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Exclusive Australian Immigration News, Updates & Opportunities
February 2025
This bulletin is for members only, and provides our members with month to month updates on Australian immigration policy changes and consequential opportunities. Opportunities are found via federal and state government policy shifts for the demand and supply for certain occupations.
This bulletin will keep you up to date so that you do not have to employ expensive immigration lawyers to provide you with monthly research.
February 2025 is here, and Australian immigration continues to soar!
Australian industries and top CEOs are now calling for more skilled migration and less government red tape to boost the economy and tackle the continued national labour shortages!
In This Month’s Federal News: The World Economic Forum’s latest ‘Future of Jobs Report’ found that nearly 50% of all Australian employers hope for changes in immigration policies to attract more skilled migrants! This figure is much higher than the global average of 26%.
2025 is now shaping up to be another year of rapid population expansion as continuous growth in immigration is needed to kickstart Australia’s economy and meet the growing skills shortage gap.
In This Month’s State News: Skilled workers residing offshore remain eligible to be considered for State and Territory nominations! Please view the State Migration Section of this month’s bulletin for all State and Territory program updates and opportunities available!
In This Month’s Economic News: Australia’s top Chief Executives warn that to meet the continued labour shortages, the government needs to overhaul its skilled migration program to attract more offshore workers who have the skills required to settle in the government’s priority areas and make it easier for businesses to hire them!
In other economic news, we have a deep look into how multiculturalism is central to Australia’s identity and discuss how Sydney’s cultural festivals cultivate a sense of hope and optimism for Australia’s future.
Also in this month’s bulletin, we speak with a skilled migrant who shares how he earns a six-figure salary for a job that took him one month to be qualified to do in Australia. He said the industry had no shortage of work and encourages others to get into the lucrative job!
In This Month’s Student News: As of January 1, 2025, Australian student visa applications must now include a Confirmation of Enrolment instead of a Letter of Offer. Applications without a CoE will be invalid, potentially affecting lawful status. This change aims to prevent visa misuse by ensuring applicants are genuine students, enhancing the integrity of the visa system.
Also in this month’s student news, we discover the top 10 highest equity-ranked universities of 2024 and discuss how these universities helped overcome student disadvantage.
All this and much more in the February issue of The Australian Immigration Bulletin! Let’s take a deeper look at what has happened so far and what is planned for the remainder of February 2025 in Australian Immigration, so that you can start planning!
All members now have FREE access to an online IELTS English Platform and course to practice, study and improve their English and IELTS score. The IELTS exam is one of the key recommended exams you will need to take in order to Apply for Skilled Migration to Australia and the better your results, the higher points you will get when submitting an expression of interest. The advanced English and IELTS platform will allow all members to practice Mock IELTS Exams, learn cutting edge tips and gain a greater understanding of how to achieve a Band 9+.
All members also have access to “ImmiConnect” which is now available in the member’s area. ImmiConnect is the Office of Immigration Australia’s Employer Sponsored program which allows overseas workers to receive job interview invitations from Australian employers, when job opportunities come available.
The program aims to bring globally mobile, highly-skilled and specialised individuals to Australia who can fill critical areas of need.
ImmiConnect is exclusive to active Australian Immigration Bulletin Members only. You must be a current Australian Immigration Bulletin Member to be eligible to receive job interview invitations.
So if you are interested in receiving these invitations, please sign up for FREE by Clicking “ImmiConnect” and adding your name and email address.
*2 WINNERS DRAWN EVERY MONTH:
Current Round: January 2025 – May 2025 (10 Winners/Prizes in total)
There is always a winner, and the next one could be you!
The winners of the February 2025 Immigration Prize Giveaway were drawn at 10am AEST on 1st February 2025.
Congratulations to the February 2025 winners! You have been sent a confirmation email with details on how to claim your prize!
The next 2 lucky winners will be drawn at 10am AEST on 1st March 2025.
As of 6th July 2022, people entering Australia do NOT need to provide evidence of Covid-19 vaccination status. Additionally, people leaving Australia will NOT be asked to provide evidence of their vaccination status. Unvaccinated visa holders do NOT need a travel exemption to travel to Australia. It is however important to remember that airlines, vessel operators and other countries may have specific requirements that travellers need to comply with.
Please see the list of vaccines that are recognised by the Australian government for travel purposes here.
This Bulletin and its contents is for general information purposes only and should not be used as a substitute for consultation with professional advisors.
As legislation and travel requirements are constantly changing, we strongly recommend obtaining advice on your individual situation from a Registered Migration Agent.
Please click here to book a consultation with one of our Registered Australian Migration Agents, located in Australia.
Manly – Sydney, New South Wales
The Results of the August 2021 census were made public on 12th July 2022, and revealed that Australia has become a majority migrant nation, as the census data shows for the first time that more than 50 per cent of residents were born overseas or have an immigrant parent. Last year’s census counted nearly 25.5 million people, including 1 million new residents.
Australia’s 2025 Migration Program has been carefully designed to boost the social and economic outcomes that meet Australia’s needs. In fact, the migration programme was first launched in 1945 following the aftermath of World War 2. Given this long history, it is worth understanding how it works. The Australian Immigration Bulletin exists to help explain this in more detail.
As we’ve entered the 2nd month of the year, join us for a look at the latest news and developments in the world of Australian Immigration!
We spoke with Donna, a skilled migrant working as a Psychologist in Australia for the last 15 years.
So how did you start your career?
I graduated in 2008. Freshly started!
How did you get a job?
I initially worked as a research assistant as I was finishing my thesis. Then I got a job as a school psychologist, I also travelled once a week to Devonport.
What is the job trends in health services?
There is a national increase focus on mental health at the moment, which has led to a shortage of psychologists. There may be more organisations adding counsellors to their work place so that may become easier.
How can migrants compete for health jobs?
Find a niche. Look for areas that there’s a lot of need, but not a lot of competition such as a regional position.
Another way is making sure that you’re connected to networks and are going to as many professional development events as possible so that you can meet other people who could be possible employers.
That’s a good way of making sure that you kind of keep your name out there. People like to get to know other people who might come in handy.
Last financial year, 445,600 migrants flooded into Australia. This was 50,600 higher than the 395,000 level forecast for financial year 2024 in the May Budget papers. Another year of rapidly expanding population will keep the continuous growth that Australia needs in 2025.
Australia’s largest cities Sydney and Melbourne are continuing to take a larger share of new foreigner arrivals.
NSW took in 142,473 migrants, on a net basis factoring in overseas departures, ahead of Victoria’s intake of 132,859.
Both states together accommodated 62 per cent of Australia’s 445,600 new overseas residents arriving during the last financial year.
When Queensland’s 74,932 tally was added to the mix, that saw Australia’s three biggest states on the east coast accumulating 78.4 per cent of new immigrants.
Western Australia had the nation’s strongest population growth rate of 2.8 per cent as 9,742 new residents arrived from interstate on top of 58,082 from overseas.
The national annual population growth pace of 2.1 per cent marked a moderation from the 2.5 per cent level of late 2023.
This was the highest since the early 1950s when a record 548,800 migrants a year were immigrating to Australia.
The natural increase, or births minus deaths, of 106,400 made up just 19 per cent of Australia’s annual population increase of 552,000 in financial year 2024, with the rest coming from immigration.
Employers name ‘skills gap’ as major barrier to business transformation
Nearly half of employers in Australia are hoping for changes in immigration policies to address the skills gap in their workforce, according to a new report from the World Economic Forum (WEF).
The WEF’s latest Future of Jobs Report found that 45% of Australian respondents hope for changes to immigration to attract global talent, much higher than the global average of 26%.
“This suggests the need for migration to be better balanced with domestic skills supply through cross-sector coordinated planning, improving the identification of skills in demand, looking at regional needs and ensuring those with the right specialist skills are attracted,” said the Ai Group, which partnered with the WEF in the report.
Barriers to business transformation
The call for better immigration policies comes as 65% of employers cite the skills gap as a major barrier preventing business transformation, according to the WEF report.
Other barriers they cited include:
To improve talent availability, employers said the following public policies have the greatest potential:
Macrotrends impacting Australia
Meanwhile, they also cited broadening digital access as the biggest macrotrend that will drive transformation in their organisations by 2030.
“The report reveals a tangled mix of global drivers transforming jobs globally and in Australia, resulting in skill disruption, new and evolving skill demands, particularly in technology-related fields, and a substantial need for reskilling and upskilling,” said Innes Willox, Ai Group chief executive, in a statement.
“It demonstrates the importance of building the capability and size of Australia’s workforce now and over the coming years.”
Visa Entitlement Verification Online (VEVO) allows visa holders, employers, education providers and other organisations to check visa details and conditions.
VEVO tells you details relating to your current in-effect visa:
VEVO is not able to provide any details relating to visas that are not ‘in-effect’. For example, if you hold a Bridging visa but your substantive visa has not yet expired.
Skip the immigration and security queues at international and domestic US airports.
Australian travellers are now eligible to apply for the US Global Entry program, with US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) opening the fast-track service to Australian citizens, unlocking access to fast-track customs and security lanes at international and domestic American airports.
Australians can enrol for both Global Entry, which the USA’s international ‘trusted traveller’ program for pre-approved flyers entering the US from overseas, and the TSA PreCheck equivalent for domestic flights within the USA.
As previously reported by Executive Traveller, CBP confirms “Australia is processing Global Entry applications in a phased approach”, with applications for Phase One now open.
This first wave of applicants for the Global Entry Australia trial will be limited to 1,000 Australian citizens who have travelled to the US at least five times in the previous 12 months.
A broader Phase Two will follow, at a date yet to be advised, and remove the need for any minimum number of US trips.
Although the CBP website suggests applicants “visit the Australian Department of Home Affairs webpage on the Global Entry program for more information”, at the time of writing the linked page is not active.
Appying for Australia’s Global Entry trial
Here is how the US Customs and Border Protection agency outlines the application process for joining the Global Entry Phase One trial.
Applicants for US Global Entry will also need to meet the Global Entry program’s strict eligibility requirements, which can block approval for any of the following reasons:
If you’ve kept your nose clean and get the green light for Global Entry, you can look forward to the fast lane treatment at US international and domestic airports for five years.
Arriving at US international airports, you can skip those long time-consuming queues and head straight to a passport-scanning kiosk.
Being approved for Global Entry is also your ticket to the domestic TSA PreCheck service, which often includes dedicated lanes for PreCheck passengers where you generally won’t need to remove your shoes for screening, or pull your laptop out from your bag.
Don’t overlook Mobile Passport Control
In the meantime, Mobile Passport Control (MPC) is the next best thing to Global Entry – and Australians are already on the approved list.
Open to United States citizens, residents and returning ESTA visa waiver holders, Mobile Passport Control is a free app allowing travellers to pre-fill essential documents and then complete a digital customs declaration on arrival into the US.
MPC can be used at 30 US airports, including Los Angeles (LAX), San Francisco (SFO), Honolulu (HNL) and Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW), which are key entry ports for Australians.
Once your application is submitted, the app provides you with a receipt to give to border agents, who simply need to verify submitted details before welcoming you into the US.
How to use Mobile Passport Control
Mobile Passport Control can only be completed on arrival in the United States – it can’t be submitted ahead of time. Thankfully, it’s a quick and easy process.
Note that you’ll need to activate mobile data or connect to the airport WiFi to submit your application.
If you are interested in applying for a general skilled migration visa to Australia, it is important to have a good understanding of the skilled visa options and how the migration points test works, so that you can maximise your chances of being eligible to apply for a skilled visa.
A general skilled migration visa is an option available to skilled workers who are seeking to qualify for a skilled visa independently, or under a state or family sponsorship. It is an alternative to an employer sponsored visa.
One of the key criteria to qualify for a general skilled migration visa is the points test (a criterion that does not apply to employer sponsored visas). This is often the most challenging aspect for prospective skilled visa applicants to overcome when seeking an invitation to apply for the relevant skilled visa.
If you are considering applying for a general skilled migration program visa, an important concept to understand is the Expression Of Interest (EOI).
If you are considering applying for a general skilled migration visa, it is important to be aware that for certain visas in this visa class, you will first be required to lodge an EOI with the Department of Home Affairs (the Department) through SkillSelect. The EOI is not a visa application, but rather, it is the process by which you can express your interest in applying for the relevant skilled visa (It’s important to note, that there is NO fee to submit an EOI).
This requirement applies to the following skilled visa subclasses:
Let’s take a brief look at each of these visas below:
The ‘subclass 189’ is a federal sponsored visa that grants automatic permanent residence in Australia. It is subject to nil visa conditions or obligations. For this reason, it is often considered to be the most flexible of the skilled visa options available.
A subclass 189 points-based visa allows you to live and work in any state or territory permanently.
The ‘subclass 190’ is a state/ territory sponsored permanent residence visa. It is another points-based visa for which invitations are issued throughout each month by individual states and territories. One of the benefits of applying for state nomination is that you will be granted an additional 5 points.
An important aspect to consider, which does not apply to the subclass 189 visa is that there is an added step in the application process. In this case, you must also apply for nomination approval to a state or territory government. Only upon receipt of an invitation from the relevant state or territory to which you apply can you then apply to the Department for the visa itself.
Your obligations as a subclass 190 visa holder are that you must commit to your nominating jurisdiction’s obligations and commit to residing in your nominating State or Territory for two years from visa grant.
The ‘subclass 491’ is also a points-based state/ territory (or family) sponsored visa. It is a regional visa with a term of five years. The Department issues invitations for family sponsored EOI applications only (in invitation rounds). Invitations for state sponsorship are issued by individual states and territories throughout each month. This will grant you an additional 15 points for the nomination.
Being a provisional visa, this means it provides a pathway to permanent residence in Australia with the Subclass 191 Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional) visa, subject to meeting specified requirements.
Be mindful that as a subclass 491 visa holder, you must abide by visa condition 8579, which requires you to live, work and study in a designated regional area of Australia. For migration purposes, most locations of Australia outside of major cities (Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, etc.) are classed as regional areas.
If your EOI is successful, you will receive an invitation to apply for the visa, as specified in the invitation letter. This then enables you to proceed with lodgement of your visa application (provided you meet all other visa lodgement and visa grant requirements).
Please note, the below State and Territory program updates is a general overview only. It does not take into account any of your personal circumstances. You must check the State/Territory information carefully to ensure you can meet all the requirements for nomination.
Australia is currently facing a shortage of skilled migrants to fill workforce demands. In response, states and territories have been easing the conditions of their visa programs to help attract skilled workers from overseas.
Below is the monthly update for some of the State and Territory opportunities available.
Program Status Update
UPDATE: Northern Territory General Skilled Migration (GSM) nomination applications for 2024-25
Northern Territory has now received sufficient nomination applications to fill the total allocations for the 2024-25 program year. To manage the large number of applications received against the limited allocation of nominations given to the Northern Territory we have suspended our online portal for new applications. All applications received before the suspension will continue to be assessed, and those who meet the eligibility criteria will be issued nominations.
The program will be reopened for new applications once nomination allocations are received for the 2025-26 program year (The program year generally runs from Start of July 2025 – End of June 2026).
During the suspension, applications will continue to be accepted by exception for onshore applicants who have certain visa deadlines before 1 July 2025. For more information on this, please view the update on NT GSM nomination applications for 2024-25 page.
Once the above mentioned temporary suspension is lifted, you may be able to proceed with the NT’s usual skilled migration program. Program details below:
People residing offshore are eligible to be considered for Northern Territory (NT) nomination. Invitations to apply for Northern Territory nomination will be via the ranking system.
The ‘Northern Territory Offshore Migration Occupation List’ identifies the occupations in current demand in the Northern Territory. This List is important if you want to apply for Northern Territory nomination for either a:
The ‘Northern Territory Offshore Migration Occupation List’ is only applicable for those applying for NT nomination from outside Australia, under the Priority Occupation stream.
Please note: The Northern Territory government has advised that offshore applicants will generally only be offered a Northern Territory nomination for a subclass 491 visa. Subclass 190 nominations will only be offered in exceptional circumstances, such as cases where the applicant has strong connections to the NT.
The NT advises eligible applicants to apply as soon as they meet the eligibility criteria. To receive a nomination from the NT Government, you must:
Before submitting an EOI for The Northern Territory, applicants should check that they meet all eligibility requirements.
For a further explanation, see the Frequently Asked Questions page on the Northern Territory Government website.
Program Status Update
To manage Queensland’s COVID recovery response, applicants currently residing offshore are now able to apply.
Depending on your occupation and situation, there are two state nomination options available for skilled migrants through Queensland.
For Queensland state nomination, prospective applicants must meet the Department of Home Affairs requirements, state-specific occupation requirements and have skills in an occupation that is available on the Queensland Skilled Occupation List.
You may undertake employment once onshore in Queensland through:
Offshore applicants meeting the minimum published requirements are eligible to lodge an Expression of Interest (EOI) on SkillSelect and then a Registration of Interest (ROI) on the Migration Queensland portal.
Migration Queensland has opened the 2024-25 State Nominated Migration Program. For more information, please see here.
NOTE: To be eligible for Queensland’s 2024-25 program, your EOI must be submitted on or after 13 September 2024.
Migration Queensland criteria requires you to:
The 2024-25 Skilled Migration Program is open to both onshore and offshore applicants and provides pathways for skilled workers, graduates, and small business owners.
Before submitting a Registration of Interest (ROI) for Queensland, applicants should check that they meet all eligibility requirements.
Note: In the EOI, select ‘Queensland’ as the only state of interest in the EOI, if you wish to be considered for an invitation to apply for Queensland nomination.
For a further explanation, see the Frequently Asked Questions page on the Queensland Government website.
Program Status Update
Open to offshore applicants, the program provides skilled migrants with a pathway to permanent residency in Victoria. The skills that successful applicants bring to Victoria benefits employers and the broader Victorian economy.
The program provides two visa pathways:
As with previous years, applicants will first need to submit a Registration of Interest (ROI) and then be selected on competitive merit to apply for visa nomination.
*Please note: Invitation rounds occur frequently throughout the financial year with no set date.
To be invited to apply for Victorian skilled visa nomination, you must firstly make or update an Expression of Interest (EOI) via the Australian Government’s SkillSelect and then submit a Registration of Interest (ROI).
NOTE: If you previously submitted a ROI and wish to be considered for invitation in the 2024-25 program, you must submit a new ROI.
Both onshore and offshore applicants are eligible to submit a Registration of Interest (ROI) for both the subclass 190 and subclass 491 visas.
Your ROI will remain in the system for selection until it is withdrawn, selected or the program year ends.
Before submitting an ROI for Victoria, applicants should check that they meet all eligibility requirements.
For a further explanation, see the Frequently Asked Questions page on the Victoria Government website.
Program Status Update
People residing offshore are eligible to be considered for Western Australia (WA) State nomination. Invitations to apply for WA State nomination will be via the ranking system.
The Western Australian Skilled Migration Occupation List identifies the occupations in current demand in Western Australia. This List is important if you want to apply for Western Australia nomination for either a:
Please note that to be eligible for an invitation in the WA State Nominated Migration Program, you must meet both:
Before starting your application, you will need to check whether your occupation is available on either the WA Skilled migration occupation list (WASMOL) Schedule 1 or 2, or the Graduate occupation list. You can search for your occupation here. (The occupation list search bar is located under the heading ‘Eligible Occupations’.)
Features of the WA 2024-25 State Nominated Migration Program:
Before submitting an EOI for Western Australia, applicants should check that they meet all eligibility requirements.
For a further explanation, see the Frequently Asked Questions page on the Western Australia Government website.
Program Status Update
The ACT Critical Skills List identifies the occupations in current demand in the ACT. This List is important if you want to apply for ACT nomination for either a:
The ACT Government will update this list every four months to make sure that the ACT Skilled Migration Program adapts and responds to the evolving critical skills needs of the ACT economy.
The Canberra Matrix is weighted to ensure that applicants who will make a positive economic contribution to the Territory and/or have demonstrated a genuine commitment to the ACT are more likely to be ranked and invited to apply for ACT nomination.
*ACT nomination does not guarantee a migration outcome. You must still meet the Department of Home Affairs criteria.
Every month, a certain number of nomination invitations are available (prorated on the annual allocation) to those working in the highest ranked Matrix in each occupation.
You can view the ACT’s most in-demand skills for skilled migration by consulting the ACT Critical Skills List.
Before submitting an EOI for The Australian Capital Territory, applicants should check that they meet all eligibility requirements.
Once you’ve submitted a valid Department of Home Affairs Skill Select EOI, follow the ACT Government Process to apply for ACT nomination.
For a further explanation, see the Resources page on the ACT Government website.
Program Status Update
To manage South Australia’s COVID recovery response, applicants currently residing offshore are able to apply.
Depending on your occupation and situation, there are two state nomination options available for skilled migrants through South Australia.
For South Australian state nomination, prospective applicants must meet the Department of Home Affairs requirements, state-specific occupation requirements and have skills in an occupation that is available on the South Australian Skilled Occupation List. Offshore applicants meeting the minimum published requirements can now lodge an Expression of Interest (EOI).
There is an enormous range of occupations on South Australia’s Skilled Migration Occupation List in a range of industries – search for your occupation here.
South Australia will select offshore applicants to apply for state nomination from those who have submitted an Expression of Interest (EOI) through SkillSelect. Offshore applicants will not need to lodge a Registration of Interest (ROI) for this year’s program. South Australia will be nominating offshore applicants from over 250 occupations on South Australia’s Skilled Migration Occupation List.
If you are currently residing offshore and seeking to move to South Australia, the first step is to create an Expression of Interest (EOI) in SkillSelect ensuring you select South Australia as your first preferred State or Territory.
The South Australian Government can then review your EOI for consideration under the Skilled Nominated (Permanent) visa (subclass 190) or Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (Subclass 491).
For most occupations, applicants must have a minimum of three years of skilled employment in their nominated or related occupation within the last 5 years to secure an invitation to apply for SA nomination.
South Australia will be assessing candidates on merit by the following factors:
For occupations in the construction trades (as listed here) applicants must have a minimum of one year of skilled employment in their nominated or related occupation within the last 3 years.
Applicants in the construction trades will be assessed on merit by the following factors:
Before submitting an EOI for South Australia, applicants should check that they meet all eligibility requirements.
For a further explanation, see the Frequently Asked Questions page on the South Australia Government website.
Program Status Update
Working in Tasmania
The two state nomination options available for skilled migrants through Tasmania are:
The Tasmanian State Nomination Skilled Migration Program supports Tasmanian businesses and increases the state’s working age population. It does this by attracting and retaining migrants with skills genuinely in need by employers, or with the capacity to settle in Tasmania through skilled employment in the long-term, and business activities that will increase employment opportunities.
Tasmania’s skilled migration program is for people wanting to move to the state who have skills that Tasmania need. Skilled migrants are attracted to Tasmania because of the state’s enviable lifestyle, career opportunities, affordable housing, reputable schools and a globally recognised university.
The Migration Tasmania Application Gateway is now available for registrations of interest (ROI) and applications for skilled visa nomination from Tasmania.
Anyone seeking Tasmanian nomination for a Subclass 190 Skilled Nominated Visa or Subclass 491 Skilled Work Regional Visa must first register in the Migration Tasmania Application Gateway .
Before submitting an ROI for Tasmania, applicants should check that they meet all eligibility requirements for either;
For a further explanation, see the Frequently Asked Questions page on the Tasmania Government website.
Program Status Update
The New South Wales government has invited applications from offshore migrants under the following nomination streams:
The NSW State Government announced that offshore applicants skilled in certain ANZSCO unit groups are eligible for NSW nomination.
*Please note: Invitation rounds occur frequently throughout the financial year with no set date.
NSW invites and nominates SkillSelect EOIs at the ANZSCO unit group level. To be eligible for NSW nomination (for either Subclass 190 or Subclass 491), your occupation must fall within an ANZSCO unit group identified on the NSW Skills List which reflects skills in high demand across the state, and be eligible for the visa.
Before submitting an EOI for New South Wales, applicants should check that they meet all eligibility requirements for either;
For a further explanation of how the skills list works, see the Common questions about skilled visas page on the NSW Government website.
The country’s top chief executives say the government needs to overhaul its skilled migration program to attract offshore workers who have the skills required to settle in the government’s priority areas and make it easier for businesses to hire them.
A recent CEO Poll concludes that more must be done to fix poor productivity, which the Reserve Bank of Australia has described as “weak” and a risk to economic output.
The RBA has also warned that if sluggish productivity persists, inflation could take longer to fall, delaying the interest rate cuts that have already arrived for borrowers in the United States, Europe and New Zealand.
Westpac Bank chief executive Anthony Miller said Australia should do more to attract offshore workers who had the skills required to settle in the government’s priority areas and make it easier for businesses to hire them.
“We can more actively manage the migrant intake to target the skills we need,” Mr Miller told this year’s CEO survey.
“So many mid-size commercial businesses, especially in regional areas, talk to us about the need for more skilled workers. We can grow skilled migration aligned with areas of national interest – regional roles and businesses, housing construction, energy transition, advanced manufacturing and infrastructure.”
Mr Miller’s idea was echoed by CEOs across the property and resources sectors, which are struggling to re-hire workers.
Lendlease chief executive Tony Lombardo, who runs one of the country’s biggest developers and construction groups, said labour shortages were adding pressure to project delivery timelines and costs.
“Many experienced workers haven’t returned, and this has created capacity constraints,” Mr Lombardo said. “To meet the government’s housing targets and infrastructure pipeline, we need to increase skilled migration while also investing in training for young people.”
Stuart Tonkin, who runs $18 billion gold producer Northern Star Resources, said Australian miners had two key disadvantages in a global market: a lack of low-cost energy and a small population of skilled and unskilled workers.
“Relaxing restrictive policies on both these issues, and perhaps incentivising the acceleration of both, will provide a significant national benefit and improve productivity on a globally competitive stage,” Mr Tonkin said.
“Skilled and unskilled immigration must increase, industrial relations handbrakes must be removed, and businesses must be encouraged to adopt flexible and remote work arrangements domestically.”
Skilled migration, energy policy, removing red and green tape and investing in technology were CEOs’ most common responses to fixing Australia’s productivity problem. They said business had a large role to play but needed help from policymakers.
Multiculturalism is central to Australia’s identity, with more than half the population coming from overseas or having parents who did.
Most Australians view multiculturalism positively. However, many experience a declining sense of belonging.
In this context, cultural festivals present a valuable opportunity. They help remove barriers between different communities and build understanding across cultures.
We studied two cultural festivals in Sydney, the Africultures Festival and the New Beginnings Festival, to investigate the impact they had on communities.
Through interviews and surveys, we found cultural festivals are meaningful to the people they celebrate and enriching for non-migrants who attend them. These events help cultivate a sense of hope and optimism for Australia’s future as a multicultural society.
A chance for cultural enrichment
The Africultures Festival has been held each year since 2009. Led by a passionate all-women African-Australian committee, this event connects African communities with the broader Australian public.
The New Beginnings Festival is organised by the not-for-profit organisation Settlement Services International. It celebrates the diversity of migrant, refugee, multicultural and First Nations communities with themes of home, belonging, resilience and creativity.
Both festivals present unique opportunities for the general public to learn about different cultures and traditions. And for those whose cultures are being celebrated, they offer space to express one’s cultural identity and counteract negative stereotypes.
At the Africultures Festival, visitors can eat traditional foods, dance to African beats and even partake in African drumming workshops. As individuals from different backgrounds dance side-by-side, cultural barriers begin to dissolve.
The New Beginnings Festival features music, dance, visual arts, crafts and cuisine, celebrating the creativity and cultural heritage of artists and communities from diverse backgrounds.
As one attendee at New Beginnings told us:
‘You feel that you’re sharing your culture and art and your background in a new society and with new people. They will learn about it and experience the depth of the culture’.
Apart from appreciating different cultures, these shared experiences also help remind people of what they have in common. They do more than entertain; they promote cultural understanding and personal growth.
Community building and connections
For migrant communities, in particular, we found cultural festivals create three levels of connection.
Preserving ethnic roots
Festivals such as Africultures allow migrants to celebrate and showcase their cultural traditions and heritage. This helps strengthen their sense of belonging in Australia, allowing them to feel more “at home”.
One attendee at New Beginnings said:
It just makes you feel like you’re in your own country […] You stay in another part of the world, far away, but still you can have part of your country and part of yourself. So your identity is still there and many people see you.
Bonding between migrant groups
Gatherings such as New Beginnings bring migrants from diverse backgrounds together. Despite coming from different countries and cultural backgrounds, attendees can connect over the shared journeys of settlement and adapting to life in Australia.
One attendee at New Beginnings said:
because I’m an immigrant I have more similarities with them [other migrant attendees] and I feel attracted to them as we have gone through the same thing.
Bridging gaps with the wider Australian community
Cultural festivals help establish meaningful connections between migrant and non-migrant Australians. At Africultures, nearly all of the Africans we surveyed (96.7%) said the event left them feeling more positive about other cultural groups.
For non-migrants, the festival allowed them to feel more connected to people from diverse backgrounds.
One non-migrant attendee at Africultures told us:
I hope Australia can be a welcoming place for others. It is wonderful to experience other cultures and I hope that everyone can call Australia home.
Empowering entrepreneurs and artists
Beyond the wellbeing and personal growth aspects, cultural festivals also help migrants build their careers and businesses.
At last year’s Africultures Festival, we found nearly half the attendees spent more than A$75 at food and market stalls, directly supporting small business owners from migrant backgrounds.
Similarly, New Beginnings offers business owners and artists opportunities to showcase their work, meet potential customers and build professional networks.
Performers, too, highlight the career opportunities these festivals provide. One told us:
[Africultures has] given me the hope that I have a chance to expand my music to a whole lot of different audiences.
Such festivals have been stepping stones for notable successes. Yellow Wiggle Tsehay began performing at the Africultures Festival. Little Lagos, a Nigerian restaurant in Sydney’s Inner West, also got its start there in the form of a stall.
Shaping Australia
Cultural festivals are more than just celebrations. They are powerful tools for shaping a more inclusive Australia. By bringing people together to share their stories, food, music and traditions, these events help strengthen and connect communities.
The most impactful cultural festivals actively engage with and respond to the needs and aspirations of the communities they represent. They provide meaningful opportunities for cultural and ethnic minorities to share their experiences, ensuring their perspectives shape the direction of the event.
When festivals focus on these values, they become catalysts for a more united, inclusive Australia – one where everyone feels they belong.
Property industry leaders say rules that make it easier for foreign investment in property along with a boost to immigration are crucial for building more houses in Australia.
An increase in immigration is needed to tackle continued labour shortages within the construction sector and ensure more properties can be completed, they said.
Industry leaders also told the Property Council of Australia’s Property Congress that tax settings in Victoria and NSW were preventing foreign capital from being deployed to fund new developments.
Scape co-founder and chief executive Craig Carracher said “We need the right immigration that supports Australia to achieve what we’re endeavouring to achieve as a country.”
ISPT head of property Amanda Steele said that immigration was good for Australia, and it needed to increase in areas where there were skills gaps, such as in construction. Analysis from BuildSkills Australia showed that the government would need 90,000 more workers in the sector to meet an ambitious plan to build 1.2 million homes in five years.
“When you look at the fact that we have skilled construction workers coming in, but they’re often in suits, not shorts … we need those skilled construction workers that will work on site, not just sit behind a desk,” Ms Steele said.
Federal Housing Minister Clare O’Neil said in a video message to the conference that the Labor government had issued 10,000 skilled construction worker visas in the past year, which was the highest in the past decade.
Foreign investors have been attracted to Australia because of population growth and the fact that real estate was seen as safe, Ms Steele said.
Ms Steele said Australia was the most desired market in the Asia-Pacific for foreign property investment.
Property Council president and Charter Hall Office CEO, Carmel Hourigan, said sustained population growth was required to drive capital into the country.
A man has shared how he earned a six-figure salary for a job that took him one month to be qualified to do in Australia. He said the industry had no shortage of work and encouraged other Aussies to get into the lucrative job.
The Canadian man was stopped in the streets of Brisbane and revealed he was earning $120,000 a year as a heavy machine operator. He shared that he didn’t need any licenses to get into the job in Canada, but did need to get “a bunch of tickets” to work when he moved to Australia.
“When I got to Australia it took me about a month to get all my certifications and then I was good to go,” he said.
“I had my own business back home. I sold my business to come live here and now I’m working here.”
The average salary for an equipment operator in Australia is between $75,000 and $90,000, according to SEEK. For heavy equipment operators, GlassDoor puts the average salary at $125,000 a year.
The man shared he moved from Canada to Australia to escape the bad winters.
“We don’t really work from November to March because everything freezes,” he explained.
“Most people either do snow plowing or some other kind of trade outside or they go on unemployment for the winter.”
The man said he would encourage other people to get into the job and said he hoped to get permanent residency and eventually open up his own business again in Australia.
“It’s a good industry to get into if you like to work with your hands, if you like to do challenging work,” he said.
“There’s no shortage of work so you’ll always be employed.”
Machine operators and drivers were among the occupations previously identified in the government’s Skills Priority List.
According to SEEK, formal qualifications are not essential to become a machine operator but you may need to hold specific licenses or tickets.
That could include a forklift license, which usually takes four days to get, along with a high-risk work licence from Safe Work Australia to operate heavy equipment.
High-paying jobs that don’t require a degree
There are a range of Aussie jobs paying six figures that don’t require you to get a university degree. Instead, many jobs will require a short diploma or TAFE course.
The Australian Taxation Office (ATO) recently revealed the best-paying jobs in Australia that don’t require a degree.
Here are the top 10:
As of January 1, 2025, Australian student visa applications must include a Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE) instead of Letters of Offer. Applications without a CoE will be invalid, potentially affecting lawful status. This change aims to prevent visa misuse by ensuring applicants are genuine students, enhancing the integrity of the visa system.
The Australian Department of Home Affairs announced that applications without a CoE will be deemed invalid, leaving applicants unable to secure Bridging visas, potentially affecting their lawful status if current visas expire. This new requirement does not impact applications submitted before January 1, 2025, using Letters of Offer.
Applicants must now secure admission, pay tuition fees, and obtain a CoE before applying for a visa. Those unable to get a CoE before their current visa expires may need to explore alternative visa options or leave Australia to comply with immigration laws.
What is a Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE)?
A CoE is an official electronic document issued by Australian educational institutions confirming a student’s enrolment in a registered course. It includes details such as the student’s information, course of study, programme duration, and fees. To obtain a CoE, students must secure admission, pay the required tuition fees, and confirm their place in the programme.
The University of Wollongong is the top ranked university in the Equity category in this year’s Best Universities Ranking.
The University of Wollongong has significant cohorts of disadvantaged students from its catchment area.
The university’s footprint from Sydney’s south-west to the Southern Highlands and South Coast includes areas with regional students, First Nations students and students from low socioeconomic backgrounds.
“We know that in order to be successful as a university, given our location, that we have to have really good programs to support students in all of those categories of disadvantage,” says John Dewar, interim vice chancellor.
“It’s driven in large part by the character of the institution, which is shaped by our geography. We have to be good at that in order to serve the needs of our communities.”
The University of Wollongong – often referred to as UOW – is the top ranked university in the Equity category in this year’s Best Universities Ranking.
The University of Melbourne took second place and the Australian National University was third. Next were the University of NSW and Monash University.
The Equity pillar draws on Australian government data on the five groups of disadvantaged students: non-English-speaking background, disability, Indigenous, low socioeconomic status and regional or remote.
Universities are judged on the proportion of students in the equity group, measured against the proportion of students within the state and whether the institution is attracting and trying to attract students from diverse backgrounds; retention data; and how many complete their degrees.
Statistician Professor Tim Brown, who compiled the rankings, says the addition of retention data this year adds important new information.
“There is little point admitting lots of students from equity groups, if they are not retained in enrolments, either because they do not get adequate support and/or were not well enough prepared to benefit from the study,” he says.
Dewar says remote and regional students are primarily disadvantaged because they don’t have campuses nearby and have to move away. UOW helps overcome this by having campuses in regional areas, such as Nowra, Bega, Moss Vale and Eurobodalla.
“Literally being there is one of the most important things a university can do to serve its local communities,” he says.
Online learning also helps regional students access tertiary study, but Dewar says students’ success and completion rates are lower.
UOW provides financial supports, including scholarships, and has established financial literacy and inclusion programs to help students who are concerned about money to access financial advice. “They can understand better how to manage their finances successfully, including any income they might receive from the scholarship,” Dewar says.
The idea for the program came from the university’s Student Advisory Council, which Dewar describes as UOW’s “secret sauce”.
The council meets regularly with university leaders and provides feedback from students on how it can improve support.
Indigenous students are supported by the Woolyungah Indigenous Centre, which runs programs including school outreach and raising aspiration through to first-year transition, mentoring programs and retention programs.
“What marks them out is the level of personalised support they’re able to offer each student and the engagement with communities,” Dewar says. “The Woolyungah centre has really gone out of its way to bring the community in so that the students who are supported by the centre feel very culturally safe and receive quite personalised support from staff who they know they can trust.”
The university also offers access to a bridging program for students who are slightly weak in some academic areas and a mentoring program to connect them with more experienced students in their area of study.
Third-year UOW bachelor of engineering student Minh Phuc Nguyen, who grew up in Vietnam and came to Australia to study, says the university’s Learning Co-op website has been very helpful in providing advice on topics including writing reports, preparing for assessments and referencing.
“If there weren’t any resources for that, [university] would be quite challenging,” he says. “That helps a lot for me.”
Despite speaking English, Nguyen initially struggled to understand the Australian accent and has benefited from the Illawarra Friends of International Students, which holds twice-weekly English conversation groups.
Food pantries that give free food to students who need it have also been helpful for Nguyen, who hopes to remain in Australia when he finishes his degree next year.
The Australian National University in Canberra has several cohorts of disadvantaged students: 100 Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander; more than 1500 students with a disability; 1500 from inner regional areas; and more than 800 from outer regional areas.
ANU adjusts admission ranks for these students to help them gain a place at the university.
“Students who have disadvantage do not perform as well in school for various reasons,” says Grady Venville, deputy vice-chancellor (academic). “But when they come to university, we find that, with the right supports around them, they do really well. They catch up with our other more advantaged students.
“One thing I’ve noticed that they’re really good at, they’re usually very independent and capable of doing things themselves.”
It offers students from disadvantaged backgrounds its First Year Experience Program, which provides workshops for academic skills and time management, and connects them with older student mentors.
Another aspect of academic support is having very good teachers for first-year courses and a lower than average staff-to-student ratio.
“That’s a really key aspect of our success with students and our high retention rate for all students, but in particular for students who don’t traditionally come to university,” Venville says.
ANU also provide skills workshops to students to help them understand critical thinking and give them the ability to analyse data and information, and has workshops for support with English language and writing skills and data and mathematics skills if they need it.
The students are given free membership of ANU Sport and its non-residential hall, to provide them with additional opportunities to engage and connect.
For those who are struggling financially, it offers scholarships including the Canberra Scholarship for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students. The program offers Indigenous students accommodation and sometimes a stipend so they can concentrate on their studies and not worry about finances.
One of the key moments when students are at risk of dropping out of university is around assessment time, particularly at the end of first year.
“We stagger our assignments as much as possible and give feedback to students very early on in their semester,” Venville says. “That’s an important part so that they get that positive feedback, they get direction.
“They know where they’re doing well and what they could improve on, rather than waiting till the end of semester and then having one large assessment that can cause a lot of stress for students.”
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