Skilled migration, women and the role of education and training in regional Australia: Interim findings NCVER funded res

1. Skilled migration, women and the role of education and training in regional Australia:Interim findings NCVER funded research project Sue Webb, Denise Beale, Miriam Faine & Reshmi Roy Faculty of Education Monash University

2. Outline of presentation • An overview of regional skilled migration • The research rationale • Research questions • Design and methodology • Emerging findings • Exemplar migratory trajectories • Concluding thoughts • Invitation for feedback Skilled migration, women and the role of education and training in regional Australia

3. Regional skilled migration • Regional migration programs aim to attract migrants into regional areas to fill skills shortages. • Between 1998 and 2009, the numbers of skilled migrants settling in regional Australia rose from 10% to 14.7% (Cully, 2010). • 73% of permanent migrants settling in regional areas arrived originally on 457 temporary visas (Cully, 2010). • More than 50 per cent of these migrants were secondary applicants (Cully, 2010). • An increase in the number of places under the Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme in 2011-12 (Crean, 2011). Skilled migration, women and the role of education and training in regional Australia

4. Rationale for the research • The growing number of migrants in regional areas. • Migrants as primary visa holders may be sponsored but what about their spouses? • The limited research evidence suggests these women face a number of challenges in finding work and education that supports their entry into work. • Evidence from the LFS (2007) suggests skill underutilisation. • If having a job is a measure of social inclusion, this an issue for retaining some migrants & their families in the regions Skilled migration, women and the role of education and training in regional Australia

5. Research questions • How can VET contribute towards socially inclusive outcomes for migrant women and their families in regional Australia? • How can the cultural capital and assets of migrant women be harnessed in the context of regional industry, community development and social cohesion? Skilled migration, women and the role of education and training in regional Australia

6. The research design and methodology • Case study approach—in-depth study of one regional centre • Three levels of inquiry: • The ‘demand-drivers’, particularly regional and migration policies and labour markets. • The supply-side organisations that support new migrants and provide education and training to assist the migrant into employment. • The individual migrant woman and the role of learning in a regional location.

7. Key considerations shaping the study • What is the relationship between VET and migration? • How does skilled migration in the regions affect VET? • What does social inclusion look like for migrants in the regions? Is it just being employed in any job or is it something more? • What part does VET play in achieving socially inclusive outcomes in regional areas particularly for migrant women and their families?

8. The regional case • The regional city of Greater Shepparton in Victoria. • A mixed ‘food bowl’ economy: agricultural, manufacturing and food processing; retail; services including health, social assistance and finance; transportation. • Drift of young people to cities; lower than median individual and household income; higher proportion of public housing than national average (Pope, 2011) • Unemployment rate estimated to be nearly 8%, above Victorian mean (ABS, 2011) • Population growth – estimated to be 1% per annum (ABS, 2012) • Targeted by Federal Govt. for humanitarian settlement; and state govt. for regional skilled migration. • Growth of overseas born population between 2001 and 2011 of approximately 40%, with nearly 30% of that increase occurring between 2006 and 2011 (ABS, 2012). • The area health service and hospital relies on overseas trained health professionals mainly from the Indian sub-continent, the Philippines and the UK. Skilled migration, women and the role of education and training in regional Australia

9. Source: Google Maps 22/6/2012 Skilled migration, women and the role of education and training in regional Australia

10. Migratory trajectories Untroubled Risky Gender Race Policy frames -Modes of entry, Regulations Socio-cultural contexts – sending receiving countries Strategies & exclusionary or inclusionary practices of networks, employers, VET & HE providers Migrants’ strategies, resources & networks Skilled migration, women and the role of education and training in regional Australia

11. Trajectories Untroubled Risky International female student to PR Female from West Africa & Canada, French speaker Tertiary educated in Australia, Business Administration, worked as bank teller during studies Has MBA but failed to find graduate level job As single parent, moved to regional city for quality of life and low cost Became involved in community and voluntary work Has started own business, now employing humanitarian migrants • International female student to PR • Spanish speaker from Mexico • Tertiary educated on entry • BA in Economics • 3 years financial analyst in retail sector • In Australia – gained MA and employment through University networks • In regional city because of husband’s job – she gained employment via recruitment agent • Working as financial analyst for public body • Running own small fitness business Skilled migration, women and the role of education and training in regional Australia

12. Trajectories Untroubled Risky Skilled migrant PR partner, English speaker from India Tertiary educated on entry, PhD Chemistry, 8 years research/teaching Tertiary level & high schools Entered Australia without a job; moved to regional city because husband found a job not related to previous employment Became stay at home mum until in-laws came to support Now working in Community Development, after voluntary work & paid ESL teaching gave first reference Ambition to re-qualify as a teacher in Australia taking Grad Dip in local HEI • Skilled migrant – RSMS • Female, English speaker from India, via England, employed by hospital • Husband secondary applicant, now owns franchise for food outlet • Husband tertiary educated – management • Actively sought work in any management field, travelled to another regional city to work • Built networks in community, able to respond to opportunity to buy franchise • Now employing other migrants Skilled migration, women and the role of education and training in regional Australia

13. Trajectories Untroubled Risky Case 2 Migration unsupported even by Australian HEI, own resilience, entrepreneurship & community networks vital Case 4 Disrupted professional capital & networks in the move, rebuilding via ‘migrant’ multicultural pathway in TAFE and Voluntary Sector Case 1 • Maintained & built professional capital & networks during the move Case 3 • Migration supported by employer helped partner secure new entrepreneurial networks & social capital Skilled migration, women and the role of education and training in regional Australia

14. Concluding thoughts • Skilled migration is premised on matching of needs of receiving country with rational allocation of jobs to those with human capital • Case study has shown employment in Australia depends on maintenance of professional networks & social capital • Modes of entry can disrupt these networks and lead to lost capital • Australian experience counts, the first reference is important • Migrants rebuild networks most easily when institutions (e.g.VET, HEIs, Employers) actively intervene to segue path to employment • Migrants outside fall back own resilience & entrepreneurialism • Different networks access different resources and labour markets • The voluntary sector provides easy access to networks but these are embedded in different socio-cultural relationships from the voluntary sector of established local social clubs and societies. Skilled migration, women and the role of education and training in regional Australia

15. A strategic decision ‘I played netball which I really don’t like but I did it purely for the social inclusion and now I am included, I don’t need to play it anymore.’ Source: The Age, 4/6/2012 Skilled migration, women and the role of education and training in regional Australia

16. Feedback and comments • We invite your comments on any aspect of the project. • Please contact: Dr Denise Beale Research Fellow Faculty of Education Monash University Clayton VIC 3800 denise.beale@monash.edu. Thank you

17. References • ABS (2007) Labour force status and other characteristics of recent migrants, cat.no. 6250.0, Canberra: Australian Bureau of Statistics. • ABS (2011) National regional profile, Greater Shepparton (C), 2006-2010, cat.no.1379.0.55.001, Canberra: Australian Bureau of Statistics. • ABS (2012) Time series profile. Greater Shepparton (C), cat.no.2003.0, Canberra: Australian Bureau of Statistics. • Crean, S. (2011) Budget 2011-12. Investing in regional Australia, Canberra: Treasury. • Cully, M. (2010) The contribution of migrants to regional Australia, Canberra: Department of Immigration and Citizenship. • DIAC (2011) Population flows: Immigration aspects 2009–10 edition, Canberra: Department of Immigration and Citizenship. • Pope, J. (2011) Change and disadvantage in the Hume region, Victoria. Melbourne: Department of Planning and Community Development.