TAFE Meets ParliamentSKILLS INNOVATION 2020

Presentation

General Skilled Migration Reforms, Impacts and Prospects

Presenter: Jim Dawson, Acting Director, General Skilled Migration

DIAC17 September 2008

2007/08 Migration Program

158,800

Family Stream56,500

Skilled Stream108,540

Employer Sponsored

22,800

General Skilled Migration79,500

Business Skills6,000

2008/09 Migration Program

158,800 to 190,300

Skilled Stream133,500

(+ 31,000)

General Skilled Migration98,300

Plus uncapped Temporary Skilled Migrationof around 110,000

Migration Program Targets

2006-07 Skill Stream Outcome by Occupation - Principal Applicants

Professionals66.1%

Tradespersons & Related Workers

21.2%

Managers & Administrators

4.7%

Associate Professionals5.0%

Other3.0%

2007-08 Skill Stream Outcome by Occupation – Principal Applicants

Professionals62%

Other2%

Managers and Admin5.5%

Assoc Professionals

6.5%

Trades and related24%

Skill Stream Outcome Top 10 Occupations: 2005-06 to 2007-08

0

2000

4000

6000

8000

10000

12000

Acco

unta

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Com

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gPr

ofes

siona

ls

Cook

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Regis

tere

dNu

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Gen

eral

Man

ager

s

Haird

ress

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Mar

ketin

gSp

ecial

ists

Mec

hanic

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ginee

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Busin

ess

Prof

essio

nals

2005-06 2006-07 2007-08

General Skilled Migration (GSM) Changes

Phase 1 of the GSM Reforms was implemented on 1 September 2007

• increased English language threshold• made the recent work experience requirement uniform for offshore

GSM visas• adjusted the points test to reward applicants with:

- strong English language skills

- Australian skilled work experience

- advanced Australian tertiary qualifications• limited MODL points to applicants with work experience• allowed overseas students with 50 point occupations to apply for GSM in

Australia• created a temporary visa for graduate Students• introduced a new visa structure

Onshore GSM Visa Structure

Onshore

Skilled (Residence)Class VB

Skilled (Provisional)Class VC

IndependentSubclass 885

(replaces subclass 880)

SponsoredSubclass 886

(replaces subclass 881)

Regional visaSubclass 887

(replaces subclasses 883

and 137)

GraduateSubclass 485

(replaces subclass 497)

Regional – Sponsored

Subclass 487(replaces

subclasses 495, 882 )

120

& pass marks

100 100

Total GSM visas granted to onshore students from 2001/02 to 2007/08

6,2738,668

13,143

16,48517,896

21,42122,858

3150

5,000

10,000

15,000

20,000

25,000

2001/02 2002/03 2003/04 2004/05 2005/06 2006/07 2007/08

Onshore GSM visas (permanent) Skilled - Graduate visa (temporary)

VISA SUBCLASS TYPE LODGEMENT GRANTED

Skilled - (VB 885) Independent 6 240 634

Skilled - (VB 886) Sponsored3 846 151

Skilled - (VB 887) Regional1 031 951

Skilled - (VC 485) Graduate18 547 846

Skilled - (VC 487) Regional Sponsored

306 7

Skilled - (VC 487) Regional Sponsored (Renewal)32 0

Total 30 002 2 589

GSM Onshore Lodgements and Grants to 5 September 2008

The 485 visa and changes being introduced in October 2008

• There are currently 17,000 Skilled – Graduate visa applications awaiting processing by the ASPC and BSPC

• Approximately 70% of these applications have been identified as having extended their IELTS test date in order to obtain a suitable English language test

• Given this, from late October 2008, Skilled - Graduate (subclass 485) visa applicants must meet the English language threshold at the time of application

• There will no longer be a facility to ‘book to undergo’ an English language test to meet the Time of Application requirement for this visa

Growth in international student commencements (AEI International Student Data year-to-date June)

0

10,000

20,000

30,000

40,000

50,000

60,000

HigherEducation

VET ELICOS Schools Other

2004 2005 2006 2007 2008

Commencements in courses correlated with eligibility requirements for General Skilled Migration

0

2,000

4,000

6,000

8,000

10,000

12,000

2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007

Hospitality Management

Welfare Studies Hairdressing

Accounting

Cookery, etc.

Computing, IT

• Possible expansion of English language testing options for GSM

– Review underway by the Department to introduce further English language providers

• Expansion of the PY regime into other sectors

– Currently liaising with various sectors to gauge interest in establishing further PY

• Expanding list of recognised institutions and occupations for the 476 Recognised Graduate visa

– Minister recognising change in demographic and supply and demand requirements in certain sectors

– Any changes will be published on the Department’s website when introduced

GSM - Looking Forward (cont)

GSM - Looking Forward (cont)

• Tighter targeting of program

- greater emphasis on sponsorship and nomination- emphasis on demand not supply- assessment regimes through expanding offshore regime into

more occupations- new s.499 Direction on processing priorities

• Over sampling of GSM cohort in LSIA 4

• Examination of English language standards

- review of English language threshold requirements

• Refinement of MODL methodology

Refining the 1 September 2007 policy settings

• Review of GSM points factor and time of application requirements will commence in the forthcoming weeks

• Driving factors:– Assist with demand and supply management– Move from ASCO to ANZSCO, and the points

attribution based on qualification and occupation

• Greater focus on the ‘quality, not quantity’ factor