Feb 24,(AAP)- The 75,000 jobs the government said would be created by its first economic stimulus package will flow this year, Prime Minister Kevin Rudd says.
The government outlaid $10.4 billion before Christmas on cash handouts for pensioners, carers and low-income earners, and funding an extension to the first home buyers grant scheme
"The flow-through effect on the economy will occur during the course of this year," Mr Rudd said in answer to a question from Opposition Leader Malcolm Turnbull.
"We will also see what occurs with the fourth quarter data for 2008."
The government was taking a responsible course of action.
"The alternative, as recommended by the Liberal party, is to do nothing," he said.
Source: news.smh.com.au
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Skilled Migration Debated in Australia
Australia is reconsidering its seduction of skilled migrants as the jobless rate rises at home, yet analysts see sound economic reasons to keep the flow of workers coming and even opportunity in the firing frenzy abroad.
The tidal wave of global job shedding could be a rare opening for Australian recruiters to tap top talent and plug skill shortages that have plagued business here for years.
"There's going to be an extraordinary pool of experienced people looking for work and a real chance for Australia to fill gaps in sectors like health and engineering, which are crying out for them," said Stephen Roberts, an economist at Nomura.
"For economists, the case for skilled migration is cast iron, but as unemployment creeps higher, policy makers will surely come under pressure to cut back, and that would be a shame," he added.
Economic success has turned Australia into a major importer of people. Eighteen years of uninterrupted economic growth has generated a serious need for labor - everything from bricklayers to brain surgeons.
Read the full article here: www.iht.com
Author: Wayne Cole
The tidal wave of global job shedding could be a rare opening for Australian recruiters to tap top talent and plug skill shortages that have plagued business here for years.
"There's going to be an extraordinary pool of experienced people looking for work and a real chance for Australia to fill gaps in sectors like health and engineering, which are crying out for them," said Stephen Roberts, an economist at Nomura.
"For economists, the case for skilled migration is cast iron, but as unemployment creeps higher, policy makers will surely come under pressure to cut back, and that would be a shame," he added.
Economic success has turned Australia into a major importer of people. Eighteen years of uninterrupted economic growth has generated a serious need for labor - everything from bricklayers to brain surgeons.
Read the full article here: www.iht.com
Author: Wayne Cole
Monday, January 5, 2009
A New Fast-Track Visa for Australia
PM - Wednesday, 17 December , 2008
Reporter: Alexandra Kirk
MARK COLVIN: The Federal Government has announced changes to the program that brings skilled migrants to Australia.
The Immigration minister Chris Evans says that fast-tracking professionals on the critical skills list will ensure the economy gets the skills it needs now, not just those people who applied first.
The changes will start from the 1st of January.
Senator Evans says the Government will fast track the processing of permanent migration visas where the skilled migrants are sponsored by an employer.
People applying to come to Australia without a sponsor will be given priority if they have an occupation on the government's list of skills in critical shortage.
The minister spoke to Alexandra Kirk a short time ago.
CHRIS EVANS: Well since the Budget a bit earlier in the year clearly the economic forecasts have been revised downwards and it's reasonable to see that the demands for skills in the economy will decline and I've been reviewing employer's needs. Talking to them about their expectations but their very strong message is to continue to run a strong migration program. That there are still skills and a critical shortage but they want the scheme targeted so we bring the right people in to fill the jobs we can't fill locally.
ALEXANDRA KIRK: So will the number of skilled overseas workers coming into Australia decrease?
CHRIS EVANS: No, look I think we'll probably meet the program targets this year, we might come a little under. But what I'm trying to do is make sure first of all that we only get people who are coming in to fill jobs that they're qualified for and they're filling jobs that we can't meet from local workers.
We going to make sure it's much better targeted and prioritising the critical skills we need.
ALEXANDRA KIRK: So people with the wrong skills have been coming in?
CHRIS EVANS: Well at the moment, people are if you like, self-nominating and while they come in order of application across a broad range of skills and what I think we should be doing is recruiting people in priority order for those skills that are in critical need in the medical areas, in the engineering areas etc.
And I think the changes we've announced will allow us to do that and to make sure that in changing economic circumstances we're getting the people we need in a highly targeted way that's responsive to businesses needs and this would also help us with any major infrastructure projects and with any economic growth that occurs over the next couple of years.
ALEXANDRA KIRK: The emphasis here is on people who are applying to come here permanently. In the past two years, there's been a big increase in the number of temporary skilled migrant workers or those coming in under the 457 visa scheme. Will that number be cut?
CHRIS EVANS: Well the 457 is responsive to employer demand. They nominate who comes in. What we know about the permanent migration system is increasingly people are already in the country and under the changes I announced today will see up to about 50 per cent of the permanent migration coming from people already in the country.
That's a good thing because they're already here, they want to stay and they're in a job. So they're a good outcome from a migration program point of view. So as I say, half the people will probably be in the country. What we are doing is regularising their status as permanents and the 457 scheme will continue but we are already seeing a drop off in demand as employers scale-back on their labour needs.
ALEXANDRA KIRK: So what will the net benefit do you think, be?
CHRIS EVANS: Well I think we'll have a much better targeted program. We'll be ensuring that we get the skills into the country that we need. We'll be getting those skills in quicker and in the high priority areas and so it's much more responsive to the economy. It's much more responsive to employers. And make sure that people who are coming into the country are coming into jobs that we can't fill locally.
They won't be coming in in large numbers just looking for a job. Those who are coming in permanently into a pre-arranged job.
ALEXANDRA KIRK: Do you have employer groups onside?
CHRIS EVANS: I think the employers will respond positively to this. It's very much making the system work better for them. They're in a global market for skills and one of their concerns has been that it all takes too long. This will help make us much more responsive to our needs.
MARK COLVIN: The Immigration minister Chris Evans with Alexandra Kirk.
Source: abc.net.au/
Reporter: Alexandra Kirk
MARK COLVIN: The Federal Government has announced changes to the program that brings skilled migrants to Australia.
The Immigration minister Chris Evans says that fast-tracking professionals on the critical skills list will ensure the economy gets the skills it needs now, not just those people who applied first.
The changes will start from the 1st of January.
Senator Evans says the Government will fast track the processing of permanent migration visas where the skilled migrants are sponsored by an employer.
People applying to come to Australia without a sponsor will be given priority if they have an occupation on the government's list of skills in critical shortage.
The minister spoke to Alexandra Kirk a short time ago.
CHRIS EVANS: Well since the Budget a bit earlier in the year clearly the economic forecasts have been revised downwards and it's reasonable to see that the demands for skills in the economy will decline and I've been reviewing employer's needs. Talking to them about their expectations but their very strong message is to continue to run a strong migration program. That there are still skills and a critical shortage but they want the scheme targeted so we bring the right people in to fill the jobs we can't fill locally.
ALEXANDRA KIRK: So will the number of skilled overseas workers coming into Australia decrease?
CHRIS EVANS: No, look I think we'll probably meet the program targets this year, we might come a little under. But what I'm trying to do is make sure first of all that we only get people who are coming in to fill jobs that they're qualified for and they're filling jobs that we can't meet from local workers.
We going to make sure it's much better targeted and prioritising the critical skills we need.
ALEXANDRA KIRK: So people with the wrong skills have been coming in?
CHRIS EVANS: Well at the moment, people are if you like, self-nominating and while they come in order of application across a broad range of skills and what I think we should be doing is recruiting people in priority order for those skills that are in critical need in the medical areas, in the engineering areas etc.
And I think the changes we've announced will allow us to do that and to make sure that in changing economic circumstances we're getting the people we need in a highly targeted way that's responsive to businesses needs and this would also help us with any major infrastructure projects and with any economic growth that occurs over the next couple of years.
ALEXANDRA KIRK: The emphasis here is on people who are applying to come here permanently. In the past two years, there's been a big increase in the number of temporary skilled migrant workers or those coming in under the 457 visa scheme. Will that number be cut?
CHRIS EVANS: Well the 457 is responsive to employer demand. They nominate who comes in. What we know about the permanent migration system is increasingly people are already in the country and under the changes I announced today will see up to about 50 per cent of the permanent migration coming from people already in the country.
That's a good thing because they're already here, they want to stay and they're in a job. So they're a good outcome from a migration program point of view. So as I say, half the people will probably be in the country. What we are doing is regularising their status as permanents and the 457 scheme will continue but we are already seeing a drop off in demand as employers scale-back on their labour needs.
ALEXANDRA KIRK: So what will the net benefit do you think, be?
CHRIS EVANS: Well I think we'll have a much better targeted program. We'll be ensuring that we get the skills into the country that we need. We'll be getting those skills in quicker and in the high priority areas and so it's much more responsive to the economy. It's much more responsive to employers. And make sure that people who are coming into the country are coming into jobs that we can't fill locally.
They won't be coming in in large numbers just looking for a job. Those who are coming in permanently into a pre-arranged job.
ALEXANDRA KIRK: Do you have employer groups onside?
CHRIS EVANS: I think the employers will respond positively to this. It's very much making the system work better for them. They're in a global market for skills and one of their concerns has been that it all takes too long. This will help make us much more responsive to our needs.
MARK COLVIN: The Immigration minister Chris Evans with Alexandra Kirk.
Source: abc.net.au/
Monday, December 22, 2008
Skilled Workers Needed in Australia
Cebu City, Philippines - Despite the expected layoff of overseas contract workers brought about by the global economic crisis, there are still work opportunities for Filipinos abroad.
One country with job opportunities for Filipinos is Australia.
Queensland, a province of Australia, needs at least 120,000 skilled laborers by 2010 to fill up the jobs left by the he country's aging population, said Linda Brown, institute director of the Metropolitan South Institute of Technical and Further Education.
“Our community is getting older. We have an aging population. In 2015, there will be more people over 50 (years old) than those under 25 years old,” she told reporters in a recent press conference held at the Laguna Garden cafe.
Brown was among the members of the Queensland, Australia Vocational Education and Training (VET) delegation, who visited Cebu last month to orient government and academe representatives about work and career opportunities available in Australia.
VET export office director Katherine Marnane said various jobs will be available as the Queensland economy has $170 billion worth of investments over the next 18 years.
These projects include transport and freighting, information and communication technology, and industry development.
Marnane also noted workers are needed in the sectors of tourism and hospitality, business, accounting, hairdressing, and health and community services.
To get the necessary workforce, the VET export office has built partnerships with Australia-based education provider and agency, Charlton Brown.
Charlton Brown, in turn, partnered with Integrated Learning (IL) Institute Philippines to provide the necessary training to Filipinos, who are interested to pursue a career in Australia, and later on, reside permanently in the country.
IL Institute president Jerry Perez de Tagle said Filipino students can enroll in three-month long training courses such as elderly care and community services in the Philippines.
“While they are studying, our partner, Charlton Brown, will help process their visa requirements. It will also help place students in jobs once they arrive in Australia,” said de Tagle.
“They will come in with a student visa. In Australia, Filipinos can still continue their studies for two years while earning income from working,” he added.
After two years study, de Tagle said a student will be given a Diploma in Community Service and will be given a professional work visa and can work for another 18 months.
“By then, you will then be eligible for permanent residency. This process could even be done within the fastest period of three and a half years.”
Brown of Metropolitan South TAFE said Australia has a stable economy which shelters them from the effects of the financial crisis.
She noted the proximity of Australia and the Philippines is a factor that should encourage Filipinos to work in Australia aside from the Filipinos fluency in the English language.
Source: globalnation.inquirer.net/
Author: Cris Evert Lato
One country with job opportunities for Filipinos is Australia.
Queensland, a province of Australia, needs at least 120,000 skilled laborers by 2010 to fill up the jobs left by the he country's aging population, said Linda Brown, institute director of the Metropolitan South Institute of Technical and Further Education.
“Our community is getting older. We have an aging population. In 2015, there will be more people over 50 (years old) than those under 25 years old,” she told reporters in a recent press conference held at the Laguna Garden cafe.
Brown was among the members of the Queensland, Australia Vocational Education and Training (VET) delegation, who visited Cebu last month to orient government and academe representatives about work and career opportunities available in Australia.
VET export office director Katherine Marnane said various jobs will be available as the Queensland economy has $170 billion worth of investments over the next 18 years.
These projects include transport and freighting, information and communication technology, and industry development.
Marnane also noted workers are needed in the sectors of tourism and hospitality, business, accounting, hairdressing, and health and community services.
To get the necessary workforce, the VET export office has built partnerships with Australia-based education provider and agency, Charlton Brown.
Charlton Brown, in turn, partnered with Integrated Learning (IL) Institute Philippines to provide the necessary training to Filipinos, who are interested to pursue a career in Australia, and later on, reside permanently in the country.
IL Institute president Jerry Perez de Tagle said Filipino students can enroll in three-month long training courses such as elderly care and community services in the Philippines.
“While they are studying, our partner, Charlton Brown, will help process their visa requirements. It will also help place students in jobs once they arrive in Australia,” said de Tagle.
“They will come in with a student visa. In Australia, Filipinos can still continue their studies for two years while earning income from working,” he added.
After two years study, de Tagle said a student will be given a Diploma in Community Service and will be given a professional work visa and can work for another 18 months.
“By then, you will then be eligible for permanent residency. This process could even be done within the fastest period of three and a half years.”
Brown of Metropolitan South TAFE said Australia has a stable economy which shelters them from the effects of the financial crisis.
She noted the proximity of Australia and the Philippines is a factor that should encourage Filipinos to work in Australia aside from the Filipinos fluency in the English language.
Source: globalnation.inquirer.net/
Author: Cris Evert Lato
Immigration Tightened to Save Jobs
A GROWING jobs shortage and rising unemployment figures in Australia have forced the Rudd Government to start closing the gate on foreign workers.
Jobs vacancies for skilled workers have plunged 50 per cent in Queensland as demand for professionals and tradespeople dries up and mining giants slash staff.
Nearly 550 Queensland miners were axed on Tuesday and up to $30 billion in planned mining developments are in doubt because of the sudden downturn in world demand for the state's coal.
In response, the Federal Government has moved to tighten immigration laws to protect Australian Jobs. This will involve the Government making it harder for skilled foreign workers to come to Australia, but fast-tracking those who meet critical shortfalls. Immigration Minister Chris Evans said the revised program would start in January and would better target the workers Australia needed."In light of changing economic circumstances, the Rudd Government has reviewed the skilled migration program and consulted with business and industry along with state and territory governments Australia-wide about their skills need," Senator Evans said. "There were concerns that the permanent skilled migration program was not delivering the right skills to the right areas and there was an increasing use of the temporary skilled migration program by employees to meet their needs."
The 133,500 skilled migrants applying to work in Australia will now be required to have a job – sponsored by an employer or by a state government – before they arrive or meet a critical skills list, including medical, engineering and construction.The move to save jobs for Australians comes as Treasurer Wayne Swan hit out at a bookmaker who offered $1.12 odds on Australia plunging into recession. "I think that sort of talk is utterly irresponsible," Mr Swan said. "What the Australian Government is doing in the face of the global financial crisis is everything we possibly can to strengthen our economy and to protect jobs in that environment."
On top of the mining job cuts in the Bowen Basin and northwest Queensland, it yesterday emerged about 80 staff at the Brisbane headquarters of collapsed childcare giant ABC Learning Centres had been sacked. The losses add to about 100 jobs tipped to go from ABC childcare centres next month.
The Employment Department's job index for skilled workers plunged by more than 50 per cent in Queensland in the past year, the second biggest decrease after NSW. Nationally, skilled vacancies have dropped by nearly 38 per cent as the financial crisis hit the broader economy. The biggest drop was for printing trades, which were down by 24.2 per cent, followed by metal trades at 15.8 per cent and wood trades at 14.1 per cent. The only occupation on the rise was medical and science technical officers, which rose by 0.8 per cent. The grim economic news follows moves by the US Federal Reserve to reduce interest rates virtually to zero to stimulate the economy out of recession. Professor of economic policy at Curtin University's Graduate School of Business Peter Kenyon said the resource sector would feel more pain in the short term.
Source: www.news.com.au/
Author: Renee Viellaris, Michael Madigan, Liam Walsh
Jobs vacancies for skilled workers have plunged 50 per cent in Queensland as demand for professionals and tradespeople dries up and mining giants slash staff.
Nearly 550 Queensland miners were axed on Tuesday and up to $30 billion in planned mining developments are in doubt because of the sudden downturn in world demand for the state's coal.
In response, the Federal Government has moved to tighten immigration laws to protect Australian Jobs. This will involve the Government making it harder for skilled foreign workers to come to Australia, but fast-tracking those who meet critical shortfalls. Immigration Minister Chris Evans said the revised program would start in January and would better target the workers Australia needed."In light of changing economic circumstances, the Rudd Government has reviewed the skilled migration program and consulted with business and industry along with state and territory governments Australia-wide about their skills need," Senator Evans said. "There were concerns that the permanent skilled migration program was not delivering the right skills to the right areas and there was an increasing use of the temporary skilled migration program by employees to meet their needs."
The 133,500 skilled migrants applying to work in Australia will now be required to have a job – sponsored by an employer or by a state government – before they arrive or meet a critical skills list, including medical, engineering and construction.The move to save jobs for Australians comes as Treasurer Wayne Swan hit out at a bookmaker who offered $1.12 odds on Australia plunging into recession. "I think that sort of talk is utterly irresponsible," Mr Swan said. "What the Australian Government is doing in the face of the global financial crisis is everything we possibly can to strengthen our economy and to protect jobs in that environment."
On top of the mining job cuts in the Bowen Basin and northwest Queensland, it yesterday emerged about 80 staff at the Brisbane headquarters of collapsed childcare giant ABC Learning Centres had been sacked. The losses add to about 100 jobs tipped to go from ABC childcare centres next month.
The Employment Department's job index for skilled workers plunged by more than 50 per cent in Queensland in the past year, the second biggest decrease after NSW. Nationally, skilled vacancies have dropped by nearly 38 per cent as the financial crisis hit the broader economy. The biggest drop was for printing trades, which were down by 24.2 per cent, followed by metal trades at 15.8 per cent and wood trades at 14.1 per cent. The only occupation on the rise was medical and science technical officers, which rose by 0.8 per cent. The grim economic news follows moves by the US Federal Reserve to reduce interest rates virtually to zero to stimulate the economy out of recession. Professor of economic policy at Curtin University's Graduate School of Business Peter Kenyon said the resource sector would feel more pain in the short term.
Source: www.news.com.au/
Author: Renee Viellaris, Michael Madigan, Liam Walsh
Saturday, December 20, 2008
No Cut of Skilled Migrants
SYDNEY: Fears that international economic woes would force Australia to cut migrant numbers have proved unfounded, with the government pledging to maintain the record intake and to focus on those offering critically needed skills.
Immigration Minister Chris Evans, who had earlier hinted that the worldwide slowdown might lead to a scaling down of the annual migration programme, has instead heeded the advice of the business community and promised to keep the door open to new settlers.
In May, the quota for the skilled migration programme was raised from 102,500 to 133,500 and this will remain as the target figure for 2008-09.
But the minister also cautioned that the government would retain the ability to cap the programme below that figure if necessary. The only change will be a greater emphasis on fast-tracking skilled migrants who have a confirmed job to go to, or have work experience of crucial need.
'The overwhelming message is that we need to maintain a skilled migration programme but one that is more targeted,' Senator Evans said.
'This will ensure our migration programme is more responsive to the needs of the economy and assists industries still experiencing skills shortages,' he explained.
Skilled migrants had become concentrated in occupations such as accounting, cooking and hairdressing, while shortages in other areas had not been met, he said. There were concerns that in these areas, employers were forced to meet their needs through a temporary visa scheme.
In the last three years, just five occupations out of the hundreds available accounted for almost half of the visas granted to applicants.
Under the new scheme, migrants with medical, information technology, engineering and construction skills will be given priority treatment.
'Fast-tracking professionals on the critical skills list will ensure that the economy gets the skills it needs now, not just those applicants who applied first,' the minister said.
Australia's decision to maintain numbers was welcomed by the industry, which was worried that the government might lose its nerve in the current economic climate.
The Australian Chamber of Commerce and Trade said it was a 'well considered and manageable' decision. 'Although the government has made some changes, it has properly resisted any knee-jerk response that would see skilled immigration numbers arbitrarily cut,' said its chief executive Peter Anderson.
'To have done so without case-by-case assessment would have been a mistake and a drag on our economy at a time when we need every productive asset in play.'
Immigration has always played a key role in the Australian economy, contributing millions of dollars a year to state and federal coffers.
A recent study by economic consulting firm Access Economics found that the fiscal benefits from taxation and visa charges far outweighed the costs that migrants imposed on health, education, welfare, employment and settlement services.
With many Australians reaching retirement age, continued migration also offers a ready supply of workers for the future.
'The bottom line is that our migration programme is vital to keep the economy going as well as help Australian businesses overcome skills and shortages,' Senator Evans pointed out.
source: www.straitstimes.com
Immigration Minister Chris Evans, who had earlier hinted that the worldwide slowdown might lead to a scaling down of the annual migration programme, has instead heeded the advice of the business community and promised to keep the door open to new settlers.
In May, the quota for the skilled migration programme was raised from 102,500 to 133,500 and this will remain as the target figure for 2008-09.
But the minister also cautioned that the government would retain the ability to cap the programme below that figure if necessary. The only change will be a greater emphasis on fast-tracking skilled migrants who have a confirmed job to go to, or have work experience of crucial need.
'The overwhelming message is that we need to maintain a skilled migration programme but one that is more targeted,' Senator Evans said.
'This will ensure our migration programme is more responsive to the needs of the economy and assists industries still experiencing skills shortages,' he explained.
Skilled migrants had become concentrated in occupations such as accounting, cooking and hairdressing, while shortages in other areas had not been met, he said. There were concerns that in these areas, employers were forced to meet their needs through a temporary visa scheme.
In the last three years, just five occupations out of the hundreds available accounted for almost half of the visas granted to applicants.
Under the new scheme, migrants with medical, information technology, engineering and construction skills will be given priority treatment.
'Fast-tracking professionals on the critical skills list will ensure that the economy gets the skills it needs now, not just those applicants who applied first,' the minister said.
Australia's decision to maintain numbers was welcomed by the industry, which was worried that the government might lose its nerve in the current economic climate.
The Australian Chamber of Commerce and Trade said it was a 'well considered and manageable' decision. 'Although the government has made some changes, it has properly resisted any knee-jerk response that would see skilled immigration numbers arbitrarily cut,' said its chief executive Peter Anderson.
'To have done so without case-by-case assessment would have been a mistake and a drag on our economy at a time when we need every productive asset in play.'
Immigration has always played a key role in the Australian economy, contributing millions of dollars a year to state and federal coffers.
A recent study by economic consulting firm Access Economics found that the fiscal benefits from taxation and visa charges far outweighed the costs that migrants imposed on health, education, welfare, employment and settlement services.
With many Australians reaching retirement age, continued migration also offers a ready supply of workers for the future.
'The bottom line is that our migration programme is vital to keep the economy going as well as help Australian businesses overcome skills and shortages,' Senator Evans pointed out.
source: www.straitstimes.com
Changes to Skilled – Graduate (subclass 485) Visa
Changes relating to the provision of evidence of English language ability for the Skilled – Graduate (subclass 485) visa are being introduced from 27 October 2008. This date may be subject to change. People who have made an application for a Skilled – Graduate (subclass 485) visa before 27 October 2008 will not be affected by the changes.
People lodging an application for a Skilled – Graduate (subclass 485) on or after 27 October 2008 must provide evidence at the time they lodge their application that they have met the relevant English language standard.
The standard for professionals, para-professionals and managerial occupations is ‘competent’ English (a score of at least six (6) on each of the four (4) components of the International English Language Test Scheme (IELTS) test or equivalent standard in a specified test).
For people who nominate an occupation in the Major Group IV in the Australian Standard Classification of Occupations, the standard is ‘vocational’ English (a score of at least five (5) on each of the four (4) components of the IELTS test).
IELTS test results must be no more than two (2) years old at the time of application.
This is a departure from the current regulations which allow an applicant to apply having only booked an English language test.
Note: From 27 October 2008, applicants will need to provide evidence of English language ability when lodging their application. Failure to do so may result in applicants being unable to satisfy the criteria for
Exception: Applicants who hold an eligible passport from one of the following specified countres are not required to submit evidence of their English language ability:
* Canada
* New Zealand
* Republic of Ireland
* United Kingdom (UK)
* United States of America (USA).
source: www.immi.gov.au/
People lodging an application for a Skilled – Graduate (subclass 485) on or after 27 October 2008 must provide evidence at the time they lodge their application that they have met the relevant English language standard.
The standard for professionals, para-professionals and managerial occupations is ‘competent’ English (a score of at least six (6) on each of the four (4) components of the International English Language Test Scheme (IELTS) test or equivalent standard in a specified test).
For people who nominate an occupation in the Major Group IV in the Australian Standard Classification of Occupations, the standard is ‘vocational’ English (a score of at least five (5) on each of the four (4) components of the IELTS test).
IELTS test results must be no more than two (2) years old at the time of application.
This is a departure from the current regulations which allow an applicant to apply having only booked an English language test.
Note: From 27 October 2008, applicants will need to provide evidence of English language ability when lodging their application. Failure to do so may result in applicants being unable to satisfy the criteria for
Exception: Applicants who hold an eligible passport from one of the following specified countres are not required to submit evidence of their English language ability:
* Canada
* New Zealand
* Republic of Ireland
* United Kingdom (UK)
* United States of America (USA).
source: www.immi.gov.au/
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