Australia, 15th March: The recent report by Bruce Baird that raised numerous concerns about the fate of international education in Australia has received a big applause by the Australian immigration department.
The Australian Department for Education had commissioned the Baird Report for producing a report on the legislation governing foreign education in Australia.
Australian immigration minister Chris Evans has expressed his pleasure for the support offered in the Baird Report for the recent changes in the Australian immigration. The report states clearly that the recent amendments in the Australian immigration rules imply an immediate removal of various incentives offered to foreign students for making applications to any vocational courses in the hope of getting Australian permanent residence.
The report, meanwhile, has also called for an increased protection for international students in Australia.
Chris Evans made a reference to the new Skilled Occupations List (SOL) to be introduced mid-year which will replace the earlier migration occupations that were in demand list. The new list, said the minister, will be developed by Skills Australia, an independent body in Australia.
The new SOL will target on highly valued skills including engineering, healthcare and mining, the skills which Australia needs in the coming times.
However, whether the new skills forecast for Australia are accurate or not, only time will tell, said the minister.
Foreign students, who are presently pursuing education in Australia, and have either vocational Australian visa, higher education visa or postgraduate student visa, will have facility of making application for permanent residence. The only condition is that their occupation must be on the new SOL.
The Australian immigration minster also made his intentions quite clear saying that the sole motive of an Australian student visa is to help the foreign students pursue education in Australia. It, no where, gives any right to seek permanent residence in Australia. However, on completion of their education in Australia, international students will get chance to find an Australian employer providing sponsorship offer to them.
The Baird Report also made a scathing attack on recent attacks on Indian students in Australia saying such incidents have serious effects on Australia’s image as a tolerant, multicultural and a safe country to live and work in. it called for new legislation to offer increased protection to international students in Australia.
Bruce Baird, the man behind the report, is a former Australian Member of Parliament.