Prime Minister Scott Morrison has issued a call for international students and working holiday makers to “come on down” to Australia as the nation grapples with workforce shortages.
Today, international students and working holiday makers arriving in Australia will have their visa application fees rebated. This is in order to encourage foreign visitors to visit the country more often.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced the changes to alleviate workforce shortages caused by the spread of Omicron on Wednesday..
“What we’ll be doing is we will be rebating the visa application fees from all those who arrive today,” he told reporters in Canberra.
International students will have their fees waived for eight weeks from Wednesday, and the changes will be in place for 12 weeks for working holiday makers.
Mr Morrison called on the visa holders to consider coming to Australia as soon as possible.
“My message to them is come on down,” he said.
“We want you to come to Australia and enjoy a holiday here in Australia – move all the way around the country and, at the same time, join our workforce.”
The Working Holiday Maker (WHM) program allows “young adults to have a 12 month holiday, during which they can undertake short-term work and study”, according to the Home Affairs website.
The visa application fee for international students costs $630, while the cost of the work holiday maker’s visa is $495.
Treasurer Josh Frydenberg hopes that changes to the application fees will make a “big difference” in addressing ongoing workforce shortages.
The rapid rise of COVID-19 infections has resulted in thousands of people falling ill, being forced to go off work or being required to self-isolate as a close contact. These consequences have been the result of large numbers travelling here and bringing the virus with them. The government wants 175,000 foreign students and working holiday makers coming into Australia each year – this is expected to cost $55 million annually.
The federal government last week announced a 40-hour cap on the number of hours that foreign students need to work in order to get paid would be removed. This leaves around 325,000 foreign students who are currently studying and looking for jobs in Australia with more opportunity for them. There are about 250,000 overseas as well as 23 thousand workers from outside the country who come over each year – so this could prove beneficial with some much needed labour being brought into the country..
Mr Morrison said foreign students working and being trained in health and aged care would be “incredibly helpful” as the nation continues to grapple with the pandemic.
The Australian Industry Group encourages the changes as they believe international students will provide much-needed services in sectors such as transport and hospitality.
The National Farmers Federation has also warned about the impact of labour shortages on farms stemming from working holiday makers being unable to enter the country over the past two years.
Australia’s borders were opened to international students and working holiday makers last December after being shut down in response to the pandemic, which happened in March 2020.
Mr. Morrison announced on Wednesday that $3 million would go to Tourism Australia in order to support a marketing program targeting backpackers and students.
In April 2020, Mr Morrison told temporary visa holders that they should return to their home countries if they could not support themselves during the coronavirus pandemic.
One of the prerequisites to get a permanent visa is having one skill that is in demand by Australian businesses. Australia has an ongoing need for skilled workers, so it would be best if you looked into what skills they are missing and see if your qualifications and experience match their requirements.
Australia’s Migration Services works employers who are looking for skilled workers. To find out more about your current or next move to Australia, speak to one of our MARA registered migration consultants.
