Media Announcement :
Addressing skills shortages in key industries and rebuilding the international education sector
The Australian Government is taking action to address skills shortages in key industries and rebuild the international education sector, with the announcement of post-study work rights for graduates from Australian higher education providers.
The new policy, endorsed by Minister for Employment Jason Clare MP, will provide a boost to businesses across the country by increasing the availability of a well-trained and highly capable workforce. It comes at an opportune time as industries grapple with a tight labour market due to the impacts of COVID-19.
A list of occupations and eligible qualifications have been released that will enable graduates access greater work rights. These occupations have been specifically selected to meet Australia’s current needs, including nurses, engineers and IT professionals. This is in addition to other existing post study work visas such as the Graduate Work Stream visa.
Minister Clare said “This extension of post-study work rights is designed to attract critical skills that we need into Australia while also ensuring graduates have pathways available when they finish their studies”.
In addition, this change offers students more flexibility when considering study options in Australia, providing peace of mind that their hard work will be rewarded with career opportunities after graduation.
Industry groups have welcomed the news with Ai Group Chief Executive Innes Willox saying “Australia has long lead an international education industry which has provided many benefits both socially and economically for our nation”.
He went on to explain that extending these post-study work rights would encourage skilled migration from other countries, boosting economic growth and productivity while also helping narrow Australia’s skills gap.
The policy comes at a time where rebuilding international education sector has been identified as a priority following significant losses due to COVID-19 travel restrictions.
International Education Association of Australia (IEAA) Chief Executive Phil Honeywood said “We are delighted the Federal Government has recognised the importance of providing seamless pathways for international students who wish to remain in Australia after they complete their studies”.
He went on to say “The extension of post study work rights provides an opportunity for even more students from overseas countries to come here and contribute their valuable skills and knowledge”.
This announcement is just one of many initiatives the Government is undertaking to build a stronger workforce for Australia and create more jobs for Australians. With businesses increasingly relying on skilled migration, this policy will help ensure the right people are in the right place at the right time. It is hoped that these changes will help boost productivity across industries while also encouraging more students to pursue higher education in Australia. Ultimately, the policy will ensure people have the opportunity to develop their skills and contribute to a strong future for Australia.
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TAKEAWAY POINTS:
- From 1 July 2023, work cap for international students will increase from 40 hours to 48 hours per fortnight.
- A list of occupations and eligible qualifications was released to enable graduates to access greater work rights.
- Targeted skills are in the areas of Health, Teaching, Engineering and agricultural fields.
- Post-study work rights for select degrees in areas of verified skill shortages will be increased from 2 years to 4 years for select bachelor degree, from 3 years to 5 years for select masters degrees and from 4 years to 6 years for all doctoral qualifications.
- A comprehensive list of eligible qualifications with CRICOS codes will be released by the Department of Education before 1 July 2023. Students will need to refer to the comprehensive list, when published, to confirm the eligibility of their particular course at their provider.
Full Media Article link: https://minister.homeaffairs.gov.au/ClareONeil/Pages/addressing-skills-shortages-in-key-industries-international-education-sector.aspx
Download the list of eligible occupations >> HERE
