On 1 January 2010 we reported on “Skills assessment changes for tradespersons for onshore General Skilled Migration (GSM)”.

The Job Ready Program developed by Trades Recognition Australia (TRA) will be used to assess applicants who have completed a trade occupation in Australia. Although this affects anyone who has completed a trade occupation in Australia who wishes to apply for a GSM visa, it should be noted that many of the trade occupations are not open to international (foreign) students.

The Job Ready Program will primarily affect applicants who have studied cookery or hairdressing in Australia. These two occupations have been used as a springboard for international students to obtain permanent residency in Australia. In many cases there was never an intention to actually enter the workforce as a cook or hairdresser.

Obviously, this pathway was open to abuse and it was not unusual for unscrupulous educational institutions to charge exorbitant fees to international students with the “guarantee” that they would obtain Australian permanent residency after completing their courses in Australia.

Trades Recognition Australia states the following on their website:

“Trades Recognition Australia has been working to develop a program that provides people applying for skills assessments from within Australia with a real opportunity to increase their chance of gaining employment in their chosen trade if they are successful in their bid to migrate to Australia as a skilled worker.”

We do not believe this statement to be the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth. There is no doubt in our minds that the Job Ready Program will also be used to eliminate the unscrupulous educational institutions and their agents. International students pay high fees to attend Australian educational institutions. The Job Ready Program fees will tack on another AUD$4,500 or so to these fees. In addition, the Job Ready Program is so cumbersome for employers that we cannot envisage too many employers willing to assist. 

Click here for more information on the Job Ready Program.