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Writer's pictureCema Santos

The Australian Migration System is about to Change!

Updated: Oct 7, 2023


The Australian Migration System is about to Change!

We have been waiting for an action plan for so long...


Breaking NEWS!


The Australia Migration System is about to Change!


I am delighted that the conversation and the reflection on what is not working, what needs to change and how we can move forward are happening in the big house.


Among all the great points raised by the Hon Clare O'Neil MP regarding our migration portfolio relying upon an outdated system what made my heart sing was when Laura Tingle asked the following question to the Hon Clare O'Neil MP:


"one of the issues that's coming up is within the skilled migrant program, the #families of #skilledmigrants also get counted and basically sort of fill out the program. Are you looking at changing how they're counted?"


And this was Clare O'Neil reply:

"One of the big untapped levers that we have here is the capacity of partners who are coming here to contribute to our economy. We can see really clearly in the data that partners of skilled migrants are not engaging with the labour market to the degree that their qualifications suggest that they should be. So part of the reform project that I've talked about today is digging in on that question. It is particularly for migrant women. Often the problem is they have skills and qualifications they earned overseas, and we have this very cumbersome process of recognising those qualifications."


As a highly skilled migrant woman responsible for settling my family well in Australia, I consider myself blessed for chasing my #careerdream in my new land despite all the odds and roadblocks.


However and unfortunately, this is not an everyday reality among many skilled women who come with their families to #australia. The process is long, with institutional and personal barriers that women face, causing a significant career gap. It is also emotionally draining, resulting in a profound disconnection from themselves and their aspirations.


However and unfortunately, this is not an everyday reality among many skilled women who come with their families to #australia. The process is long, with institutional and personal barriers that women face, causing a significant career gap. It is also emotionally draining, resulting in a profound disconnection from themselves and their aspirations.


Working for more than 20 years with newcomers around the around, I have witnessed that many of these women never return to their careers as they doubt themselves and their abilities to contribute to the system—a challenging game for those who decide to risk themselves in the #jobmarket.


If you are a skilled migrant woman anywhere, you must believe you can be who you want, doing what you want. So take the first step to know the new system where you are (from an official source) and take the steps (even slowly) to keep moving forward.


Thanks, Hon O'Neil, for your #vision and #actions!


"Bringing Dreams to Reality - Holding Your Hand while You Find Your Feet "Cema Santos 👣

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