Perth City to Access Regional Incentives - Welcome News in the West

The recent announcement by the Australian and Western Australian governments that the Perth metropolitan area would not be classified as a serious city, has been welcomed by businesses, skilled migrants and international students. this suggests that Perth sponsoring employers will gain additional access to the Regional Occupation List and can enjoy the 2 new regional visas, which can be introduced from 16 November this year. Additionally, education providers are hopeful that international students are going to be interested in the world’s most remote capital city by the benefits that accompany study during a “regional” location—including five additional points for General Skilled Migration visas, access to a further year on post-study visas and a chance to use for scholarships of up to $15,000 per annum to support study and living expenses related to studying at a regional campus. The news has come at an important time for Perth, because the region has been battling the competing pressures of filling the growing skills shortage within the resources and energy sectors, while at an equivalent time, trying to draw in international students. Skilled migration In March of this year, Fragomen’s Perth office hosted a client event, which covered several issues, including anticipated skilled labour shortages in Western Australia’s minerals and resources sector, also as strategies to deal with them to avoid the unsustainable growth and wage blow outs related to the previous resources boom of the first 2000s. The event featured several industry leaders, including Paul Everingham, Chief military officer of the Chamber of Minerals and Energy of Western Australia; Raleigh Finlayson, the CEO of Saracen Gold and therefore the President of the WA School of Mines Alumni; and Andrew McCluskey, the State Manager of Siemens—all of whom generously shared their experiences and vision. In summary, the speakers warned of an expected skills shortage within the resources sector which, while less than that experienced previously during the mining boom, would require a greater reliance on overseas skilled migration to make sure that projects can proceed. this is often partly thanks to the many number of infrastructure projects that are simultaneously happening on Australia’s East Coast and lower levels of enrolments within the WA School of Mines, including the lead times needed to make sure that graduates are job ready and therefore the rapid digitalization of the resources sector, which is changing the talents profile that's needed. Justin Gibbs, our Director of state Relations for APAC, led the ultimate session, which highlighted several practical issues that require to be addressed so as to strategically fill the anticipated and increasing labour shortages with skilled overseas labour, including calling for a review of occupation lists (which has now commenced) and therefore the Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations (ANZSCO) to make sure it remains relevant and may be utilised within the migration context. In recent months, our Perth office has seen a rise in activity both by resources and energy companies, which are beginning to steel oneself against the increased competition for skills. this is often not surprising. In its forecast for 2019-2024 , the Australian Resources and Energy Group (AMMA) found that throughout Australia there are 57 projects worth $41 billion, either “committed” or considered “likely” by the Australian Government’s Department of Industry, and which it predicts will demand nearly 21,000 on-site employees by 2024, including about 8700 mining plan operators, quite 2800 heavy diesel fitters and shut to 4200 engineers. the power to believe the Regional Occupation List and therefore the new regional visas will allay some—but not all—concerns for the sponsors with whom we are working. Migration options for international students A year ago, I discussed the measures being introduced by the Western Australian state Government to undertake and attract more international students to the State. While the efforts were welcomed by the education industry, they were generally seen as not reaching far enough. However, the newest changes—and, especially , the extra year available for the Temporary Graduate visa within the Post Study stream—are likely to steer to an increased interest for international students. In practical terms, the extra year will mean that international graduates would be ready to attain the requisite experience they have to qualify for Temporary Skill Shortage visas. the extra points for the regional study also will benefit those trying to find an immediate permanent migration pathway. The State Nomination option also will be extended to incorporate vocational training and training (VET) graduates who complete their qualifications in Western Australia at Certificate III level or above from December 2019. What next? While the complete details of the legislative changes underpinning the announcement are yet to be revealed, these exciting changes already appear to be presenting several new options. For more information or to debate how these changes may benefit you—as an employer or potential migrant—contact your Perth-based Fragomen team.