Welcome to the AREEA Member Portal

Login

Register

Is your company a member of AREEA?  Register now to access the Member Portal

Welcome to the AREEA Member Portal

News, information and resources in one location for your access to ongoing support.

From fact sheets, guides and reference libraries to breaking news, the portal is your comprehensive and exclusive reference tool.

Global Talent program goes permanent to attract the world’s best and brightest

Australian businesses and start-ups will have streamlined access to the best and brightest talent from around the world with the continuation of the Global Talent – Employer Sponsored program (GTES), formerly the Global Talent Scheme.

The Global Talent Scheme was announced in March last year, and piloted last financial year, with Minister for Immigration, Citizenship, Migrant Services and Multicultural Affairs David Coleman deciding to make the GTES an ongoing program.

He said the pilot showed the program had strong support from industry and highlighted the economic benefits of recruiting overseas talent directly to Australian businesses.

“These highly-skilled overseas workers bring with them unique skills and knowledge that are transferred to Australian businesses, allowing for the creation of further jobs for Australians,” Minister Coleman said.

Minister for Industry, Science and Technology Karen Andrews said making the program permanent would give the technology sector the certainty it needs to grow.

“We obviously want Australians employed wherever possible but this program will help tech companies to fill the gaps, while we continue to develop the skilled workforce we need,”she said.

“These highly skilled workers will not only help Australian businesses to grow but will also share knowledge with our local workforce and help to upskill their colleagues.”

23 GTES agreements have been entered into with companies seeking to fill specialised positions. The GTES agreements last five years and provide access for up to 20 highly-skilled visa applicants per year for established businesses and five per year for start-ups.

The Department of Home Affairs aims to finalise all GTES agreements within two weeks of a complete application being submitted, allowing businesses to fill critical vacancies quickly.

Businesses applying for the program are required to demonstrate they are unable to source Australian workers for the roles they are seeking to fill.

Mr Coleman is also expected to announce a Global Talent Independent Program tonight in a speech to The Sydney Institute, fast-tracking visas for 5000 of the world’s best and brightest every year with the aim of entrenching high-tech industries in Australia.

Further information is available on the Department of Home Affairs website.

AREEA continues push for high priority occupations

Earlier this year the Senate Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs References released its Report into the effectiveness of the temporary skilled visa system in targeting genuine skills shortages, presenting the federal government with 21 recommendations for change.

It built on the Morrison Government’s announcement it would adopt all 22 recommendations of the Migrant Workers’ Taskforce Report, including criminalisation of serious worker exploitation and establishing a National Labour Hire Registration Scheme.

As AREEA has previously advocated directly to government, the committee heard that the removal of specialist maritime roles from the occupation lists in 2017 is likely to lead to a void of specialist mariners with the necessary skills and experience to fill key roles in Australian Ports and other maritime sectors.

AREEA continues to provide further information and evidence in relation to the remaining occupations ineligible for skilled migration under either list as part of industry consultation.

The occupations identified as high priority by AREEA members, in particular drilling and maritime industry roles, continue to be the focus of attention.

Unfortunately, the most recent update to the occupation lists shows none of the occupations identified by members as of concern to the resources and energy sector have been flagged for change. This will be a continued focus area for AREEA for the remainder of 2019 with the next update to the skilled migration occupation lists expected to occur before the end of the year.

For more information on skilled migration and/or to provide feedback on high priority occupations, please contact [email protected]

Create your AREEA Member login

Register