Leslie Massey
Australia's migration policies have been shaped by its history as a settler colonial country and the movement of migrants and migrant labour to regional areas. The country's contemporary migration strategy, released in December 2023, aims to strengthen the integrity and quality of its international education programs, protect international students, and support graduates in achieving their career goals. Australia's states play an important role in achieving these goals, with state migration plans setting out strategic priorities for migration, including meeting skills needs in critical shortage areas and contributing to economic growth. These plans build on existing programs to support successful outcomes for migrants, with a focus on regional economies and ensuring migration supports the development of resilient, inclusive, and highly skilled workforces.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Purpose | To set out strategic priorities for migration, including meeting skills needs in areas of critical shortage, contributing to economic growth, and supporting successful outcomes for migrants |
| Role of State and Australian Governments | State Governments work with the Australian Government to deliver shared migration priorities and ensure strong cooperation in meeting those priorities |
| Focus | Attracting and retaining skilled workers, boosting the care economy, building homes, and addressing skills shortages through migration |
| Education Programs | Strengthening integrity and quality, protecting international students, and supporting graduates in achieving career goals and obtaining permanent residency if needed |
| Student Visa Requirements | English language proficiency with minimum test scores for Student and Temporary Graduate visas |
| Regional Migration | Incentivizing skilled migrants to move to regional areas through regional migration visas, skilled regional visas, and state-led initiatives |
| Social and Cultural Outcomes | Focus on social and cultural development, benefiting both migrants and regional communities through initiatives promoting regional multiculturalism and interculturalism |
| Refugee Migration | Providing a safe and welcoming environment for refugees, addressing their expectations for lifestyle, sense of belonging, and better life prospects |
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What You'll Learn
Migration plans for international students
Australia has implemented a series of visa reforms that target international students, who make up around 42% of temporary visa holders in the country. These reforms are part of the Australian government's migration strategy, which aims to strengthen the integrity and quality of the country's international education programs, better protect international students, and support graduates in achieving their career goals.
International students are welcomed in Australia, and the country offers a range of migration pathways for those who wish to stay after completing their studies. The type of visa an international student may apply for depends on their goals in coming to Australia. The Student Visa is required for those who want to study in Australia for more than 3 months (or 4 months if on a working holiday visa). This visa allows students to bring their romantic partners as secondary applicants. A Partner Visa allows partners of Australian citizens or permanent residents to work, live, and study in the country and comes with perks such as access to Medicare.
The Temporary Graduate Visa allows international students who have recently graduated from Australian universities or certain vocational graduates to remain in Australia and gain valuable work experience. Changes to this visa include extending the duration of a post-study visa to two years and limiting work hours to 48 hours per fortnight. The minimum English language test score requirements for this visa have also increased from International English Language Testing System (IELTS) 5.5 to 6.0 (or its equivalent). If a graduate gains work in a skilled job during their post-study work period, they may be eligible to apply for the Skills in Demand Visa, which provides a clearer pathway to permanent residency.
Another option for international students is the Skilled Migration Program, which allows foreigners with qualifications or experience in a required profession to migrate to Australia. General Skilled Migration is the most popular form of migration to the country, and graduates from Australian universities may qualify for a General Skilled Migration Visa. State nomination may help international students qualify for this visa if they wish to stay and work in the state they graduated from. Additionally, sponsoring a skilled migrant through the Skilled and Business Migration Program can help businesses fill skill shortages that they cannot recruit locally.
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State nomination for skilled migrants
State nomination is a process that enables Australian state governments to nominate highly skilled migrants to meet their region's skills needs. It is designed to help states address skills shortages that cannot be met through local recruitment.
To be granted certain skilled migration visas to live and work in a particular state, such as Western Australia or South Australia, skilled migrants must be nominated by that state or territory through a State Nominated Migration Program. This nomination provides additional points towards the Department of Home Affairs points test for either a Skilled Nominated visa (subclass 190) or a Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 491). These visas allow skilled migrants to live and work in the nominating state as permanent residents.
Each state has specific eligibility criteria and requirements for their nomination streams. For example, in Western Australia, there are two main streams: the General stream and the Graduate stream. The General stream caters to a range of occupations and industry categories listed on the WA Skilled Migration Occupation List (WASMOL), while the Graduate stream is for international students completing vocational education or higher education qualifications in WA, with eligible occupations listed on the Graduate Occupation List (GOL). Similarly, South Australia's nomination process requires applicants to check the Department of Home Affairs visa requirements, ensure their occupation is on the State Skilled Occupation List, and review the state's nomination streams for eligibility.
To apply for state nomination, skilled migrants typically need to submit a Registration of Interest (ROI) or Expression of Interest (EOI) and meet the relevant points threshold. If invited to apply, they must then submit a nomination application. It is important to note that state nomination does not guarantee a visa grant. The application is still subject to assessment by the Department of Home Affairs, and all visa-specific requirements must be met.
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Regional migration and visas
Australia's Migration Program is designed to achieve a range of economic and social outcomes and is set annually. The Australian Government has announced changes to its immigration program to strengthen the economy and boost regional areas.
State nomination is a process that can help foreign graduates qualify for a General Skilled Migration Visa and stay in the region where they studied, for example, in South Australia. Similarly, businesses facing difficulty filling vacancies can sponsor skilled migrants through the Skilled and Business Migration Program to address skills shortages.
There are designated regional areas eligible for regional migration. Foreign graduates or skilled migrants can likely benefit from regional migration and visa programs to permanently stay and work in Australia. These programs aim to support economic development and address skill shortages in specific regions.
The availability of regional migration pathways and visas is part of Australia's strategy to attract and retain global talent, ensuring a diverse and skilled workforce that contributes to the country's economic growth and regional prosperity. These initiatives also provide opportunities for individuals seeking new career prospects and a better quality of life in Australia's unique regional locations.
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NSW Migration Plan priorities
The NSW State Migration Plan outlines the following priorities:
Meeting Skills Shortages
The plan aims to address critical skills shortages in NSW, particularly in six critical areas identified in the NSW Skills Plan. This includes attracting and retaining highly skilled migrants to support the state's economic growth and prosperity.
Boosting the Care Economy
The migration plan supports the attraction and retention of skilled workers in the care sector, contributing to the state's priority of boosting the care economy.
Building More Homes
By attracting and retaining skilled workers, the migration plan supports the priority of building more homes in NSW.
Regional Skills Planning
The migration plan recognises the importance of region-based skills planning to ensure migration supports regional economies. This includes attracting international students and skilled migrants to regional areas, enhancing the domestic skilling pipeline, and boosting local economies.
Business and Investor Migration
NSW welcomes business and investor migrants, offering nomination opportunities for those who want to live and work in the state. Sponsoring skilled migrants can help businesses fill skill shortages and contribute to economic growth.
Strong Cooperation between Governments
The NSW Migration Plan prioritises strong cooperation between the NSW and Australian Governments to deliver shared migration priorities and support successful outcomes for migrants in the state.
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Migration and economic development
Migration has played a significant role in Australia's economic development, and various policies and programs are in place to manage and encourage migration to support the country's economic goals. Australia has a Migration Program that is set annually to achieve specific economic and social outcomes. The country also has economic immigration policies that aim to attract and retain international students and skilled immigrants, particularly in fields such as science and engineering, to enhance business innovation.
One of the key impacts of migration on Australia's economy is the boost it provides to labour productivity and employment for Australian-born workers. According to research by the Centre for Population and the OECD, a region with a larger migrant share experiences a larger regional wage difference, indicating a positive link between migration and labour productivity. Migration has also been found to have a positive effect on patenting in Australia, with an increase in higher-educated migrants leading to a rise in regional patent applications over time.
State migration plans play a crucial role in managing and directing migration within Australia. For example, South Australia offers state nomination for graduates who wish to stay and work in the state, helping them qualify for a General Skilled Migration visa. Additionally, businesses facing difficulty filling vacancies can sponsor skilled migrants through the Skilled and Business Migration program to address skills shortages.
To further enhance the economic benefits of migration, the Australian government can focus on several key areas. Ensuring fair distribution of economic gains from migration, managing social and environmental impacts, and providing greater settlement assistance in regional areas are essential considerations. This includes creating attractive employment opportunities, improving access to affordable housing and quality education, and developing policies that support business innovation and attract highly skilled immigrants.
In summary, migration has had a significant impact on Australia's economic development, and the country continues to manage its immigration policies to sustain national prosperity. By attracting skilled immigrants, boosting labour productivity, and encouraging innovation, Australia aims to maintain its competitive edge in the global economy.
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Frequently asked questions
A state migration plan in Australia is a strategy designed to achieve a range of economic and social outcomes. It sets out priorities for migration, including meeting skills needs in areas of critical shortage and contributing to economic growth and prosperity. The Australian Government works with individual states to deliver shared migration priorities and attract and retain skilled workers.
One example of a state migration plan in Australia is the NSW State Migration Plan, which aims to boost the care economy and build more homes. The plan also recognises the importance of strong cooperation between the NSW and Australian governments in meeting shared priorities and supporting successful outcomes for migrants in NSW. Another example is South Australia's state nomination program, which helps graduates qualify for a General Skilled Migration visa and helps businesses fill skill shortages by sponsoring skilled migrants.
State migration plans in Australia benefit migrants by providing clear pathways to stay and work in the country. For example, international students are offered opportunities to remain and work in Australia for a limited time, and graduates may be offered pathways to permanent residency if their skills and qualifications are needed. Additionally, state migration plans aim to ensure successful outcomes for migrants, such as supporting their career goals and providing a safe and supported experience.
