DIAC Stands Firm On Student Migration Changes

One of the biggest things that shook the student migration scene last year was the large scale changes made by the Department of Immigration and Citizenship to the general skilled migration program. Many were surprised by the changes and found themselves scrambling to cope up with these. Others, on the other hand, tried to assert that these new changes will only prove detrimental to student immigrants.

However, it seems that these actions are going to be of no avail. The DIAC said that it will stand firm on its decision. It also said that these changes are very necessary in order to ensure the quality of not only the general skilled migration program, but also of the student migration program. Thus, it seems that foreign students indeed have nothing more to do about this one.

To better understand the whole matter, it would be a good idea to track back to where everything started. In early 2009 , the department announced that it would be making changes to the skilled migration program in order to align with the Rudd government's new thrust in getting more highly skilled professionals into the country. These changes resulted in the removal of a hundred or so positions that were deemed by the department to be low level or of low demand.

Though the changes initially affected those who are getting working visas, it soon became apparent that the foreign student migration will also be greatly affected by these. Since a large number of foreign students were taking vocational courses, they suddenly found themselves in a big problem when the department deemed these low level and removed them from the priority list. It should be noted that the main reason why many of these students to take up vocational courses is because, under the old system, it is the easiest way to get permanent residency.

And it seemed that everything is not over yet for foreign students, as the student immigration program itself received major changes. One of the biggest of these changes was the increase of the basic living cost for students to around $18,000 from just under $15,000 previously aside from this, the application process for the program has now become even tighter.

Naturally, foreign students vehemently showed their opposition for these host of changes. However, the department said that it will remain firm about these changes. They also added that these will also benefit foreign students in the long run. They also assured these students that they will do everything to ensure that the new rules will have as minimal an impact to them as possible.

Enrolling Your Kids

One thing you must consider is the education in Australia of your children. And since there are a lot of schools in the country, this can often become even more complicated. And so, here are some useful tips that can help you in enrolling your kids.

Getting to know The Australian school calendar

• The Australian school year usually begins from January to December for both primary and secondary
• Each school year is composed of four separate terms, with breaks in between, the longest of which is the Christmas break often lasting for six weeks
• in terms of enrollment, Australia has one of the largest rates in the world today.

Public and Private schools compared

• Generally, there are no differences between them in terms of educational quality.
• The national state governments provide sufficient subsidies, which means that they are practically for free, though you will still have to pay a few fees.
• Though private schools do get fees, these are actually reasonably priced compared to the rates in other countries.

Looking for a school

• Most schools allow online sign-ups, which would be a great help to incoming immigrants.
• There are also online directories that provide comprehensive information on schools, which you can also use in selecting a school.
• Almost all towns in the country have a nearby community school where you can easily enroll your kids in.

Getting your kids to school

• It would be a good idea to let your kids visit the school before the term starts to familiarize themselves to the area.
• You might want to enroll your kids to the nearest school for security and convenience reasons.
• In case of a far school, you can get your kids a dedicated school service or fetch them yourself.

Last Reminders

• Make sure you have your kids' complete records when enrolling them to avoid going through the hassle of getting them afterward.
• Many schools require incoming students to have complete medical check-ups so be sure to promptly comply with this.

Australia Faces Tough Immigration Issues

In Australia, migration issues are often important topics that have been discussed time and time again by policy makers. Being a country with a long history of immigration, this one is not really surprising. However, with the recent changes in immigration policies and its looming effect on the country, it has become an even more urgent matter to consider.

As one might have recalled, the Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) began implementing major changes in their policies. The biggest of these is the total revamp of the skilled migration program, which aims to get more highly skilled professionals into the country, of which it is currently in a shortage of. Afterward, the DIAC also announced that they will be implementing stricter regulations on the entry of immigrants, including issuing biometric passports to people coming from countries considered as high risk areas.

And this one is seemingly not over just yet, as officials announce plans to cut down the number of immigrants to be allowed into the country. This, according to proponents, is the ease up the growing population of the country, as well as to alleviate competition with local workers. This one actually came as a surprise a few weeks after Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd said that the country needs to increase immigration in order to sustain its development.

Indeed, as some experts have pointed out, Australia does need to get a lot of immigrants. The country has one of the largest economies in the world today, and is expected to still grow more in the future. However, its small population cannot provide enough labor force to sustain its development, which is why it needs to get a lot of immigrants.

However, there is a catch on this one. There is actually a limit on how many people the country can really take in, and observers fear that the current number is nearing that one. If indeed does go overboard, the consequences will definitely not be good for the country or the people living here.

And while the country is still in a bind and is trying to sort out its immigration issues, it is set to face yet another challenge. Competition coming from other countries seems to be bent on taking Australia out of the top spot for many immigrants' choice of a place to move into. Singapore, in particular has announced renewed efforts to attract more foreigners into its land. On the other hand, colleges and universities in the United States are also bent to get a bigger share of the international student market, something which Australia holds the biggest part of.

These new competitions will likely put pressure on Australia's immigration stance. However, the country is expected to come up with a sure solution soon.