Australia rejects 20,000 migrants ; changes to affect UK skilled workers

The Immigration Minister for Australia, Chris Evans, is set to announce a major overhaul of the immigration system that will prioritise doctors, nurses and school teachers. The system that allocates potential migrants points based on their qualifications and skills will be restructured. The changes are expected to target professionals with university degrees who are sponsored by employers [...]

UK demand for migration to Australia still as strong as ever

70% of people looking to migrate down under will still make the move within the next 3 years, despite longer visa processing times says Australia & New Zealand magazine. A survey, carried out ahead of the magazine’s Down Under Live event in Leeds, reveals that despite increasing challenges, many thousands of Britons remain undeterred and committed [...]

Emergency care workers needed in Victoria, Australia

An ageing workforce is contributing to a massive shortage of emergency care workers in the Australia state of Victoria, including ambulance drivers, paramedics, critical care co-ordinators, transport officers, retrieval physicians and station officers. According to the Sunday Herald Sun newspaper, “Victoria’s ambulance service has been hit by a workforce exodus with more than two staff members [...]

Australian house prices to rise up to 10% in 2010

Australian home prices will rise by as much as 10 percent this year as buyers try to trade up to better properties. So says a report from analysts APM, who predict a continuing trend which saw house prices across the country rise 12.1 percent in 2009, the biggest increase since 2003.

Australian migration has stimulated economy down under

According to the latest figures, one of the biggest contributors to Australia’s superior economic performance during the global recession was its 300,000 migrants from overseas. Critics of the Australian government’s economic management have pointed out that Australia’s economic growth does not look nearly so remarkable if assessed on the basis of output per person, with the [...]