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
nts
Com
putin
gPr
ofes
siona
ls
Cook
s
Regis
tere
dNu
rses
Gen
eral
Man
ager
s
Haird
ress
ers
Mar
ketin
gSp
ecial
ists
Mec
hanic
alEn
ginee
rs
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