You are aware that changes are happening regarding General Skilled Migration programme for students who have studied a two year award course, and the Education Services for Overseas Students Act., also. Most significant changes are:
Skilled Graduate visa of up to 18 months to allow improvement of English, participate in professional year and/or gain 12 months work experience in closely related skilled occupation.
Student visa holders can change provider after 6 months.
Rather than focus upon 80% minimum attendance satisfactory performance is now based upon academic progress. Institutions are no longer obliged to report student attendance but can enforce their own policy.
Several universities in Melbourne have industry based learning or professional years within Bachelor degrees. Although this experience may not be relevant as it is pre qualification, the same employers would probably employ candidates part time and full time again after graduation, or at minimum experience will make job seeking easier.
Further, many trades based courses are coming onto CRICOS (international students), mainly centred round Melbourne and SE Queensland. Trades include automotive (+ heavy), bricklaying, cabinet making, carpentry and air conditioning/refrigeration. No need to say but they fill quickly.
PS According to the new ESOS Act it is also illegal for institutions to use unofficial agents, e.g. migration agents taking up front consulting fee,offering advice and assisting with school application. Official eduation institution representatives (vetted, referecned in Oz etc.) like AIEC QUEST are paid directly by the institution and you pay no up front consulting fees for our advice and assistance with application and student visa. J
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Andrew Smith
Cert IV Workplace Assessor & Trainer, B. Bus., Cert. TEFLA, Grad. Dip. Ed. & Training, M. Ed. & "Aussie Specialist" http://www.aiec.biz
