Immigration Minister David Coleman has announced plans to invest $19.4 million in a new plan aimed at attracting skilled workers to regional areas.
We don’t know the specifics yet, but he indicated that the plan may involve fast-track visa processing and agreements enabling local councils to sponsor workers.
Coleman warned that applicants won’t be able to simply secure a regional visa and then move elsewhere.
Two new Designated Area Migration Agreements (DAMA) were also announced recently; one for regional Victoria and one for the Northern Territory. These will make it easier for employers in these areas to sponsor overseas workers.
In a nutshell, expect more opportunities in regional areas and less in Sydney and Melbourne.