Whether you’re already in Australia or migrating has always been your dream, 2023 could be the year you’ve been waiting for! There’s never been a better time to aim for PR than now. All you need to do is decide what you want, create your strategy, and commit to following it through. The good news? 4Migration will be by your side every step of the way.
If you’ve been in Oz for years and are watching your chances at PR slip away, if you’ve recently arrived and aren’t sure what to do next, or if you are yet to explore beyond your backyard, there are a number of reasons why now is the time to act. Read on to find out more.
In this talent contest, there are no losers!
Covid shook Australia around, in a big way! The island nation has always had trouble keeping its population high enough to fill all the job vacancies that exist, all the while maintaining tight immigration laws regardless. But since the mass exodus of migrants in 2020 and closed borders in the following years, the country has been experiencing a dramatic skill shortage. So if you’ve got skills, Australia wants you. And if you don’t have skills but you’re willing to learn, Australia might want you too! Every day we hear stories about professionals starting fresh Down Under! In some cases, a single VET course will fulfil the qualification requirements needed for a certain occupation, and in many cases, limited experience will suffice.
As October’s Federal Budget visa allocation announcement was approaching, nerves were running high in the migrant community. The result? A whole lot of wasted anxiety. The Federal Government confirmed the skill shortages, and visa allocations were actually increased! The occupation lists have grown and more diverse skill sets have become valuable. There are a number of lists to look at (still confused? Understand the lists here), and if you can’t find your occupation on any of them, look again! Your occupation may be titled in a way you don’t expect, or you could have the skills required for a related role. If you work in an area that demands a specific qualification or specialised knowledge but can’t be found on a single list, come and talk to us.
In post-covid times, being flexi is sexy!
Australia has made a number of significant changes as a result of Covid-19, making now a fantastic time to get some local work experience. Students, who could previously only work 20 hours per week, can now work full-time hours until the end of June 2023. And if that wasn’t good enough, the eligibility criteria for the 485 Graduate Visa has also been relaxed till the end of the financial year, making it available to many more people upon completion of their studies. What else? The 408 (fondly known as the ‘Covid visa’) may still be an option and help you buy time as you put your strategy in action.
Take the scenic route
Each state and territory is seeking different skills, and many times regional areas may be able to offer you what big cities can’t. The upside is that regional areas are any town, city or state outside of the Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane areas… so you’re spoiled for choice! Regional areas have made their skilled visa/permanent residency programs more attractive to migrants, often offering a faster pathway to PR. For those of you already in Aus, your 2023 resolutions might be to make the move! And for those of you yet to arrive, going straight to a regional area could be a complete game-changer.
A lesson from the school of life
Australia is keen to return its international student rates to pre-Covid levels which, we can tell you, were very, very high! That means schools and universities are open and ready for enrolments! If you want to study something brand new, expand your skill set, or get an Australian take on your existing qualifications, now is your chance. Don’t know where to start? No problem - 4Migration now helps with student visas too, and with the upcoming opening of a new branch on the Gold Coast, we are more excited than ever to help you out! Get in touch with us and we can organise your health insurance, course enrolment and visa applications. And better yet, we’ll do it all with your wider strategy in mind. That means you can make your student visa count and reach PR a whole lot faster than if you just go with the flow. Talk to our friendly team before you leave your home country and save yourself time, money and stress by having a strategy from day one.
So, is 2023 going to be your life-changing year? Book a consultation with 4Migration and tell us your resolutions, so we can help you start off on the right foot.
Happy New Year!
From the 4Migration team.