International Students
Letter to the Editor - Australian
7 April 2005
Dear Sir/Madam
Where does Mr Young get his facts from?
Contrary to what Mr Young writes, (Make foreigners feel at home, Australian, 6/4/05) Australia has been at the forefront of establishing pathways to permanent migration for international students.
This is in contrast to other countries that do not provide comparable opportunities following graduation.
Since 1 July 2001, international students who have graduated from an Australian university have not been required to depart Australia to apply for permanent residence.
We have continued to fine tune and make adjustments to these requirements. For example, people who have an Australian qualification receive additional points in order to pass the General Skilled Migration points test, as do people who have studied in regional Australia.
Each of these measures alone and collectively have helped to ensure Australia’s international competitiveness as an attractive student destination and as a place to settle in.
The figures speak for themselves. Between 1 July 2001 to 30 June 2004 some 24 640 international students (plus 3444 family members of these students) have applied for and been granted a General Skilled Migration visa in Australia, giving them permanent residence.
Professor Birrell from Monash University has also highlighted in some recent research that these changes have promoted Australia as an attractive study destination – students know they can and do have the opportunities to remain in Australia after their graduation.
A simple check of the Department of Immigration’s website would have
steered Mr Young to the conclusion that we are ahead of the game.
Kym Charlton
Acting Director
Public Affairs
DIMIA