Dear Guest,
Our lead story this month covers the government's new budget.
The message is crystal clear: the government places a great deal
of importance on skilled migration and its importance to the future
prosperity of Australia.
What does this mean for you? With a huge 30% increase in skilled
migration places, the opportunity to secure your visa has never been
better.
A vital aspect of the immigration process is welcoming new arrivals
and integrating them into the workforce and community. We are continuing
to encourage all employers to look at the skills, talent and experience
skilled migrants offer, and the commitment they demonstrate by coming to
Australia to start a new life.
LIA itself employs many skilled migrants, most of who speak English
as a second language and our company benefits from having a team of multi-lingual
speakers, which adds a powerful capability to doing business both in Australia
and overseas.
It remains our privilege to ensure your voice is heard by policy makers.
As Australia addresses the core issue of productivity over the next half century,
I think the government should encourage employers to develop all skilled visa
holders, so they can contribute their skills and experience, to their benefit
and that of the nation.
Assyl Haidar
CEO
Simply click on the links below to automatically scroll
down the page of the latest LIVE IN australia.com® news.
Click on 'TOP' to return to the top of the page:
- Budget boosts skilled migration program
- Now you're really talking
- How far can a migrant go? Lanard Copeland: Basketball superstar!
- Aussie Surprise of the Month - The rotary clothes line. Invented in Adelaide.
- Staff Profile
- Students permitted to work
- A Town Like Geraldton
- One nation, many cultures - The Melbourne Comedy Festival
- Turkish workers ambassadors for Australia
- So how do you like Australia? Elton Carneiro - Master of IT
- Aussie Survival Guide - The colour blue
- Springboks stampede this way
- Aussie Recipe: Emu Pies
- In Brief
Budget boosts skilled migration program
In the Australian Budget 2008-09, the Rudd Government has
added 31,000 skilled migrants to the 2008-09 Migration Program.
The Minister for Immigration and Citizenship,
Senator Chris Evans, said the extra places allocated
to the permanent skilled migration program represented a
30 per cent increase on 2007-08.
The increase is further to a special one-off allocation of 6000
extra skilled migration places announced by the Rudd Government in
February 2008.
Overall, permanent skilled migration will make up 133,500 places
in the Migration Program, which totals 190,300 for 2008-09. The Family
stream will be increased by 6500 places to 56,500. This increase in the
Family stream includes a boost of 4000 places to the parent visas.
'Australia's skilled migration program is structured to target
skills to meet the needs of the job market by maximising the use of
employer-sponsored migration.'
Research has shown that the labour market participation rate for
permanent skilled migrants is now more than 90 per cent.
The increase in the Migration Program from 2008-09 will cost an additional
$1.4 billion over four years for settlement services and ongoing core government
services such as health, education and employment services.
The Government has also committed $19.6 million to improve the processing and
compliance of the temporary skilled migration program, which includes
the uncapped 457 visa scheme.
A total of 39,500 subclass 457 visas was granted in 2003-04
compared with 49,700 in just the first half of 2007-08.
Senator Evans said the temporary skilled migration program is
expected to exceed 100,000 places in each of 2007-08 and 2008-09.
Interested in one of those additional visas? Talk to a LIA Migration Advisor
and get more information.
TOP
Now you're really talking
The Minister for Immigration and Citizenship, Senator Chris Evans announced
measures to help migrants gain the language skills needed to join the Australian
workforce. These measures include $40 million for the Employment Pathways Program
and $9.2 million to Traineeships in English and Work Readiness.
'The pathways program will help people with the lowest levels of literacy
learn English in formal and informal settings while introducing them to the
Australian workforce,' Senator Evans said. 'The traineeships will help new
migrants continue to learn English while they develop knowledge, skills and
experience in Australian workplace culture.
'Ensuring migrants are equipped for the workforce is an important economic
objective in an environment of labour shortages which are adding to inflationary
pressures.'
The Parliamentary Secretary for Multicultural Affairs and Settlement Services,
Laurie Ferguson, will continue funding for the National Action Plan for Social Cohesion,
Harmony and Security that funds initiatives in education, employment,
community integration and enhancing national security.
Australia works very hard to make immigrants feel at home. To find out more, contact LIA
today.
TOP
How far can a migrant go?
Lanard Copeland: Basketball superstar!
After 12 years with the Melbourne Tigers, Lanard Copeland said it was an
honour to play with the Club and to be recognised by having his number 21
retired. The next night, the dual-championship winning Atlanta-born guard who
brought 530 games worth of excitement, athleticism, skill, energy and entertainment
to basketball courts around Australia, played his last NBL game. But what a career!
In his first year with the Tigers, Copeland helped the team make it to
the Grand Final series, which they just fell short of, but followed it up with
a Championship win the following year in 1993.
"After my first couple of seasons I just couldn't leave," said Lanard.
"Australia is such a great place to live that I had to stay, I've been all
over the world but I consider this my real home."
At 42, Copeland left the sport he helped legitimise in Australia and to do
it with no regrets. "None whatsoever," he said. "It's been a fantastic ride.
I probably wouldn't change a thing about it. I've enjoyed myself tremendously."
Over the years, fans have enjoyed watching Copeland. Now, he's basically
stepped straight into coaching after his retirement as a player. But it should
be a smooth transition for Copeland, who played in the NBA with the Philadelphia
76ers and LA Clippers before embarking on 17 seasons in the NBL with the
Melbourne Tigers, Brisbane Bullets and Adelaide 36ers.
Lanard Copeland was a superstar who changed the way basketball was perceived in Australia.
Lanard Copeland, the Tiger
LIA shares that will-to-win that always leads to higher performance.
Contact LIA
now and see what that means for you.
TOP
Aussie Surprise of the Month
The rotary clothes line. Invented in Adelaide.
Yes, the Hill's Hoist Rotary Clothes Hoist was invented by
Australian Lance Hill (1902-1986).
Lance was a motor mechanic and he made the first Hill's Hoist
for his wife, whose washing kept falling off the prop washing line.
The year was 1945. The place was Adelaide, South Australia. Lance's
line was a single steel pole with metal ribs spreading out from the
centre pole. Between the ribs he strung rust-proof wire from which
the clothes would hang.
Now, although a Geelong bloke called Gilbert Toyne made a simple
rotary line way back around 1912, Lance Hill then invented a way of
winding up the top part of the centre pole.
This was the crucially attractive part of the device, that led to
worldwide acceptance. The clothes could be raised high to dry in the
wind. The line was so successful that soon all the Hill's neighbours
wanted one too. Lance Hill was happy to build them. At first he built
them in his backyard workshop. And then they got famous.
Today, the company Lance started to make clothes lines also is in
the business of Home, Hardware and Eco Products, Electronic Security
and Entertainment Products and Building and Industrial products.
From Adelaide to the world
If a career in Australia's atmosphere of innovation sparks your imagination,
log onto LIA
and see how your skills fill the bill.
TOP
Staff Profile
Name: Colin Linke
Position: Commercial Manager
My role: As the Commercial Manager of LIVE IN australia.com
I am responsible for delivering projects and system enhancements
that improve or enhance the overall performance of the business. I support
the business units of our organisation in the delivery of their
responsibilities from a strategic, tactical, financial and operational perspective.
Tell us a bit about your family name. Where does Linke originate from?
Linke is a name of German origin which is apparently quite common in Germany.
The name is synonymous with German settled regions of Australia – such as the
Barossa Valley in South Australia.
Favourite overseas destination?
Thailand
Why?
Great value place to see, with fantastic people, great scenery,
many "fun" and "touristy" things to do. It was also my first overseas destination
and really enjoyed the whole time there.
What was the last thing that made you laugh so hard you almost cried?
My little girl Hannah just makes me laugh every day. She amazes me how easily
she recalls things although sometimes more quickly than her mouth can cope with.
When she gets excited and has to tell me what happened you can see how frustrated
she gets and sometimes she just gives up. I must admit that I love watching The
Simpsons and whenever Faulty Towers is on, I simply have to watch it.
Outside of work, what else do you love doing?
Aussie rules footy, squash, walking my very masculine Maltese-Shitzu through the
streets of my neighbourhood, reading too much technical accounting books, understanding
the intricate workings of Linux, and spending as much time with friends and family as possible.
What do you love most about Australia?
The lifestyle. How lucky are we that we can be in the centre of Melbourne and
drive for an hour south to enjoy beaches that are wondrous. Or drive an hour in
another direction and enjoy "the bush" or a desert or mountains or rugged coast
line. We can enjoy wonderful cafes and restaurants that create some of the most
wonderful and diverse cuisine imaginable. We get to live a fantastic standard of living
that allows us to enjoy some of the better things in life such as the most exquisite
wine available. It is a great place to live.
Why would prospective migrants be bananas not to use our services?
Because unlike anywhere else that I have worked there is a real passion
and desire to make one of the most difficult times imaginable as smooth as possible.
Because the people who are the company take it extremely personally to ensure Clients
get the best chance of getting the VISA that they desire...and because it is great value.
TOP
Students permitted to work
Now, students studying in Australia can work to support their
studies, if they so wish. The Australian government has declared
that international students will be able to work part-time
automatically under a new streamlined visa arrangement introduced
this week.
Senator Chris Evans, the minister for immigration and citizenship,
said: "All student visas will be granted with work rights attached,
removing the need for people to make a separate application. It means
that international students can apply for part-time jobs in Australia
as soon as their courses start."
The minister added that the move would reduce red tape for those
wanting work and would allow a more efficient use of his department's time.
"Making it easier for international students to work while they study will
also assist industries currently suffering serious labour shortages," he
concluded.
Senator Evans said that international students would be allowed
to work for up to 20 hours a week during their courses.
"Successful applicants will now not need to have an Australian
visa label in their passports as evidence of their visa grant. Instead,
their visa information will be stored electronically for access through
the Visa Entitlement Verification Online (VEVO) service," Evans said.
The Changes have been welcomed in Britain, India and elsewhere.
Today, India is the second largest source of overseas students and a
significant contributor to Australia's international education market,
which is worth Australian $12 billion ($11 billion) to the national economy.
A total of 34,146 student visas were granted to Indian citizens
in the year ending June 2007. Overall, 228,592 students from 191
countries were granted visas during that period.
Now, studying in Australia is even more attractive. Your
LIA Advisor
can fully brief you on all changes in government policy.
TOP
A Town Like Geraldton
Geraldton is a bustling city of nearly 30,000 people located
424 kilometres north of Perth, capital of Western Australia.
It's the administrative centre of the mid-west's diverse industry
base and is the business hub of the region.
Situated on Champion Bay on a spectacular stretch of coastline
known as the Batavia Coast, Geraldton offers all of the cultural,
entertainment and shopping facilities of a major regional city.
Locally caught lobster, prime beef and a variety of ocean fish
combined with locally produced wines from nearby wineries, gives
a unique dining experience in Geraldton.
An increasingly significant port city, it's a major export
centre for far flung pastoral, mining, agricultural, manufacturing,
construction and fishing industries. Over three million tonnes of
grain and minerals are shipped from the port each year.
With it's Mediterranean climate, Geraldton is blessed with
beautiful beaches and warm, sunny weather. The city provides a
smorgasbord of water based recreational and sporting activities,
with special emphasis on yachting, surfing and diving. The town
is also world renowned as a Mecca for windsurfers.
Western Australia's booming resources industry indicates a
prosperous and growing future for this uniquely located city.
The city and the region offer skilled tradespeople and professionals
many opportunities.
Downtown Geraldton
HMAS Sydney Memorial
If you're interested in a career in Aussie mining, manufacturing or agriculture,
Contact LIA
without delay.
Geraldton Council website: http://www.cgg.wa.gov.au/
Port of Geraldton website: http://www.gpa.wa.gov.au/
Geraldton Visitor Centre: http://www.geraldtontourist.com.au/
TOP
One nation, many cultures
The Melbourne Comedy Festival
The Melbourne International Comedy Festival is one of the largest
comedy festivals in the world, and has grown to be Australia's largest
cultural event.
The festival takes over Melbourne each autumn with an enormous
program of stand-up comedy, cabaret, theatre, street performance,
film, television, radio and visual arts. This year's festival took
place over March and April and featured funny business from Britain,
Canada, the USA, New Zealand and just about everywhere with a sense
of humour. A roadshow of the festival's highlights travels around
Australia between April and July.
The Comedy Festival is not only a hugely popular event but also
an extremely accessible one. You can purchase your tickets via the
comedy festival website or through Ticketmaster.
Next Melbourne Comedy Festival runs from April 1st to 29th, 2009.
So if you're not doing anything, drop in for the month.
Website: http://www.comedyfestival.com.au/
Melbourne Town Hall - Joking aloud
TOP
Turkish workers ambassadors for Australia
On the 40th anniversary of an immigration agreement between Australia and Turkey,
the Australian Embassy in Ankara opened a exhibition of photographs "We came as
workers -- We stayed as citizens."
The exhibition shows the successful integration of the Turkish workers into
Australian society and the transformation of those workers from a foreign community
into an established Australian community with Turkish backgrounds.
The exhibition is a testimony to the successful integration policies
of the Australian governments. One-third of Australia's over 21 million
citizens were born outside of the country, and there are about 60,000
Australians of Turkish origin.
One of the major reasons behind Australia's success was its recruitment
of immigrants as future citizens and, unlike Europe in its handling of
migration, its willingness to encourage the workers to come to Australia
with their families and couples and settle there. It would be interesting
to contrast early photographs of all male Turkish workers migrating to
Europe with the family scenes of Turks migrating to Australia.
The exhibition enjoys the support of the Ankara Metropolitan Municipality
and Istanbul's Besiktas Municipality, together with several Australian
companies established by Australians of Turkish origin or companies investing
in Turkey. Today's Zaman is one of the media sponsors of the exhibition. The
exhibition will open in Ankara and then move to Istanbul's Akatlar Kültür Merkezi.
Concerned how you might fit in in Australia?
Contact LIA
and see just how welcome you are!
TOP
So how do you like Australia?
Elton Carneiro - Master of IT
After completing his Masters degree at the Australian National
University, Brazilian student Elton De Simone Carneiro decided to
stay and work in Australia 'to learn about a different culture'.
Elton found work through the Australian Government's Regional
Sponsored Migration Scheme working for Stepsoft, a specialist IT
company. 'Here I have more free time than when I worked for a similar
IT company in Brazil,' Elton said.
'I've been in Canberra since 2004 and I love it here. 'The work
and life balance is excellent.' Stepsoft Web Services Manager, Melanie
Rooney, said the company has found an exceptional talent in Elton. 'He brings
important technical skills and the experience of working with overseas
companies,' Melanie said.
Elton said Brazilians seeking a new experience should consider working in Australia.
'I'm happy I did. Working in Australia has given me the opportunity
to learn about a different culture and see things with a broader
perspective.'
If you'd like be master of your career and a whole new life,
Contact LIA
and see what Australia can offer you!
Elton having a ball in Australia
TOP
Aussie Survival Guide
The colour blue
Another thing you have to watch out for ... in Oz,
redheaded people are often known as Blue, or Bluey.
Sometimes it even becomes the person's nickname. So
strong is the contradiction, when Richard Branson established
Virgin Blue, his Australia airline, he felt compelled to
paint his planes red.
No one seems to know how blue came to mean red.
Just in case you're not confused enough, a 'blue' can
also mean a fight and 'bluey' also refers to the bundle
carried by a swagman (tramp/hobo).
So conceivably, you could hear that Bluey got into a blue
with Blue and hit him with his Bluey. Don't worry. You'll
get the hang of it.
Bluey – the ruggedly
handsome Australian
TOP
Springboks stampede this way
In South Africa, crime, politics, power cuts and political uncertainty
are driving a new wave of emigration from South Africa. Australian firms
and local shipping companies all report stimulated South African intention
to emigrate in planning to emigrate, particularly over the past six months.
Shipping company Stuttaford Van Lines reports the biggest increase
in international relocations since 1994, when the last big exodus of
South Africans to the UK, Australia and New Zealand took place.
"It is people aged 30- 40 with young children, and easily as many as
the numbers who left in 1994," says Stuttaford Van Lines shipping manager
Ria van der Erver. She says her company relocates 20 families a month from
Gauteng alone.
An Australian immigration expo held in Johannesburg and Cape Town,
attracted unprecedented interest.
Biddulphs, a shipping company and stand-holder at the Opportunities Expo,
said the Cape Town event had attracted 7000 people, all of whom reported advanced
plans to leave SA.
International relocations from Biddulphs' Cape Town branch for March
and April 2008 have quadrupled compared with the same period last year.
"Crime, jobs and the panic of leaving it too late [the cut-off point for
some Australian visas is age 45] are the reasons they gave," says Frances
Attenborough, shipping controller at Biddulphs.
Intending immigrants include business people trades people individuals
and professionals.
Many South African immigrants with the means to make at least a $AU500,000
investment in Australian government bonds apply as an "investor retiree".
If you're a skilled South African in any area, check with an
LIA Advisor
and see how your skills fit in with Australia's urgent employment needs.
TOP
Aussie Recipe: Emu Pies
Serves two.
Prep time: 40 minutes
Cook time: 20 minutes
Ingredients:
1/2 kilo of emu rump; 2 teaspoons of avocado oil (macadamia or olive if unavailable);
handful of pepper berries; 2 onions;
1 1/2 cups of red wine;
1 cubed/skinned egg plant;
2 cubed/peeled sweet yams; 2 cups of beef stock - keep a little for sauce.
Packet of puff pastry or short crust pastry
Blue gum honey
What you do
Meat Mixture
Place cubed emu rump, cubed and skinned eggplant and sweet yam in a large pot.
Add 2 cups of beef stock and cup of red wine.
Add about 3 - 4 pepper berries
Leave to stew for about 30 mins stirring every 10 mins.
The eggplant will break down and create liquid, but the
mixture will reduce considerably.
Add 2 tbspns flour and a tbspn of butter to thicken the sauce sufficiently for a pie mix.
The Pies
Make pastries squares roughly 15cm square.
Place smaller squares in the middle these squares to strengthen the crust under the meat.
Place 2 heaped tbspns of meat in the centre.
Pull up the sides of the pastry to make a parcel - and pinch in the middle.
Cook in moderate oven for about 15 - 20 mins.
The Sauce
1 sliced onion
More pepper berries
Splash of wine
Add beef stock
2 tbspns of blue gum honey
Cook sauce until it reduces a little
Pour over cooked pies.
Emu what!?
TOP
In Brief
Speeding up 457 visa approvals
The government has allocated more resources to clear the
backlog of 457 visa applications and make sure skilled
migrants get here faster. Officials have been given the
deadline of June 30th to process all delayed skilled
migrant's visas.
More students apply for Australian permanent visas
The number of foreign students choosing to stay in Australia
after completing their education in the country has increased
rapidly in the last year. From the previous figure of 8,200,
20,900 students chose to do so last year, reports the Herald Sun.
More Brits choose Oz
The Earth Times reports that Australia is more than ever
becoming a hotspot for British expatriates. Figures indicate
that the land downunder is the most popular destination for
the 2,000 people who leave Britain each week.
TOP
Aussie Word of the Month
Blue(noun): argument/fist fight.
Aussie words in action: The husband and wife
had a big blue about whether they would watch the football,
or the Eurovision song contest.
TOP
Best Regards,
Peter Seers
Marketing & Client Services Manager
|
