In order to achieve its goals of becoming a high-performing and innovative nation, Australia is wooing skilled and talented people with an enhanced visa system which will come into effect later this year.
To attract the “best and brightest” entrepreneurial talent and skills, Australia is soon going to introduce a new Entrepreneur Visa. It will be for entrepreneurs with innovative ideas and financial backing.
The new enhanced visa system will also provide for enhanced pathways to permanent residence for postgraduate research graduates with Science, Technology, Engineering, Maths (STEM) and ICT qualifications.
Australian doctorate-level and masters by research qualifications in STEM and specified ICT or related fields will be given preference though extra points under the Points Tested Skilled Migration programme to strengthen their pathway to permanent residence.
The Australia government will establish a new provisional Entrepreneur visa with a pathway to permanent residency under the National Innovation and Science Agenda for entrepreneurs with innovative ideas and financial backing from a third party to develop entrepreneurial ideas in Australia.
New visa program by the end of the year
The Entrepreneur Visa will be introduced in November this year and the enhanced permanent visa pathway for STEM postgraduate research graduates will be implemented in December.
The proposed program enhancement is coming at the back of the findings of the Australian Bureau of Statistics that STEM skills jobs grew 50 per cent faster than other jobs between 2006 and 2011.
The government is looking to fill the skills gap highlighted by the StartupAUS Crossroads report that showed while the demand for ICT workers doubled between 1999 and 2012, number of students opting for tertiary ICT courses declined significantly.
