looking for a job in Australia or New Zealand should come along to Down Under Live, at Earls Court 2, from the 3rd to the 5th April 2009.

In addition to over 30 exhibitors helping people to make the move to Australiasia, there is also a packed seminar programme, offering a wide variety of expert advice and help.

Friday 3rd April

10.45 – 11.45 Emigrating to Australia
Pension transfers – Geraint Davis- Montfort International
Banking – Stuart Wallis – NAB
Removals – Noel Glavin – Anglo Pacific
Migration – Hannibal Khoury – Thames Migration

13.45 – 14.45 Emigrating to Australia and NZ
Legal – Sammy Naghi,Taylor Hampton Solicitors
Banking – John McLelland – CBA
Removals – John Moynes – Excess International
Migration – New Zealand Immigration Department

15.45 – 16.45 Emigrating to Australia and NZ
Legal – Sammy Naghi,Taylor Hampton Solicitors
Banking – Stuart Wallis – NAB
Travel – Dave Atherton – Rail Australia
Migration – Hannibal Khoury – Thames Migration

Saturday 4th April

10.45 – 11.45 Emigrating to Australia
Pension transfers – Geraint Davis- Montfort International
Banking – Stuart Wallis – NAB
Removals – Noel Glavin – Anglo Pacific
Migration – Hannibal Khoury – Thames Migration

13.45 – 14.45 Emigrating to Australia and NZ
Legal – Sammy Naghi,Taylor Hampton Solicitors
Banking – John McLelland – CBA
Removals – Noel Glavin – Anglo Pacific
Migration – New Zealand Immigartion Department

15.45 – 16.45 Emigrating to Australia and NZ
Legal – Sammy Naghi,Taylor Hampton Solicitors
Banking – Stuart Wallis – NAB
Travel – Dave Atherton – Rail Australia
Migration – Hannibal Khoury – Thames Migration

Sunday 5th April

10.45 – 11.45 Emigrating to Australia
Pension transfers – Geraint Davis – Montfort International
Banking – Stuart Wallis – NAB
Removals – John Moynes – Excess International
Migration – Hannibal Khoury – Thames Migration

13.45 – 14.45 Emigrating to Australia and NZ
Legal – Sammy Naghi,Taylor Hampton Solicitors
Banking – John McLelland – CBA
Removals – John Moynes – Excess International
Migration – New Zealand Immigration

15.45 – 16.45 Emigrating to Australia and NZ
Legal – Sammy Naghi,Taylor Hampton Solicitors
Banking – Stuart Wallis – NAB
Travel – Dave Atherton – Rail Australia
Migration – Hannibal Khoury – Thames Migration

Wanted down under – mental health nurses

The New South Wales (NSW) Department of Health wants to recruit 150 registered psychiatric nurses for the new Forensic Hospital in Sydney.

And a recruitment consultancy has put a call out to nurses in the city to consider moving to the other side of the world to fill the roles.

The hospital they are recruiting for is a 12-minute drive from Sydney and close to Bondi beach, a favourite with surfers.

Mental health nurses can earn anything from £22,000 (A$47,000) to £31,000 (A$66,800) in Australia, depending on experience.

Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership pays registered psychiatric nurses between £20,710, and £45,996.

Irish firm ICE Group has been appointed to attract trained healthcare staff from the British isles to fill the Australian roles.

Successful applicants will be expected to start their new lives from June, but will be given help in applying for visas.

The Forensic Hospital is the first of its kind in NSW and provides specialised forensic mental health programs for adults and adolescents.

Patients will include those who have been, or are at risk of being, in contact with the criminal justice system.

The hospital includes care for patients requiring short-term intensive care right through to those who will call the hospital home for many years.

Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership, which runs NHS services in the area, believes staff can gain a great deal from working in the UK.

A spokeswoman said: “We are confident that as a significant provider of specialist mental health services, staff at Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust are ideally placed to develop their skills and careers with us whilst enabling and empowering people to live fulfilling lives.”

The Royal College of Nursing has its own international department which speaks to nurses who are considering work abroad and help provide advice and information.

A spokeswoman said: “Nursing is a valuable, portable qualification and the quality of training undertaken in the United Kingdom is valued across the international health community.

“Nurses who travel abroad bring a wealth of experience back into the NHS on return.”

Interviews for the posts will be held in the UK in the next few weeks. For more information freephone ICE Group on 0800 0964317.

Increasing numbers of student visas in New Zealand

Increasing numbers of foreign students are being lured to New Zealand due to its weak dollar and the recession.

North International Pacific College in Palmerston has reported a 33% increase in foreign students applying compared with last year, with some wanting to pay two years of fees up front to take advantage of New Zealand’s weak currency.

Increased enrolment from foreign students has been reported throughout the country’s colleges, with some reporting rises of up to 36%, says Education New Zealand.

Official figures from the New Zealand immigration department show that 4,200 more student visas were issued in the year ending on 1 February, totaling 167,530.

The majority of foreign students  go to New Zealand from India and China, but other countries are also catching on, with Myanmar, Saudi Arabia and Jordan all catching on to the country’s quality education system and high quality of life.

Many foreign students are opting to study in smaller towns in order to gain a more genuine experience of New Zealand, away from the major cities that may be more like home to many overseas people.

Jobs boost for Australia

Australian employment jumped against all expectations in April, pulling the jobless rate down and throwing into doubt the need for further interest rate cuts.

There was also a  49,100 rise in full-time jobs, which typically offer greater pay and security.

This follows unexpectedly strong retail sales figures for March, suggesting Australia might not be in as deep a recession as feared.

South Australia pleads for more migrants

South Australian industry leaders are set to lobby the Federal Government to expand its 457 work visa program.

They are warning that South Australia will struggle to meet its two million population target and future skills demand without changes to migration policies, reports Adelaidenow.com.au.

Last week, the Economic Development Board’s chief executive Brian Cunningham said South Australia was on track to reach a population of two million by 2027.

But Migration Solutions managing director Mark Glazbrook says the target is overly ambitious without changes to the 457 skilled migrant work visa regulations. Mr Glazbrook has formed a 457 reform committee of industry leaders concerned about skills shortages.

Mr Glazbrook said recent cuts to the overall migration program and a 60 per cent decrease in 457 grants would make achieving a population of two million by 2050 an arduous task.

Find out more about the 457 visa programme and what jobs are available in Australia at Down Under Live

Business migrant scheme overhaul in New Zealand

The New Zealand government has just announced a radical overhaul of the current business migrant scheme. In an attempt to boost economic performance by making New Zealand more attractive for business and entrepreneurial migrants, a number of important changes will be made to the existing scheme by November 2009. “For investor migrants the previously existing three categories are streamlined to two, with more realistic requirements for capital, language skills and time spent in New Zealand annually, as well as a far greater flexibility in terms of investment vehicles,” explained immigration minister Dr Jonathan Coleman. The new policy package is designed for migrants who want to invest in or set up a business in New Zealand and gain permanent residency. For entrepreneurial migrants the policy also introduces a Entrepreneur Plus category, which complements the existing Entrepreneur category. Entrepreneur Plus offers a faster path to residence for applicants who create at least three full-time jobs and invest NZ$500,000 in their business. The Investor category has also been split into two – with the Investor Plus requiring the ability to invest NZ$10 million, and the Investor 2 category requiring a lower level of investment but based around a points system. So, why the new approach? According to Coleman, it’s because there has been a significant drop off in business migration investment since 2005, mainly due to unrealistic investment expectations and English language requirements. “The last government’s business migration policies have not attracted investment,” he says. “Since 2007, there have only been 23 migrants brought to New Zealand through Labour’s business migration policy. Business migration needs to be urgently addressed.” The new Investor policy was implemented on 28 July 2009 and the Entrepreneur policy will be introduced in November 2009. More information regarding both policies can be found at: http://www.immigration.govt.nz/migrant/stream/invest/migrantinvestment/default.htm

Emigrating to Australia Expo

http://ping.fm/U001P

UK drives migration growth in Australia

UK drives migration growth in Australia http://ping.fm/BIV5l

Changes to skilled migration demand list for Australia

Changes to skilled migration demand list for Australia http://ping.fm/rQvy2

Hundreds of jobs in Australia at Birmingham expo

Hundreds of jobs in Australia at Birmingham expo http://ping.fm/B3IRV

Emigrating to New Zealand? Then come to Birmingham

Emigrating to New Zealand? Then come to Birmingham
http://ping.fm/Bnuhb

New changes to New Zealand Investor visa to attract high net worth individuals

British business people can now move to New Zealand more easily and take advantage of the country’s favourable investment climate, following a relaxation of the country’s Investors immigration policy announced this week.  
 
Currently, the majority of Brits wishing to gain permanent residency to New Zealand must possess a skill that is in demand. This new Investor policy offers an alternative for those with substantial capital. 
 
Migrating Investors will be able to take advantage of New Zealand’s lower taxes. There is no inheritance tax in New Zealand and the country’s highest band of income tax stands at 39%. In the UK, inheritances are taxed at 40% after the first £325,000 and the highest rate of income tax is about to increase to 50%.
 
Interest rates in New Zealand are also higher, producing a better return on investment for migrants taking up the Investor Category. New Zealand’s Official Cash Rate is 2.5%, compared to the Bank of England’s base rate of 0.5%.  This produces a higher interest rate environment.  
 
James Shugg, senior economist at Westpac Institutional Bank, commented on the potential financial returns in New Zealand investments: 
“For those investors looking for long term security and a regular income, a ten year New Zealand government bond is currently returning 5.8 per cent, almost 2 per cent more than a similar investment in a UK government bond, yielding under 4%.”
 
New Zealand also has a better deposits guarantee scheme, whereby the government guarantees retail investments up to NZ$1 million (approx: £400,000).
 
There are two categories under the new Investor visa. One has no age or business conditions, simply requiring an investment of NZ$ 10 million (approx: £4 million) over three years.  The other category requires an investment of NZ$1.5 million (approx: £600,000) over four years, plus three years of business experience and an age limit of 65. Those applying for the second category must also have settlement funds of NZ$1 million. Applicants must spend a minimum time in New Zealand of 73 days per annum and 146 days per annum for the first and second categories respectively. 
 
New Zealand’s Investment policy has the advantage of granting immediate residency. What’s more, migrants entering under this visa can invest in a wide range of New Zealand products, including government bonds, corporate bonds, equities and managed funds, to earn commercial interest on these investments, which is not always the case with other expat countries. 
 
Andrew Lockhart, Regional Manager for Immigration New Zealand in the UK, comments: 
“The changes to the investor visa policy are likely to attract wealthy Brits who may already have their own successful businesses. Migrants to New Zealand are attracted by the country’s great relaxed lifestyle, lower crime rates and good weather.”
 
More information regarding both policies can be found at: http://www.immigration.govt.nz/migrant/stream/invest/migrantinvestment/default.htm