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The Challenge From Australia. National Metropolis Conference Vancouver, 2006 Professor Sue Richardson Flinders University, Australia. The Australian Migration Program 2005-6. Skilled (97,500 places) Strengthen and augment the labour force Assist in dealing with low birth rate (1.77)
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The Challenge From Australia National Metropolis Conference Vancouver, 2006 Professor Sue Richardson Flinders University, Australia
The Australian Migration Program 2005-6 • Skilled (97,500 places) • Strengthen and augment the labour force • Assist in dealing with low birth rate (1.77) • Contribute skilled labour to regions • Family re-union (25,500 places) • Humanitarian (12,000 places)
Why Choose Australia? • Like Canada, have a long and successful history of immigration • Including active multicultural policies • Unbroken record of economic growth over past 14 years • Lowest unemployment (5.1%) for 30 years • Proximity to two large source countries • China • India • Streamlined and efficient selection processes
What migrants liked about Australia, 18 months after arrival
Some distinctive features • Centralized, onshore selection of all migrants • Can now apply online • Enhanced detection of fraud • Pre-migration evaluation of qualifications, experience and English • Contracted out • Identification of skills in demand • Including priority to employer nominations
Some distinctive features • Visas for former students (apply within 6 months of graduating) • 2 years study in Australia • Can be vocational and private • Rapid growth of courses to meet study-for-migration • Quality can be problematic (low cost, 2 years, tailor made, no local students, do not learn English or culture) • 13,000 in 2004-5 (half the skilled independent PA intake) • 2655 from China • 2433 from India • 1408 from Indonesia • Highly concentrated: 4000 accountants and 5000 computing professionals
Labour Force Status of Skilled PA’s at 6 months :% of cohort, 2005
NOT the Australian policy “Keep, ancient lands, your storied pomp!”, cries she With silent lips. “Give me your tired, your poor Your huddled masses yearning to breath free, The wretched refuse of your teeming shore, Send these, the homeless tempest tossed to me.” Emma Lazarus