TAFE Meets Parliament SKILLS INNOVATION 2020 Presentation General Skilled Migration Reforms, Impacts and Prospects Presenter: Jim Dawson, Acting Director, General Skilled Migration DIAC 17 September 2008

2007/08 Migration Program 158,800 Family Stream 56,500 Skilled Stream 108,540 Employer Sponsored 22,800 General Skilled Migration 79,500 Business Skills 6, /09 Migration Program 158,800 to 190,300 Skilled Stream 133,500 (+ 31,000) General Skilled Migration 98,300 Plus uncapped Temporary Skilled Migration of around 110,000 Migration Program Targets

Skill Stream Outcome by Occupation - Principal Applicants

Skill Stream Outcome by Occupation – Principal Applicants

Skill Stream Outcome Top 10 Occupations: to

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 120 & pass marks 100

Total GSM visas granted to onshore students from 2001/02 to 2007/08

VISA SUBCLASS TYPELODGEMENTGRANTED Skilled - (VB 885) Independent Skilled - (VB 886) Sponsored Skilled - (VB 887) Regional Skilled - (VC 485) Graduate Skilled - (VC 487) Regional Sponsored 3067 Skilled - (VC 487) Regional Sponsored (Renewal) 320 Total 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)

Commencements in courses correlated with eligibility requirements for General Skilled Migration

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)

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