Skilled Migration to Australia's South West
The South West is developing rapidly.
More and more people choose Australia's South West as a place to live because of lifestyle and business opportunities.
Major investment is taking place in natural resources and infrastructure projects. As a result, many businesses in the construction, engineering, hospitality and health services industries are looking for skilled employees.
It is widely acknowledged that the South West faces a shortage of specific skilled labour. Many businesses are now hiring skilled labour from overseas.
The South West Development Commission has a team in place to facilitate skilled migration for the benefit of local business and industry.
People with relevant skills and qualifications are invited to speak to us to identify businesses that have vacancies that are hard to fill with local people.
For further information about how to sponsor a skilled migrant, please view Info for business.
Further information for prospective skilled migrants can be viewed on the page Info for migrants.
To speak to the South West Development Commission's migration officer phone +61 8 9792 2000 or email Geraldine Wilson.News alert
Changes to the 457 visa program came into effect in May 2009, with the removal of some occupations from the standard sponsorship arrangements.
These changes are among a series of recently implemented measures aimed at ensuring the 457 program provides industry with needed skills, without undermining local training and employment opportunities.
The latest change means employers wanting to recruit overseas workers in occupations listed under major groups five to seven on the Australian Standard Classification of Occupations (ASCO) can only do so by successfully negotiating a labour agreement with the Commonwealth.
Labour agreements aim to provide a flexible response to the needs of industries experiencing skill shortages, while ensuring overseas recruitment does not affect long-term improvement of employment opportunities for Australians.
The agreements also apply increased rigour to the consideration of the merit of a request for foreign workers.
This will ensure employers using the 457 visa program to gain access to these occupations satisfy all their obligations under the program, including those on training.
For details, visit The Department of Immigration and Citizenship website or phone Geraldine Wilson at the South West Development Commission on 9792 2000, or the DIAC enquiry line on 131 881.