EMPLOYERS in the agricultural industry are among those who may benefit from a new group designed to connect them with skilled migrants.
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Regional Development Australia Northern Inland (RDANI) has set up a Facebook-based Skilled Migration Jobs Board so both groups can submit posts and find each other.
Skilled migration project officer Gary Fry said RDANI was asking bosses who had trouble filling jobs to join and post.
“They do not have to have a current vacancy. If employers regularly need a certain type of skilled worker, they can submit a post calling for expressions of interest from people with a required skill-set,” he said.
“Highly professional, skilled migrants have come here and failed to connect with the employers – who cannot fill a needed position with local labour – because they are so unfamiliar with the local jobs market and our industries.
“That is something we are working to address.”
RDANI brings skilled migrants to the region under the Skilled Regional State Nominated 489 sub-class visa.
They must meet the requirements for an occupation on RDANI’s regional demand-based list, and be assessed on their skills and English language proficiency.
These hard-to-fill roles include agricultural scientists and agricultural engineers.
STATUS QUO VS GROWTH
RDANI chairman Russell Stewart said local employers who couldn’t find skilled workers “can struggle to keep the status quo, let alone grow”.
“We are all for Australian jobs for Australians, but that’s just a nice-sounding slogan when employers struggle to find people with the right skills, qualifications and experience that they need.
“When an organisation has reduced functionality or a business cannot grow because of the skills shortage, regional economic development is impacted.”
The project is with support from the NSW government.
“From the Liverpool Plains Shire to the Moree Plains Shire, from tradespeople to health professionals, skilled migration has been a win-win,” Mr Fry said.
“Skilled migrants are looking to continue their careers in Northern Inland NSW, while our employers need the skills to get the job done.
“Skilled migration is economically and socially enriching our communities.
“The new Skilled Migration Jobs Board can further improve those outcomes.”
- For more details, call RDANI on 6771 0700.
ABOUT THE 489 VISA
The Skilled Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 489):
- allows skilled workers to live and work in regional or low-population growth metropolitan areas of Australia for up to four years
- can be gained through the extended stay pathway; invited pathway or subsequent entry pathway
- might lead to the permanent Skilled Regional visa (subclass 887)
Applicants must:
- hold a subclass 475, 487, 495 or 496 visa (Extended Stay pathway)
- be nominated by a state or territory government agency or be sponsored by an eligible relative (Invited pathway)
- be invited to apply (Invited pathway)
- have a relevant occupation
- have a suitable skills assessment for the occupation
- meet the points test pass mark of 60 points
- be under 45 years of age at time of invitation
- have competent English.
The cost is upwards of $3670 and the length of stay is up to four years.
- From the Department of Immigration and Border Protection