Better recognition of overseas training on the cards
Federal Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke has revealed the government is considering better recognition of skills gained offshore to avoid lengthy wait times for migrants once they arrive in Australia.
At least 620,000 permanent migrants are currently working below their skill level in Australia, according to government figures. This includes those with long-standing maritime skills gained through training and experience overseas.
Many who travel to Australia with in-demand skill sets report finding the process of having their qualifications recognised lengthy, expensive and confusing.
In a recent National Press Club address as home affairs minister, Mr Burke said the government is “working through” the possibility of offshore recognition or further training. He said the challenge is to find which of the careers and skill sets you could train for that don’t require a practical assessment in Australia.
This has been a problem that no government has been able to solve and if it can be unlocked will result in wins to the economy, industry and immigrants.
Activate Australia’s Skills is an alliance campaign of businesses, unions, social services and community groups pushing a skills and qualifications recognition policy.
In its submission to the August economic roundtable, Activate Australia’s Skills estimated the nation’s economy could grow by $9 billion every year or $25 million a day, if the skills of migrants were better recognised and put to use.
The Independent Tertiary Education Council (Australia) noted several sectors could benefit from offshore recognition to expedite the process. There is the capacity for some qualifications to be delivered offshore and recognised in Australia, where the additional elements required for Australia are delivered by Australian providers in an offshore context.
There are already independent skills training providers delivering qualifications in hospitality, aged care, early learning and so on, in places like the Philippines and Indonesia, delivering Australian qualifications in those places with graduates ready and able to come to Australia and work.
This could be extended to delivering training overseas for AMSA-level maritime qualifications, or recognition of existing international qualifications against AMSA standards.
WAFIC has received reports estimating seafarer migrants, especially from Indonesia, face long waiting times and high costs to retrain in Australia or have their skills recognised.
WAFIC welcomes any discussions with government about how we reduce the costs and long wait times skilled migrants face to have their experience and qualifications recognised without comprising on standards.