Chris Evans defends the new SOL.
The announcement of the new SOL yesterday by the Australian Department of Immigration, is already drawing criticism with warnings that all the recent changes may affect Australia’s international reputation and deter new migrants from applying.
International students have been worst hit by the changes, with some colleges who were previously offering courses on the CSL, now having to change their course lists and some private colleges will also have to reapply for accreditation. It further strengthens the conviction by the DIAC to clamp down on so-called ‘visa factories’, insisting that overseas students should come to Australia to study and not to ‘buy’ a visa.
However many large businesses took advantage of international graduates who had studied for a course on the CSL. The businesses were supplied with a steady stream of eager and skilled workers who could plug the gaps in their skilled workforce.
The Australian Council for Private Education and Training are warning that the changes will damage the reputation Australia has with international students. ACPET chief Andrew Smith accused the DIAC of actively encouraging students to take up courses that have now been shelved.
Mr Smith’s views are backed by some of the comments we’ve been getting on Embrace Australia. NSR had this to say: “I advise Australian Govt (Immigration), CPA, NIA, CAA and all the Australian Universities that not to give an admission to the students who want to pursue their Bachelors / Masters specializing in Accounting and Finance with has less than 7 band in IELTS. If the Universities still provide the admission, it clearly indicates that Australian Govt. wants only money not quality students.”
Tony commented: “It is only logical to see this drop in the number of continuing students and an even greater drop in starting students numbers. Every government in the world has the right to determine who can access its borders. However, subjecting current international students to the new legislative requirements constitutes an act of deceit and deceptive conduct.
DIAC used to come every semester on campus and advertise for the permanent residency pathway after completing one’s studies.
I believe the new change should only apply to NEW international students. You just can’t tell people ‘BAD LUCK’ after all the hard work and more than $100,000 spent in fees in living expenses. Add to this, the emotional costs associated with having already found a job, a partner and lots and lots of friends.”
Mr Chris Evans, Minister for Immigration in Australia, defended the changes saying that the list inherited from the old Howard government meant that highly skilled occupations such as doctors and engineers were actually below more general skilled occupations. He said it was part of the drive to bring in more highly skilled migrants to Australia and make the system fairer.
In a video released by Sky News, Mr Evans makes a public statement about the new SOL saying: “These are the skills we need and making sure the migrants meet those needs…. Not just to accept people who’ve applied just to live in Australia.” The video of Mr Evans can be seen on World News Australia.
Meanwhile give us your reactions to the new SOL by filling in the comments box below, and for support, chat and debate visit our online community.
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5 Responses to “Reactions to Australia’s Immigration Dept new SOL”
Comment by John Wrightson — May 18, 2010 @ 12:38 pm
After reading it I got the impression they hadnt really put a lot of thought into the IT section, it seems to me that the list was complied by someone with a very basic knowledge of IT, just look how it compares to say medicine where it is split into 50+ categories and here they have such general ones. Its like putting vehicle driver rather than pilot, JCB operator, HGV driver, car driver etc
What do these mean!!!!
-ICT business analyst
-Systems analyst
-Analyst programmer
-Developer programmer
-Software engineer
Comment by mike — May 23, 2010 @ 11:06 pm
I read your article and appreciate to you. My view is this is not fair with those students who going to be finished their study within one month or within few weeks; they already spend lots of money and time here. They said who held a 572, 573 and 574 visa they have a chance to apply for 485 visas but after this they are not eligible for PR whose occupation not in new list. They said ENS is available for those students but no one can sponsor, that means GOVT took all money from these student and said you’re not eligible for PR. This is not fair with those students. So please think about those students.
Thanks
Comment by Subhakar — May 26, 2010 @ 3:14 am
Good day,
I second your thought John. Every company has its own hierarchy. Its true that DIAC has no idea about designations and hierarchy. I worked as an IT Recruitment Consultant and has very good knowledge about IT market in India, US, Canada, Singapore etc.
Immigration is talking about students who are not working in their field of studies & took PR. I wonder why immigration is not talking anything about employers and improving university standards.
For an instance consider a student studying at US university. There is secured campus job for students, there will be student aid as soon as student comes out as a fresh graduate employers respond positively.
In Australia its totally different. Employers will ask for qualification, if the student have qualification, they ask for expereince, if one has expereince they ask for Australian expereince which is stupidity. I don’t think Australia is using some complex technologies / accounting systems etc. When employers don’t give jobs to students how come they expect a quality student.
If we look at the IELTS I’m 200% sure that most of the Australians don’t speak professional English. One of my Australian friend received a mail from CPA assessment team and in the signature part it says “P Think green before you print this screen”. I don’t understand what does “P” mean is that correct English. I wonder why CPA is demanding 7 band in IELTS.
Australia should understand that English is not the native language of Asians but still they are able to make it. I have a friend from British. So far she wrote IELTS 3 times and not able to get 7 band in all modules.
What if India and China put a condition to accept / sign a project, Australia must clear local language test
…just kidding.
Australian immigration promised that all the students who got their visa before Feb’2010 can apply for Skilled – Graduate Visa i.e. subclass 485. To apply for subclass 485 visa, the degree should get assessed. my question is whether accountants are eligible to apply subclass 485?
However, I recommend students who want to go for higher studies in IT, go for US / Canada. Engineering – Canada, Business Studies – Europe. Medicine: India / US.
My sincere advise for someone wants to migrate Australia, get a job from your home country and then migrate. Believe me it will take ages to find a good job in Australia.
Cheers,
Comment by aldo — June 9, 2010 @ 7:33 am
can some1 please ask Mr. Andrew Smith why on earth accountancy needs a higher English language level then other professions. this is ridiculous.
Comment by Mike — June 24, 2010 @ 1:46 am
Accountancy needs people with a level of 7 in each band because they will know more than those members who have only have a miserable 6.9 in each band. This is a select group as only 4% can achieve this result!
But accountancy will have to increase their requirements to 8 in each band as the Archdiocese of Canberra and Goulburn is demanding a minimum of overall score of 7,5, a minimum of 8.0 in speaking and listening, and a minimum of 7.0 in the other two bands, something which 1.8% of IELTS candidates can achieve.
The only reason that accountancy requires the minimum of 7 is simply because they were told it is great to do so. However, ask them what research backs up their choice, I am sure that they have no idea,
The whole process becomes even more ridiculous when one reads the following:
A recent 2010 publication from Skills Australia, “Australian Workplace Futures” points out that
“….the 2006 Adult Literacy and Life Skills Survey indicates that 40 per cent of employed Australians and 60 per cent of unemployed Australians have a level of literacy below the accepted standard needed to work in the emerging knowledge-based economy.”
One would think that many of the candidates would gain higher scores than most Australians as they usually hold a number of degrees including one or two masters degrees.