News

Following the increase of the English language requirements from April the 14th, additional changes to the 457 visa program are taking place. Several occupations are now removed from the standard sponsorship agreements.
The occupations affected by this change include occupations in the tourism, clerical and agricultural industries. ...

The Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) today published the first review of the shortage occupation lists for skilled work force from outside the European Economic Area (EEA). The points-based system, including the shortage occupation list, has to operate for the benefit of United Kingdom workers, especially given the current economic climate, Professor David Metcalf says.
Shortages of skilled labour will still exist in a recession. ...

More and more people head off to Australia. Young individuals, left with no alternative, head Down Under to spend the next 12 months in search for adventure and temporary job placements.
The rising number of people travelling on the Australian working holiday visa will definitely have a positive effect on Australia's economy. ...

The thought of leaving rainy Britain behind and heading off to work in a part of the world with much sunnier climes is bound to appeal to the imagination of most workers in the UK. For some, it is a more serious ambi­tion than others but, just as is the case in this country, it is important to con­sider how the global financial crisis has affected your plans. ...

Since April the 14th all Australia Sponsorship Visa (subclass 457) applicants must meet the new language criteria. After DIAC's recent change applicants must have to score at least 5 IELTS points, compared to 4.5 before in order to be eligible for a visa. ...

Daily Star,

When it comes to employment it seems that no country is immune from the credit crunch. It is now starting to impact on job opportunities in Australia, forcing the government there to implement measures to ensure that the skilled migrant programme targets shortages in different states. ...

Sunday World
    ONE of Europe’s leading visa and travel support service agencies is hosting special migration nights in Ireland to provide free information on working abroad in countries like Australia, New Zealand and Canada.
    Visa First say that while no country is completely immune to the credit crunch, there’s still plenty of work for skilled workers in overseas English speaking countries.
    The Australian government is implementing a number of measures this year to ensure its migrant programme targets skills in critical need and Edwina Shanahan from Visafirst.com says this opens up good opportunities for Irish workers. “A process worker laid off in a car plant in Adelaide is not going to fill the need for an electrician in Perth,” she said. ...

Australian media reported that there have been cuts to skilled migration that would 'shut the door' for many migrants. The Government has proposed it will reduce the planned record intake of skilled migrants from 133,500 workers in 2008-09 to 115,000 – it is important to note that 115,000 intake is still at record levels for the migrant visa. ...

Sunday Tribune
Recession has brought back the bad old days so soon-to-be Irish emigrants are now hoping that the wizards of Oz have many ‘G’days’ ready for them. Pádraig Kennymet some of those about to venture down under.
Samantha Melia
Samantha Melia and her husband Liam returned from the US nine months ago.Samantha has a degree in psychology, and has only just recently had to leave her job working for a hotel consultancy firm.
    We’re going out to Perth and we’re on a sponsor visa, after which we can apply for residency which we will be doing because we’re not coming back. ...

Courriermail.com.au
Suffering badly in the financial meltdown, many Irish families are seeking better times in Australia writes Charles Miranda
John Pigott looks at the timber trusses of the house he’s building on the outskirts of Portalington, about an hour’s drive west of the Irish capital of Dublin, and shakes his head.
“I will be unemployed in six days,” the 35-year-old carpenter announces gloomily as he looks about the roof space and estimates how much work he has to do to complete the construction. He pauses as if to let the revelation sink in, then finally adds: ”That’s not good, you know, when you have a family.”
He’s not alone in his prospects and like at least 50,000 other workers, this year he is planning to quit the country and move abroad in what is expected to be the biggest mass migration of the Irish since the Depression of the 1930s.
It’s what former Irish prime minister Bertie Ahern calls “the dark days of migration”, and most of those fleeing the Emerald Isle will arrive in Australia in numbers to rival those who arrived in the early years of the great potato famine more than 150 years ago.
And the new arrivals won’t be those seeking a working holiday fruit-picking in rural NSW or Queensland, but thousands of families selling everything they own and buying one-way tickets to Australia in the hope of work, a future and a better way of life.
“People are not looking for the easiest way out of here any more, they are looking at what are the alternatives. ...

Irish Examiner
Young Irish fleeing to Oz as job prospects plummet
THE number of Irish people visiting Australia on working holidays has more than doubled in the past six months compared to the same period last year.
Figures released by the Australian Department of Immigration and Citizenship show the number of young Irish applying to visit on working holiday visas increased 52% in the last six months. ...

To watch the video click here

To watch the video click here

To watch the video click here

Tribune.ie
Recession has brought back the bad old days so soon-to-be Irish emigrants are now hoping that the wizards of Oz have many 'G'days' ready for them. Pádraig Kenny met some of those about to venture down under.
Once upon a time, way back at the turn of the century, Celtic Cubs would head off to Australia on extended holidays in search of many things. ...

Feb 25, Thestar.com
Neil and Hayley Wallstead can't quite get over their basement.
Part of a surge in British immigration to Canada, the Wallsteads and their daughter packed up and moved to Oakville 18 months ago to be close to a busy city and for a better standard of living.
 "Both of us have admired Canada from afar," said Hayley Wallstead, who had a pen pal in Mississauga as a girl. "We always planned to do something different with our lives."
Neil Wallstead explained, "A lot of people in England admire the U.S. ...

     Irish engineer David Kavanagh thought he’d have his pick of jobs when he graduated from college last year. Instead he’s picking countries.
     “There’s no jobs here; that’s why I’m considering getting out,” said the 23-year-old, who has yet to find work since he got his degree. ...

Malaysia is the latest effective member of Australia's Work and Holiday agreement. Malaysian people can now travel to Australia and stay up to 12 months.
In addition they can also undertake temporary employment to support their holiday. Malaysian visitors are also able to take a short study course (up to 4 months) during their stay.
Current members of the Work and Holiday scheme are Chile, Thailand, Turkey and the United States of America.Australia has also signed a Work and Holiday visa arrangement with Bangladesh, however the agreement is not yet in effect.

Evening Herald
By Geraldine Gittens
Thursday January 22 2009
UP to 30,000 Irish people are expecting to emigrate to Australia this year, according to a migration expert.
The number of families applying to Australia for permanent residency visas has increased dramatically since the start of the recession.
Almost 75pc of the migrant workers visas to Australia being processed by one migration agency, migrationabroad.com, are for families, a company spokesperson has said.
"They can be families with kids, or couples. A lot of them have houses here and want to rent them out while they settle in Australia," says Edwina Shanahan from migrationabroad.com.
"Maybe people want to ride out the recession. ...

You have just over 2 weeks to apply for the best job in the world. Tourism Queensland is offering you a truly unique opportunity to have the time of your life, by becoming an island caretaker.
Applications close at 11:59pm UTC 22nd February 2009, so visit www.islandreefjob.com and apply right away. ...

The Migrate Abroad Seminar was held in the Tower Hotel in Waterford last week, emphasizing on
job opportunities for craftsmen and women in Canada, Australia and New Zealand.
There wasn't a single seat available at last week's seminar. Many of the attendees were young people, searching for a better start abroad.
Although construction job losses tend to come in small numbers instead of large dramatic redundancies, the sector has been hemorrhaging jobs in the last year.
Edwina Shanahan is Marketing Manager with VisaFirst.com and said this very sector is demanding more and more workforce, at the other side of the globe. ...

IBIS World's survey of industries most at risk in 2009 is somewhat concerning. Here is what jobs you shouldn't go after this year, if you are planning to visit Australia on a working holiday visa:car salesmen, real estate agents bricklayers, catering contractors, boat builders, tyre manufacturers, prawn fishermen and miners.
You are not likely to become a car salesman, catering contractor, or a tyre manufacturer in your short stay, but you might consider not to seek employment with such employers.
Working in tourism might also prove to be a handicap in 2009. ...

With Ireland’s economy taking a nose-dive, and international financial markets in turmoil the labour market here is starting to look decidedly bleak in some sectors.
All of this upheaval is prompting increasing numbers of Irish workers to look further afield for career development opportunities to match their ambitions and to suit their lifestyle. The Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) predicts that the worsening economic climate at home will see some 30,000 Irish workers jumping ship to seek their fortunes abroad during 2009. ...

A month ago Chris Evans announced that Australia and Malaysia have signed a reciprocal Work and Holiday arrangement. It will allow 100 university graduates or students from each country who have completed two years of their course to work and holiday in the other country for up to 12 months. ...

Australia is a popular destination for our new Wild Geese, thanks in part to its booming economy (it will issue 200,000 skilled migrant visas this year to secure its current growth of 4%), but also thanks to its perceived friendliness, its weather, its quality of life, and the fact that it is an English speaking culture which will be relatively familiar to Irish people.
In the recent past, Australia (and, to a lesser extent, New Zealand) had become the destination of choice for recent graduates looking to try something new for a year – but even more recently, the Antipodes have become a popular destination for experienced professionals and tradespeople who are looking for an escape from high prices and bad weather at home. It is a happy coincidence that Australia is actively seeking immigrants – its Bureau of Statistics has revealed a record 183,400 jobs vacant in November of last year, and that number has been growing by roughly 15% a year – and that skilled immigration has been identified as the short-term solution. ...

Couple's Anguish Over Big Move
A couple's dream of moving to Australia has been dashed after the boss of a visa processing firm fled Down Under herself.
Brian Mitchell, 36, and Kerry Lyons, 25, forked out £700 for Edinburgh firm Visa Connection to get the documents for their move.
But months later, they still have not received the visas - and boss Clare Molnar has started her own new life in Australia.
Brian and Kerry, of Alloa, claim they are just one of a string of unprocessed visa applications left by Molnar.
Brian said: "I asked repeatedly for proof of what stage our application is at and haven't had any feedback."
Kerry said: "The money we have paid may not seem like a lot but it is when you are saving for a new life."
Molnar, 31, set up Visa Connection with husband Peter four years ago - but two years later Peter and the firm's migration agent quit.
Molnar kept trading as normal until six weeks ago, when she rushed through the sale of her home in Broxburn, West Lothian, before jetting to Australia.
A statement on the firm's website describes a period of "transition". You can read it here.
Despite the claims, the Office of the Immigration Services Commissioner - the regulatory body for UK migration services - said they have not received any complaints about the firm.
And HM Revenue and Customs said they were not aware of any investigation into Visa Connection. ...

Tired of hearing of the doom and gloom of the construction industry here in Ireland… why not look to greener fields in Australia and New Zealand. Australian unemployment has fallen to a 33-year low of 4.1% and is set to fall again!
 Australia's booming economy has been growing at more than 4% a year, and its facing a huge shortage of skilled labour, pushing up wages annually. ...