Posts with tag: lifestyle
New Skilled Occupation List - Steady as She Goes
The Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) announced earlier this week the new Skilled Occupations List (SOL) that applies from 1 July. The list was unusual only by virtue of the extent of the lack of change. The following occupations are to be removed from the SOL
- Hospital Pharmacist
- Retail Pharmacist
- Aircraft Maintenance Engineer (Avionics)
- Aircraft Maintenance Engineer (Mechanical)
- Aircraft Maintenance Engineer (Structures)
There were no additions.
We were expecting the occupation of Accountants to remain on the skilled occupations list but only those who are professional Accountants and Auditors.
We thought that some types of Accountants might be removed from the list because of the publicity surrounding the large number of Accountants that Australia grants residence visas to each year (40% of skilled migrants in the previous migration year were Accountants). However all Accountants remain on the Skills List. It would appear from their inclusion on the 1 July list that Australia still wants Accountants!
You can view the new SOL on the following link:
Many of our regular readers would know that the Skilled Occupations List is significant in that only applicants nominating occupations on the SOL can submit independent subclass 189 visas. These visas are called independent because one does not need to be sponsored by a family member nor State government in order to be able to apply.
The vast majority of skilled applicants do not have occupations on the SOL but have occupations on the Consolidated Skilled Occupations List (CSOL). If your occupation appears on the CSOL you need to obtain sponsorship from a State government. There are eight States and Territories sponsoring various occupations which they select from the CSOL and SOL depending upon the needs of the economy of that particular State.
To view the current CSOL for July 2012 to 2013 (this includes the current combined SOL – Schedule 1 and CSOL – Schedule 2 occupations) please visit:
http://www.immagine-immigration.com/do-i-qualify/australia-immigration-policy/CSOL/
The above list will be updated once the new list is announced on 1 July.
Essentially State Governments do an audit of their economy in the months leading up to 1 July and then publish these lists. The lists show which occupations are in demand in that particular State for the new immigration year. They do not, however, indicate how many places are available for each particular occupation.
Most States require you to have completed the English language test [IELTS] and obtain a positive skills assessment from one of the skills assessing authorities to confirm that you are, in fact, suitably qualified for the occupation that you nominate before you can apply for State sponsorship.
Most people make the mistake of waiting until such time as their occupation appears on a State Sponsorship List and they then arrange to do their skills assessment and sit the IELTS test. It usually takes three or four months to complete the skills assessment and IELTS test and by that time a particular State may have filled its quota of that particular occupation and that occupation is then listed is unavailable.
If this happens one has to wait until such time as it becomes available or consider applying to a different State if your occupation appears on another list and you are willing to settle in that State.
The new immigration year starts on 1 July and now is the ideal time to be completing IELTS tests and obtaining skills assessments so when the new lists are produced these formalities have been complied with and you are in the best position to take advantage of the new State Sponsorship Lists.
The assessment as to which is the correct occupation to nominate is probably one of the most important and difficult aspects of a General Skilled Migration visa as each of the skills assessing body’s have different assessment criteria.
I should add that, for those occupations that have been removed from the SOL, don’t be too depressed, your occupations will still be added to the CSOL and will be available through state sponsorship.
We will be presenting free seminars in Singapore and South Africa in June and for those interested in attending the seminar registration can be made through the following page of our website http://immagine-immigration.com/seminars/.
See below for schedule of forthcoming seminars.
Forthcoming seminars :
South Africa
Johannesburg
Seminar will be held on Thursday 13 June at 7pm at the Michelangelo Hotel
Consultations will be held on 14, 15, 16, 24, 25 and 26 June in Auckland Park.
Durban:
Seminar will be held on Monday 17 June at 7pm at the Riverside Hotel
Consultations will be held on 18 and 19 June at the Endless Horizons Boutique Hotel.
Cape Town:
Seminar will be held on Thursday 20 June at 7pm at the Commodore Hotel
Consultations will be held on 21 and 22 June at the Commodore Hotel
Singapore
Seminar will be held on Saturday 22 June at 11am at the Holiday Inn, 11 Cavenagh Road
Consultations will be held on 23, 24, 25, 26, 27 and 28 June at the Holiday Inn.
To book for the free seminar please go to www.immagine-mmigration.com/seminars.
Seminars are free to attend. Should you wish to book a consultation there is a charge – to book consultations please contact Ruth on ruth@immagine-immigration.com
The Australian Dollar
Notwithstanding having completed a BCom degree, majoring in Economics, I only “got” interest rates when I acquired my first mortgage. I can safely therefore say that I am no economist and feel on uncertain ground writing a blog on the value of the Australian dollar but I couldn’t help but consider the implications of the softening Australian dollar on migrants.
The Australian dollar is currently trading at 0.96 against the US dollar having been as high as $1.05 earlier this year.
I remember when we emigrated from New Zealand to Australia in 2008. Like most migrants our house was our biggest asset and in retrospect we couldn’t have put our house on the market at a worse time (during the first months of the global financial crisis). We received an offer on the house which was less than we wanted and agonized over the decision until I realized that the New Zealand dollar was very favourably priced against the Australian dollar at that time and the gain in the favourable exchange rate would more than compensate for a lower sale price.
Many of my friends chose to retain property New Zealand and rent in Australia in the hope that the property market in New Zealand would recover and they chose to rent out their properties in New Zealand and in turn had to forgo the opportunity of purchasing property in Australia. All the while putting up with the hassle of obtaining tenants for their homes and managing the process remotely.
When we transferred the proceeds of the sale of our property the New Zealand dollar, was buying 0.87 Australian dollars. The exchange rate subsequently fell to a low of 0.78, more than compensating for the softer sale price.
Why has the Australian dollar fallen in value?
1. Partly because of an 18 billion dollar budget deficit for the next financial year announced earlier this month.
2. The dollar's fall has been exacerbated by a rally in the US dollar against all major currencies amid expectations of a softening in its quantitative easing (money printing) program.
3. The carry trade which is where global investors who have the ability to borrow cheap money in the US or Japan, Britain or Europe and can do so at rates not too far from zero, using those funds to park cash in higher-yielding countries such as Australia and New Zealand.
4. The reduction in the Official Cash Rate (OCR) to 2.75 % - the lowest level in history
5. Lower worldwide commodity prices as the Chinese economy slows down
Whilst a lower Australian dollar does have some immediate benefits for migrants making the immigration process cheaper and Australian housing [amongst other things] more affordable a heavy fall in the dollar, rather than a gradual decline, would be a clear signal of a fragile economy and a deterrent for would be migrants. So it’s a delicate balancing act, a softening in the currency is good because it makes Australian goods and services cheaper provided the economic fundamentals remain sound.
The Australian economy will only be in a perilous state if the commodity boom has run its course and if China is really in trouble, and the global economy more broadly is turning down. This doomsday scenario is hardly likely to occur and Australia’s fundamentals appear strong. Inflation remains at a healthy 2 – 3% and unemployment remains at 5 – 6%.
Recent data shows the Chinese economy accelerating and jobs growth is surging in the US, hardly signs that the economic environment is deteriorating.
Ultimately the Australian dollar is going through a long overdue correction due to a combination of lower than expected economic growth, a fall in short-term interest rates and a fall in the terms of trade as global iron ore and coal prices adjust to rising supply and the reversal of capital flows.
Over the last few years I’ve really enjoyed the purchasing power of the Australian dollar. It’s made traveling abroad for Australians a lot more affordable but has made exporting product more expensive. As our product is Australia you can view the correction in the Australian dollar as a discount in consumer terms.
We were delighted to note that the Australian dollar fell not only against the American dollar but also against the relatively weak South African Rand and the Singapore dollar as well. The Rand strengthened from 9.71 in late March to a recent 9.22 and as far as the Singapore dollar is concerned it fell from 1.3 on 13 April to 1.21 yesterday.
If I knew how far the Australian dollar would ultimately fall I wouldn’t be sitting at my desk on Monday and you’d find me in a different career. No one ever immigrates for profit and the experience is sure to set you back financially several years. You have to accept that you are never going to get the best possible price for your house and never be able to obtain the most favourable historic exchange rate but if realizing your assets enable you to fulfil your dream of immigrating to Australia they should be viewed as having served their purpose.
For most migrants, attempting to understand the whims of the currency market is a bit like trying to understand how the immigration process works. You can read a lot, get a lot of opinion but frankly you are better off handing it over to someone who knows what they are doing. Just like you would plan out your move to Australia and when to take the couch, ship the pets and relocate your family, taking a strategic approach to your currency ‘relocation’ is always a smart idea.
Most banks offer very simplified currency products that usually consist of a single one off deal based on your decision that the time is right. They generally wont offer much by way of advice (unless you have shares in a Fortune 500 company) and don’t reveal the tools that they have at their disposal to manage your currency transfers. For example one way to approach your currency needs is to set a ‘Market Order’ whereby you identify a reasonable price you want to achieve and then when the market hits that price your deal is done, whether you are asleep or out fishing.
A good Foreign Exchange broker will analyse your needs, evaluate your objectives and provide relevant and useful advice to try and achieve those goals. They should be realistic about that advice and give you a practical solution to maximise your currency gains and hopefully minimise potential losses.
Foreign Exchange brokers will also charge a lot less for their service than a bank, typically offering prices at 1.5 to 3% better than a retail banking institution, which on larger transfers can mean savings of tens of thousands of dollars. Rates vary between brokers, but often the advice you get is worth more than just the exchange rate. However like Immigration Advisers, Foreign Exchange Brokers are not all created equal. We know some very good ones who assist our clients with their financial migration, offering sound, practical and valuable advice.
Forthcoming seminars :
South Africa
Johannesburg
Seminar will be held on Thursday 13 June at 7pm at the Michelangelo Hotel
Consultations will be held on 14, 15, 16, 24, 25 and 26 June in Auckland Park.
Durban:
Seminar will be held on Monday 17 June at 7pm at the Riverside Hotel
Consultations will be held on 18 and 19 June at the Endless Horizons Boutique Hotel.
Cape Town:
Seminar will be held on Thursday 20 June at 7pm at the Commodore Hotel
Consultations will be held on 21 and 22 June at the Commodore Hotel
Singapore
Seminar will be held on Saturday 22 June at 11am at the Holiday Inn, 11 Cavenagh Road
Consultations will be held on 23, 24, 25, 26, 27 and 28 June at the Holiday Inn.
To book for the free seminar please go to www.immagine-immigration.com/seminars
Seminars are free to attend. Should you wish to book a consultation there is a charge – to book consultations please contact Ruth on ruth@immagine-immigration.com.
What's in a Name
Growing up I always thought of my surname as a bit of a curse and often wondered whether I came from a long line of Lipschitz' (or should it be Lipshi?) or whether some customs official with a nasty sense of humour changed my grandfathers surname from Jones to Lipschitz.
Highly unlikely since my paternal grandparents hailed from Lithuania and prior to that, possibly Germany. Perhaps then my grandfather had the Lithuanian equivalent name to Jones prior to the whimsical humour of a customs official.
I have spent my life spelling my surname to people and to compound matters my first name, Myer, isn’t that common either. If people do know it they know it as a girls name and I often have correspondence addressed to me as Ms.
So I do have some baggage with my name. I'm not going to tell you my middle name because you might think my parents were having an acid trip (it was the 60's) when I was born.
Just in case you think I'm getting too comfortable on this metaphorical couch let me reassure you there is a point.
The point is that on a recent 24 hour stopover in Switzerland I was amazed how easily everyone understood and pronounced my surname. There were none of those awkward pauses when I have to finish the pronunciation of the name by adding " schitz" after they get as far as Lip.
From the receptionist at the hotel to the check in clerk at the airport prior to my departure everyone was Herr Lipschitzing me in Zurich. Even the counter staff at Starbucks got my first name correct when they named my cup. Yes I know ordering Starbucks in Switzerland looks bad but that's another story for another couch.
At the departure lounge I even heard that another Lipschitz was late for his flight to London over the intercom. I had to refrain from shouting "run Lipschitz you tardy bastard, you are letting the team down". I was starting to think that there are so many of us we are taking over the world. Today Zurich airport tomorrow...
The only other time I felt like this was when I emigrated from New Zealand to Melbourne 5 years ago. Like most migrants desperate for a sign that they are doing the right thing (particularly those of us dumb enough to do it at the height of the GFC) I noticed, on my first day in Melbourne, my first name Myer emblazoned in font 100,000,000 on the side of a large building. It's a sign, it’s a sign I thought to myself. God is showing me in a not too subtle way that the move to Melbourne was a good one. It was about as subtle as a burning bush in Collins Street but good on you Big Guy I thought to myself.
I subsequently found out it wasn't through divine hand that my name ended up on the side of a building but rather it was the MYER department store. Apparently this other Myer was also a migrant but changed his name to Myer which leads me to believe that he must have had a really, really bad first name. Sadly - no relation.
So why am I ranting (as my wife unkindly says). Although this might come across as some self indulgent piece of prose better delivered to a psychologist than an audience of would be migrants it does have relevance to you so please don't rush me. Man this couch is comfortable, pass me another cushion Doc.
So when I consulted with a very nice young Israeli on my recent trip and he tells me that he is thinking of changing his surname from Arabic to English (he is Jewish) and do I think it's a good idea a wave of baggage descends faster than on a conveyor belt at Oliver Tambo International Airport (OK , much faster).
His name did not contain any of the names Osama, Bin or Laden but it was unmistakably Arabic. Would this impact on his chances of getting employment in Australia he wanted to know.
I thought back to another Israeli client of mine who immigrated to NZ with my help many years ago. He was born in India and had the type of unpronounceable surname with so many guttural consonants that are so foreign to the NZ tongue. He told me that after a month in NZ and hardly any interviews he decided to change his name to something more English. Short of inspiration he looked to the bottle and found both inspiration as well as his new name - Johnny Walker! As Mr Walker the interviews started rolling in with a job offer soon thereafter.
I relayed the story to my young Israeli and after much laughter he confessed his love for whiskey as well. I bade the soon to be known Mr Daniels goodbye.
Was I facilitating a betrayal of his culture and heritage or making a difficult process easier. I prefer to think the latter.
It's not racist for employers to want to employ people that they feel will fit into the work culture, relate better to their colleagues and customers and so people with more English sounding names do have an advantage. But that's not to say that people with more foreign sounding names can't overcome these initial obstacles, they can as soon as employers discover the person behind the strange name.
After all, what’s in a name?
Forthcoming free seminars :
South Africa:
Johannesburg: Seminar to be held on Thursday 13 June at the Michelangelo Hotel at 7pm
Consultations will be held on 14, 15, 16, 24, 25 and 26 June in Auckland Park.
Durban: Seminar to be held on Monday 17 June at the Riverside Hotel at 7pm
Consultations will be held on 18 and 19 June at the Endless Horizons
Cape Town: Seminar to be held on Thursday 20 June at the Commodore Hotel at 7pm
Consultations will be held on 21 and 22 June at the Commodore Hotel
Singapore:
Seminar to be held on Saturday 22 June at 11am at the Holiday Inn, 11 Cavenagh Rd
Consultations will be held on 23, 24, 25, 26, 27 and 28 June.
To book please go to our website – www.immagine-immigration.com/seminars
A Tough Decision
I know just how tough the decision to migrate can be [the process is even tougher!] but also, of equal importance, is the timing of the decision to migrate. The experience of a recent client emphasized this point to me.
I consulted with Claire [not her real name] in South Africa late last year. She was 49 then, married with two children at School. Whilst she is not wealthy she is comfortable and her daily existence is good. She has a well-paid professional job. She hasn’t been personally affected by violence and crime in South Africa and doesn’t have any concerns about her immediate safety.
She is, however, concerned about the future in South Africa. In particular she is concerned about whether her two children will get jobs because of affirmative action programs, and is concerned that the lack of effective government in South Africa is leading that country to become another Zimbabwe.
There is no pressing need to immigrate, yet she feels she is being irresponsible for not at least securing the opportunity to do so at some point in the future. Particularly since her 50th birthday was, at the time of the consultation, six months away. She realizes that once she turns 50 she is not going to qualify for a General Skilled Migration visa.
She does have family in Australia – her brother-in-law and his family - and she has visited them several times in the past.
On each visit she takes note of the freedoms that they and their children enjoy but there are downsides as well. The poor exchange rate between the Rand and the Australian Dollar makes it impossible to consider purchasing the same size property in the same socioeconomic suburb.
She does realize that the General Skilled Migration visa would be valid for a period of five years and that she doesn’t need to immigrate immediately.
I don’t hear from Claire for several months and then receive an SOS asking me for help because her Expression of Interest hasn’t been selected from the pool. It is five days before her 50th birthday.
She needs to obtain State Sponsorship and receive an Invitation To Apply for residence before her 50th birthday. I’m not sure whether I can obtain State Sponsorship in five days. It usually takes two – three months. I contact the Manager at the relevant State Department and make an impassioned plea for urgent consideration. I’m advised that there are no guarantees but urgent consideration will be given, however, the application has to be submitted with at least two clear days notice to allow them to consider the application.
After 48 hours Claire advises me that she and her husband cannot come to an agreement as to whether to apply and she is, therefore, not going to make the decision without his commitment. I receive a call on the day before her 50th birthday to the effect that whilst she and her husband cannot come to an agreement she’s going to make a unilateral decision to apply .… if it still possible. I get the call at 3pm on the day prior to her birthday.
Once again I make an impassioned call to the Manager of the State sponsorship program. No promises but we are advised if we can submit to fully documented application within an hour consideration will be given. It took us approximately 1.5 hours to do so and I had three staff members doing bits and pieces but we managed to get it done and received the fantastic news that our client had been Invited To Apply for permanent residence approximately 5 hours before her 50th birthday.
The timing of the decision and subsequent Invitation To Apply is significant in the context of actually being able to migrate to Australia. By making the decision:
- She can migrate to Australia under the General Skilled Migration program with her husband and two children.
- She will be young enough to ply her trade and skill in Australia and earn income in Australian dollars. The Australian dollar is very strong and comparable wages are generally better.
- Her children will complete their secondary education in Australia for free, and will have lower costs for tertiary education as compared to international students.
- She and her family can apply for Australian citizenship after 4 years, therefore, having duel South African and Australian citizenship.
- Being an Australian citizen allows one to reside in another country for as long as they want without it affecting their ability to return to live and work in Australia.
- The exchange rate between Australian dollars and South African Rand is significant in that she can go back and enjoy the pleasures of the country that she may not have been able to afford to do previously, e.g. African safari’s, luxury hotels, tourist stuff, etc.
If Claire had decided to not apply when she did, but still harboured dreams of making it to Australia at a later date:
- She would not qualify for General Skilled Migration or Employer Sponsorship as the cut off age is 50 years old.
- She would continue to work in South Africa and occasionally visit family in Australia, or take some holidays.
- She would remain uncertain of her children’s future.
- She would have to rely on one of her children qualifying for General Skilled Migration to Australia. Not an easy task.
- If they do qualify, her and her husband can apply as a parent, but would be required to pay a lump sum of ($42,000 each – total $84,000) to the government. This is not paid back to them.
- She would not spend any working years in Australia, and may not have a suitable nest egg for a comfortable retirement.
- She runs the risk that only one of their children could migrate to Australia and face the heartbreak of leaving a child behind.
I still don’t know whether her husband is on board but at the very least she has preserved her options and will qualify for a permanent residence visa. She has undoubtedly made the correct decision, in my opinion, and I’m sure that in time she and her husband will agree.
Just imagine if she had slept in the day before her birthday. The option of this life changing decision would no longer be available.
Forthcoming seminars :
South Africa – April 2013
Johannesburg: Thursday 18 April at the Michelangelo Hotel – 7pm to 8.30pm
Consultations: 19, 20, 21, 28, 29 and 30 April.
Durban: Monday 22 April at the Endless Horizons Boutique Hotel – 7pm to 8.30pm
Consultations: 23 and 24 April
Cape Town: Thursday 25 April at the Commodore Hotel – 7pm to 8.30pm
Consultations: 26 and 27 April
Singapore – April 2013
Singapore:
Saturday 27 April at the Holiday Inn – 11am to 12.30pm
Consultations: afternoon of 27 April, whole day 28, 29, 30 April, 1, 2 and 3 May.
Israel – May 2013
Tel Aviv
Sunday 5 May at the Park Plaza Orchid Tel Aviv Hotel at 7pm
Consultations: 6, 7 and 8 May.
The seminars are free to attend but there is a charge for consultations. You are not obliged to book a consultation.
To book for the free seminar go to : http://www.immagine-immigration.com/seminars/
To book for a consultation contact Ruth on ruth@immagine-immigration.com.
Singapore Bursting at the Seams?
I have just read a recent article about the Singaporean government wishing to increase the population to 6.9 million by 2030. Singapore currently has a population of 5.3 million people on 697 km² of land. After speaking with many local Singaporean’s over the past few years, already there is disgruntlement over the enormous population increase over the past 50 years (1.6million in 1960 to 5.3million in 2012).
Increasing the population by 1.6 million people does not seem like a huge amount when compared to the size and population in Australia. In fact there is plenty of room in Australia to accommodate significantly more than the entire population of Singapore. And there is enough room for every one of our 22 million people to have a substantial backyard.
However, it would be interesting to know where in Singapore an extra 1.6 million people could fit in.
I could imagine a whole new advertising campaign describing Singapore to be the new Venice of the East. Although population will grow, unfortunately land does not and I will not be surprised if we do, in fact, one day see Venetian style canals off the coast of Singapore to accommodate the population increases.
Already Singapore is one of the most densely populated countries in the world. Population density sees 7680 people per square kilometre in Singapore. I’m sure many of you riding trains in the morning or going through shopping malls in Orchard Road would probably think this is a fair estimate.
Already we can see a large number of developments and high-rise buildings as we travel from the airport to our humble hotel that reflects an already large urban population. And buying a landed property is now fast becoming a luxury of the rich.
Looking at Australia’s population density, we see 2.86 people per square kilometre. Granted, the cities will definitely be more densely populated however we at least have the chance to drive a short way out of the city for a breath of fresh air and some quality alone time. And with new housing estates being developed in all major cities that include house and land packages, there is a healthy choice for all between inner-city apartment living and roomier suburban life.
In fact there is nothing better than making a lot of noise in your own home without Mrs Johnson banging on the floor below with a broom telling you to shut up. Or going to your mates place to play some backyard cricket whilst enjoying a barbecue on the back porch. Or getting back to nature and camping out in many wondrous and natural places that Australia has to offer. Those of you in countries such as South Africa and the United States would know how nice little bit of space is when you need to get away from the hustle and bustle of urban life.
How do Singapore and Australia compare to other countries when it comes to Population Density?
Malaysia - 88.7 per sq km
South Africa - 40.2 people per sq km
United States - 34.3 people per sq km
United Kingdom - 260.6 people per sq km
India – 366.6 people per sq km
Japan - 349.4 people per sq km
China - 140.4 people per sq km.
There’s been talk for years that China is the most overpopulated country in the world. However, figures suggest that this is not the case and Singapore must certainly be feeling the strain of a larger population in such a small area.
Forthcoming seminars :
South Africa – February 2013
Cape Town: Thursday 14 February at the Commodore Hotel – 7pm to 8.30pm
Consultations: 15 and 16 February
Singapore and Malaysia – February/March 2013
Singapore:
Saturday 23 February at the Holiday Inn – 11am to 12.30pm
Consultations: afternoon of 23 February, whole day 24, 25, 26, 27, 28 February and 1 March
Kuala Lumpur:
Saturday 2 March at the DoubleTree by Hilton, , The Intermark – 11am to 12.30pm
Consultations: afternoon of 2 March, whole day 3, 4 and 5 March
South Africa – April 2013
Johannesburg: Thursday 18 April at the Michelangelo Hotel – 7pm to 8.30pm
Consultations: 19, 20, 21, 27, 28 and 29 April.
Durban: Monday 22 April at the Endless Horizons Boutique Hotel – 7pm to 8.30pm
Consultations: 23 and 24 April
Cape Town: Thursday 25 April at the Commodore Hotel – 7pm to 8.30pm
Consultations: 26 and 27 April
The seminars are free to attend but there is a charge for consultations. You are not obliged to book a consultation.
To book for the free seminar go to : http://www.immagine-immigration.com/seminars/
The Nons
The “Nons” vote with their feet
I had a very interesting consultation recently in Malaysia with a Malaysian of Indian ethnicity wherein she introduced me to a term that I was unfamiliar with. She referred to herself as a “Non.”By this she meant that she is a “Non Malay” even though she is a Malaysian citizen, in other words she is not regarded as an ethnic Malay or non Bumiputra.
This term prompted me to reflect that the Non’s (whether they are ethnic Chinese or Indians living in Malaysia) or Whites, Coloureds or Indians living in South Africa (the equivalent Nons of South Africa) tend to make up the majority of our clients.
These Nons of both countries probably have a lot more in common than they think. They are both disadvantaged by affirmative action programs in Malaysia and South Africa respectively. I would, at the outset of this post, like to declare my position as an official fence sitter. I am categorically not against affirmative action programs and I make this point because I know that it is a contentious issue and many of you would be relishing the opportunity of shooting me, the humble observer, with your poisoned emails. So please don’t, I bleed easily.
Most people who have a consultation with me are curious as to the reasons why their fellow countrymen are choosing to leave. They probably attended one of our free seminars and have been amazed at the number of people sitting in the seminar and wondering whether their fellow countrymen were leaving their respective countries for the same reasons that they are.
I have to say that the number one driver of migration for the Nons in Malaysia is affirmative action programs. They express their feelings as being a stranger in their own country. A feeling of marginalization. As far as I can remember it’s been driving the Nons from Malaysia [probably since the advent of the New Economic Policy] in the early 1970s following the race riots of 1969.
As far as South Africa is concerned the main motivation driving migration from South Africa in the 1990’S had to be crime and violence but of late I have to say that affirmative action programs are the single greatest driver for South African Nons.
Don’t get me wrong I do understand the arguments for affirmative action and its place in social justice and economic development and that there is little point in [a South African context] giving previously disadvantaged population groups under apartheid the vote without giving them better education, better employment opportunities and for the country to achieve a more diverse workforce that is broadly representative of the national population to promote economic development and efficiency in the workforce.
In Malaysia it was introduced to achieve social justice and communal peace and quotas of Bumiputra were reserved in-state universities, schools, in granting scholarships, public sector employment, employment quotas in the private sector and tendering of government contracts to name some. The nature of NEP has been altered over the years with some of the stricter requirements being softened or even eliminated but there is still a strong sentiment by the Non’s in Malaysia that they have been marginalized and excluded from the opportunities available to greater society which is motivating them to consider leaving.
It requires a selfless individual to sacrifice their opportunities for the greater good of society for social/economic reengineering through affirmative action policies. Undoubtedly there are individuals like this in Malaysia and South Africa who do understand the benefits of affirmative action and are prepared to sacrifice their immediate well-being for the greater good of society but more and more Nons in these respective countries are not and are voting with their feet in choosing Australia as a migration destination.
The belief in a "fair go" is a key part of Australian culture and Australian society, related to the support for the underdog. This can be seen in equal opportunity legislation which ensures people are not excluded from jobs or positions by their race, gender or sexual orientation.
Forthcoming seminars
South Africa
Johannesburg: Thursday 7 February at the Michelangelo Hotel – 7pm to 8.30pm
Consultations: 8, 9, 10, 18, 19, 20 February
Durban: Monday 11 February at the Endless Horizons Boutique Hotel – 7pm to 8.30pm
Consultations: 12, 13 February
Cape Town: Thursday 14 February at the Commodore Hotel – 7pm to 8.30pm
Consultations: 15 and 16 February
Singapore and Malaysia
Singapore:
Saturday 23 February at the Holiday Inn – 11am to 12.30pm
Consultations: afternoon of 23 February, whole day 24, 25, 26, 27, 28 February and 1 March
Kuala Lumpur:
Saturday 2 March at the DoubleTree by Hilton, , The Intermark – 11am to 12.30pm
Consultations: afternoon of 2 March, whole day 3, 4 and 5 March
The seminars are free to attend but there is a charge for consultations. You are not obliged to book a consultation.
To book for the free seminar go to : http://www.immagine-immigration.com/seminars/
“ So, what is Adelaide like?”
I get this a lot, prospective migrants inquiring as to a local context for a particular destination in Australia whether it be Adelaide, Melbourne, Sydney or Kalgoorlie?
With this question in mind I spent a small portion of my holiday visiting Adelaide. Why Adelaide? My immediate response is “why not?” but this sounds a bit defensive. From an immigration perspective South Australia [of which Adelaide is the capital] is an attractive proposition.
Because the vast majority of our clients will require state sponsorship and South Australia sponsors one of the biggest arrays of occupations of any state it has immediate attraction. In fact, that list of occupations available for sponsorship just got longer. This past week South Australia added 33 occupations to its list of occupations available for sponsorship and the list appears below.
South Australia is also attractive because it includes Adelaide in the definition of “regional” for the purposes of the 489 visa. Therefore, unlike most states in Australia the capital city of South Australia is not excluded for a 489 visa meaning that the applicant can live and work in Adelaide on a 489 visa. This is quite different from a 489 visa sponsored by the states which exclude Perth, Sydney and Melbourne from areas in which applicants can live and work for a period of two years.
I had no preconceptions in mind as to what Adelaide was like and must confess to being very pleasantly surprised by Adelaide. I found the architecture to be a mixture of modern and colonial in a friendly juxtaposition of contrasting styles. I found the city to be neatly organized in a logical grid system, plenty of parks and enough of a commercial hub to feel part of the international community [Adelaide has 1.1 million people] but still not living in a rat race.
I was surprised by Adelaide’s charm.
If pressed to find an equivalent city I have to say Cape Town comes closest. Apart from the obvious comparisons given the viticulture industries in both South Australia and the Cape some of the streets have a similar feel.
The architecture is obviously different, Cape Town having a distinct Cape Dutch feel with an influence of British colonial architecture. Adelaide doesn’t have the Cape Dutch influence but does have the colonial architecture and the city has a similar size and feel.
Don’t make the mistake of going to Adelaide looking for Cape Town. It’s not Cape Town and has a quaint charm all of its own.
If you want to find out more about what South Australia has to offer I suggest you look at the South Australian Government website which gives a very good overview as to the economy, weather, cost of housing etc.
On my trip I managed to meet with a representative of Immigration South Australia [a State Government organization] and was told that one of the selling points of Adelaide is quality of life for families, providing a good work life balance with quality education, affordable housing and internationally recognized qualifications. The vast majority of our clients are looking for this lifestyle and if this appeals to you give some thought to migration to South Australia.
Forthcoming seminars :
South Africa
Johannesburg : Thursday 7 February at the Michelangelo Hotel – 7pm to 8.30pm
Consultations: 8, 9, 10, 18, 19, 20 February
Durban: Monday 11 February at the Endless Horizons Boutique Hotel – 7pm to 8.30pm
Consultations: 12, 13 February
Cape Town: Thursday 14 February at the Commodore Hotel – 7pm to 8.30pm
Consultations: 15 and 16 February
Singapore and Malaysia:
Singapore:
Saturday 23 February at the Holiday Inn – 11am to 12.30pm
Consultations: afternoon of 23 February, whole day 24, 25, 26, 27, 28 February and 1 March
Kuala Lumpur:
Saturday 2 March at the DoubleTree by Hilton, , The Intermark – 11am to 12.30pm
Consultations: afternoon of 2 March, whole day 3, 4, 5 and 6 March
The seminars are free to attend but there is a charge for consultations. You are not obliged to book a consultation.
To book for the free seminar go to : http://www.immagine-immigration.com/seminars/)
The following occupations have been added to the State Nomionation Occupations List
ANZSCO OCCUPATION
133511 Production Manager (Forestry)
134111 Child Care centre manager
135112 ICT Project Manager
135199 ICT Managers, nec
139999 Specialist Managers nec
142114 Hair or Beauty Salon Manager
149411 Fleet Manager
149913 Facilities Manager
224711 Management Consultant
224712 Organisation and Methods Analyst
225212 ICT Business Development Manager
234112 Agricultural scientist
234311 Conservation Officer
234312 Environmental Consultant
234313 Environmental Research Scientist
241111 Early childhood (pre-primary school) teacher
251111 Dietitian
252112 Osteopath
252211 Acupuncturist
252214 Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioner
252299 Complementary Health Therapists nec
253314 Medical Oncologist
253315 Endocrinologist
253324 Thoracic medicine specialist
254211 Nurse Educator
254311 Nurse Manager
261212 Web Developer
271111 Barrister
312112 Building Associate
312114 Construction Estimator
312911 Maintenance Planner
342411 Cabler (Data and Telecommunications)
411411 Enrolled Nurse
Mirror Mirror on the Wall, Who's the Rudest of Us All?
Mirror mirror on the wall, who's the rudest of us all?
‘How rude’ I thought to myself after my recent seminar in Kuala Lumpur (KL), Malaysia.
I'm not talking about the 45 or so people that attended the seminar but rather the 131 other registrants who didn't turn up. I'm also not referring to the handful of people who advised us that they wouldn't be able to attend the seminar but the 131 registrants that booked for the seminar, received our reminder notices and simply didn't turn up.
This is in marked contrast to the Singapore leg of my journey where of the 400 that registered approximately 200 attended the seminar. Like in KL a few had contacted us to let us know they could not make it and to them we remain grateful.
Does this make Singaporeans more polite than residents of KL ?
What probably prompted this line of thought was a series of introspective newspaper articles that appeared in the Star newspaper whilst I was in KL as to the level of courtesy in Malaysian society. See the edition of 24 July and the article ‘Rude awakening on courtesy’
Good on the Star newspaper for asking the hard questions.
They cited as the top 10 rude Malaysian habits:
• Unsafe driving
• Not obeying signboards
• Snatching parking spaces
• Not giving a seat on public transport for the pregnant or elderly
• Not giving way to exiting passengers on public transport
• Talking loudly on cell phones in public places
• Not holding open elevator doors
• Not saying thank you when someone does something nice for you
• Inconsiderate practices such as leaving shopping trolleys in parking lots
• Being late.
To the last item I would add, not arriving at all.
The newspaper article referred to a Reader's Digest poll which placed KL’s rudeness level at 34 of the 36 major cities in the world. The magazine said it was not a scientific survey. Researchers were sent to the cities where they tested people on 3 things:
• Whether people in front of them would hold the door open for them as they walked into public buildings 20 times.
• Whether sales assistants said thank you after they'd bought small items from 20 stores.
• Whether anyone would help pick up papers they'd dropped from a folder in 20 busy locations.
What they found was that KL is lacking in courtesy but it has to be said Singapore didn’t quite cover itself in glory either.
My colleagues at Immagine New Zealand have been quick to point out that Aucklanders are the 7th most polite. Somewhat surprisingly New Yorkers came out on top. Which proves that you can live, work and play in a thoroughly congested megacity but still exercise common courtesies toward your fellow man.
So what is your excuse Kuala Lumpur?
THE MOST COURTEOUS!
CITY SCORE
1 New York 80%
2 Zurich, Switzerland 77
3 Toronto, Canada 70
4 Berlin, Germany 68
Sao Paulo, Brazil 68
Zagreb, Croatia 68
7 Auckland, New Zealand 67
Warsaw, Poland 67
9 Mexico City, Mexico 65
10 Stockholm, Sweden 63
11 Budapest, Hungary 60
Madrid, Spain 60
Prague, Czech Republic 60
Vienna, Austria 60
15 Buenos Aires, Argentina 57
Johannesburg, SA 57
Lisbon, Portugal 57
London, UK 57
Paris, France 57
THE LEAST COURTEOUS!
CITY SCORE
20 Amsterdam, Netherlands 52%
21 Montreal, Canada 50
22 Helsinki, Finland 48
Manila, Philippines 48
24 Milan, Italy 47
Sydney, Australia 47
26 Bangkok, Thailand 45
Hong Kong 45
Ljubljana, Slovenia 45
29 Jakarta, Indonesia 43
Taipei, Taiwan 43
31 Moscow, Russia 42
Singapore 42
33 Seoul, South Korea 40
34 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia 37
35 Bucharest, Romania 35
36 Mumbai, India 32
Does the higher seminar attendance make Singaporeans more polite than Malaysians?
Or perhaps the push factors driving migration from Singapore at this point in time are stronger than those in KL. Perhaps there is a “feel-good factor” in KL at present that I am unaware of. I personally believe that seminar attendance is influenced more by the “push” factors operating in a country at a particular point in time than the inherent politeness of a society.
As most of you are aware we present seminars regularly in South Africa, Singapore and Malaysia and we generally rely upon a significant no-show rate. If this seems incredibly high to you it's probably because you fall within the 33% who wouldn't dream of registering for a seminar and simply not turn up or notify the organizers. If you're thinking “so what” you probably fall in the majority who don’t turn up.
So how polite are Australians?
I've never presented a seminar in Australia so I cannot use my own yardstick in order to determine the politeness/rudeness of society in Australia but the Reader's Digest poll clearly didn't think very much of Sydney ranking this city in 24th place. I like to think that Melbourne would fare better being a more refined lot. Unfortunately [or fortunately] Melbourne was not included in the survey.
As you read this I am flying to South Africa for the next round of seminars. Johannesburg (my first stop) ranks a respectable 15th on the Readers Digest list so I look forward to seeing all of the 400 registrants at the seminar :).
Seminar schedule for South Africa, Singapore and Malaysia:
South African Seminars – October 2012
Johannesburg:
Seminar being held on Thursday 11 October at 7pm at the Michelangelo Hotel in Sandton.
Consultations will be held on 12, 13, 14, 22, 23 and 24 October in Auckland Park.
Durban:
Seminar being held on Monday 15 October at the Endless Horizons Boutique Hotel in Umhlanga at 7pm.
Consultations being held on 16 and 17 October.
Cape Town:
Seminar being held on Thursday 18 October at the Newland Southern Sun Hotel at 7pm.
Consultations being held on 19 and 20 October at the Commodore Hotel.
Singapore seminar – December 2012
Singapore:
Seminar being held on Saturday 1 December at the Concorde Hotel at 11am.
Consultations will be held on the afternoon of 1 December, and the whole day 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 December.
Malaysia seminar – December 2012
Kuala Lumpur:
Seminar being held on Saturday 8 December at the Le Meridien Hotel at 11am.
Consultations will be held on the afternoon of 8 December, and the whole day 9, 10, 11 and 12 December.
Homework? ... Not on my Holidays
The Australian Government recently announced they will inject $6 billion dollars in funding for education in Australia. Apparently the current funding model that sees a low unemployment rate and a highly developed nation among the world’s best is not enough.
I am aware that education is an important factor in the decision for a family who is looking at migrating to Australia. It is hard to compare education programs between countries, but I have noticed some trends from speaking with those in the countries that we visit.
Consulting with a potential applicant in Singapore recently on a Sunday, they said their daughters could not attend the consultation because they were doing their homework.... on a Sunday! What made it more interesting is that it was the last day of their holidays after taking a week off, in which they were given more homework because they had more time to do it.
Now correct me if I am wrong, but isn’t a holiday or break meant to be just that... a break from school? I can tell you that although students in Australia are given homework on a regular basis, if anyone has to do homework during their holidays or on a Sunday for that matter, there would be a mutiny - an uprising of students between the ages of 6 and 18, forcing teachers into the naughty corner and not releasing them until their demands are met! They would develop their own union calling for 2 days on and 3 days off, and homework to be given only on Wednesdays, for a maximum of 1 hour, with a 15 minute break.
This is of course an extreme outcome but it does signify a difference in the education systems of Singapore and Australia. Both countries put a high emphasis on education as it is extremely important in ensuring the next generation are adequately equipped to deal with an increasingly complicated world.
However in Australia, there is a balance on how much study one needs to do, with an emphasis of kids having fun and developing other life skills. Simply letting kids be kids. Intense study should be saved for University, end of school exams and the day before an assignment is due... particularly if you were like me and hadn’t actually started it.
My childhood was spent occasionally doing homework, but more so playing sports or hanging out with friends, doing chores that my parents gave me during the holidays and conning my friends into helping me.
I will add that I never had a tutor either and even the parents who actually hire a tutor only do so if their child is struggling with their school work. In fact, I do not know of anyone who had a tutor as most parents seem to fancy themselves as academic gurus when it comes to helping their kids do their homework.
My colleague’s son has a friend who is from Singapore. She was coming home from school crying everyday because she could not cope with the pressure of performing at a suitable level. Her parents decided to send her to school in Australia and pay the higher international school fees to give her a better educational experience. She has since said that she is much happier and is not keen on returning to Singapore at the end of her studies.
Whilst the education system in Singapore is considered to be of a high quality and with the pressure applied it should be, many parents in South Africa are simply looking for schools that will provide a decent education. The only real guarantee that will happen is to send them to a private school. Parents are very hesitant to send their child to a public school for fear of not getting a quality education. So much so they are prepared to pay expensive private school fees to ensure their child gets a decent opportunity in their future.
I probably do not need to mention the recent textbook scandal in South Africa. Schools had ordered new textbooks for their students and, after they were paid for, had them delivered to the school. However, some of the more remote schools did not have their books delivered, simply because it was too difficult or too far to get to. Obviously the company, which happens to be owned by a relative of the President, has had a few logistical issues. Not sure if they were offering a refund for the books.
It seems students are not the only ones to suffer at the hands of a nation’s education system. I met with a teacher in South Africa who had not been paid for the past two months. I can’t ever imagine this happening in Australia.
Australia is by no means perfect in its education system, however one can guarantee their children will get a quality education, either at a public or private school, textbooks in hand, and be afforded the opportunities to succeed in their adult life.
Australia will also offer your children a chance to enjoy their childhood without intense pressure to be the best at school and have a healthy balance between homework and lifestyle.
If you would like to know more about lifestyle in Australia and are considering moving, you can register for one of our free seminars.
Forthcoming seminars
South Africa
Johannesburg : Thursday 11 October at 7pm at the Michelangelo Hotel
Consulting days will be 12, 13, 14, 22, 23 and 24 October
Durban : Monday 15 October at 7pm at the Endless Horizons Boutique Hotel
Consulting days will be 16 and 17 October
Cape Town : Thursday 18 October at the Newlands Southern Sun Hotel
Consulting days will be on 19 and 20 October.
To book for South African seminars go to : http://www.immagine-immigration.com/seminars/south-africa/
Melbourne Remains the Bee's Knees
Melbourne Voted Most Liveable City in the World
We think that it was cool and rather understated of us to wait a week before reminding you all about which is the world's most livable city for the second year in a row --- No prizes for guessing --- Melbourne.
In fact with Adelaide occupying 5th place, Sydney 7th and Perth 9th Australia did incredibly well in the Economist Intelligence Unit's most recent Livability Ranking and Overview August 2012 report supporting my opinion expressed in a previous blog post that when it comes to living in Australia there is no “bad” place in Australia, only good, better and best.
When I was thinking of migrating to Melbourne I asked a friend of mine what he thought of the city. He said it was like a Grand Dame. It therefore seemed appropriate to use an old-fashioned expression used in the early 1900s like “the Bee’s Knees” as the title of this blog as it is an expression that a Grand Dame might have used to denote excellence.
In the context of the fact that the Northern Territory State Sponsorship List was recently released perhaps it is therefore opportune to examine the livability of Northern Territory, in particular Darwin. We do so in the second part of this blog.
Why I love Melbourne
The Economist Intelligence Unit scored cities across six criteria including political and social stability, education and healthcare, but I think that you have to live in Melbourne to really understand her charm.
Let me just say that I love Melbourne. It is funky, cool and edgy. It has all of the attractions of a big city yet functions efficiently. The public transport is amazing. The locals complain but the array of trains, trams and buses make everything accessible. You can attend major events and the transport system is so efficient large crowds of people are whisked in and out of events without any hassle. It's not unusual to find a crowd of 80,000 people going to a local "footy" game in Melbourne on the weekend.
The amount of entertainment is vast and Melbournian’s are renowned for the support they give to the arts and events in general. It is not a society of couch potatoes!
The restaurants are amazing and I don't find it too expensive to eat out. Ruth and I had dinner at a Vietnamese restaurant in Chapel Street [great for shopping with lots of cool shops] and we had a bottle of wine, 2 mains and an entrée for approximately $70. Sounds expensive when converted to Rands/Malaysian Ringgit/Singapore dollars but not bad in Australian dollar terms (salaries in Australia are considerably higher).
As far as houses are concerned you won't get much change out of 500,000 -- 600,000 Australian dollars. Once again - sounds exorbitant but don't panic. Once you start earning Australian dollars you will see that it's doable. Perhaps not in the first few years of your move to Australia but certainly once you have been working here for a while you will be able to afford to buy a house. Rental prices are coming down and the whole housing market in Melbourne is cooling. It fell 6% last year. You can rent an inner city house for approximately $400 – $500 per week. If this sounds expensive once again you need to be able to evaluate this cost in the context of earning Australian salaries.
Melbourne is cheaper than Sydney but probably more expensive than smaller cities like Adelaide. Sydney is a more scenic city than Melbourne but Melbourne's charm is in its architecture, style [people dress better than in Sydney I am told] and the cosmopolitan nature of society. I find people friendly and love the cosmopolitan mix in Melbourne. It is Australia's most multicultural city and one never feels like a foreigner here [because we are all foreigners or descendents of foreigners in Melbourne].
Every city has a downside and Melbourne is no exception. The weather is strange. Summers start from late November and last through to April. Most summer days are relatively dry with temperatures in the region of 27°. On four or five days during summer you will experience temperatures of 35 -- 40° and the heat on those days is unbearable.
You either have to have access to a pool, be prepared to spend a day in the office, sit on the beaches and have a dip in the bay or go to a shopping mall/movies on those particular days. Winter temperature is in the region of 14 or 15°. It's rare for temperature to go below 10° in winter. It does rain in winter but I'd have to say that it is a fairly dry climate and rainfall tends to be in the form of heavy showers rather than London type inclement weather. As a good friend of mine once said no one ever immigrates to Melbourne for the weather!
If you'd like to be part of the fabric of Melbourne [or another great city in Australia] why don't you register for one of our free immigration seminars details of which are contained at the end of this blog.
Northern Territory Releases State Sponsorship List
The Northern Territory recently produced their state sponsorship list. They sponsor a wide range of occupations and we have copied the link to the list below.
In terms of livability the following websites will give you a better appreciation as to what life is like in the Northern Territory:
Northern Territory website -- http://www.migration.nt.gov.au/index.html
Finding employment -- http://www.theterritory.com.au/index.php?menuID=188
Education -- http://www.migration.nt.gov.au/migrate/school.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Darwin,_Northern_Territory
State/territory sponsorship lists for all States and Territories
Just in case you missed the previous blogs relating to the individual state sponsorship list so you can view the state sponsorship lists for each of the eight states and territories below:
Northern Territory
http://www.migration.nt.gov.au/visa/sol.html
Western Australia -- http://www.migration.wa.gov.au/skilledmigration/Pages/Occupationsindemand.aspx
South Australia https://www.migration.sa.gov.au/sites/default/files/files/State%20Nominated%20Occupation%20List%202012-13%20-%202Aug12x.pdf
New South Wales
http://www.business.nsw.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0018/5760/SIR-Skills-in-Demand-Summary-Table-06062012.pdf
Victoria
http://www.liveinvictoria.vic.gov.au/visas-and-immigrating/occupation-lists
Queensland 190 visa
http://203.210.126.185/dsdweb/v4/apps/web/secure/docs/4654.pdf
Queensland 489 visa http://203.210.126.185/dsdweb/v4/apps/web/secure/docs/4653.pdf
Australian Capital Territory
http://www.business.act.gov.au/skilled_and_business_migration/skilled_migration
Tasmania
http://www.migration.tas.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0005/41927/List_SMP.pdf
Specialized Electricians -- Job opportunities
We have received an urgent request for specialized Electricians with specific experience in rail signals electrics on railways.
If you are an Electrician with experience in railways signaling, please email your CV to info@immagine-immigration.com. Please write in the subject heading 'Railways Signalling Electrician'.
Forthcoming seminars
Singapore :
Saturday 8 September at 11am at the Holiday Inn Orchard City Centre.
Consultation days will be on 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16 and 17 September
To book go to : http://www.immagine-immigration.com/seminars/singapore/
South Africa
Johannesburg : Thursday 11 October at 7pm at the Michelangelo Hotel
Consulting days will be 12, 13, 14, 22, 23 and 24 October
Durban : Monday 15 October at 7pm at the Endless Horizons Boutique Hotel
Consulting days will be 16 and 17 October
Cape Town : Thursday 18 October at the Newlands Southern Sun Hotel
Consulting days will be on 19 and 20 October.
To book for South African seminars go to : http://www.immagine-immigration.com/seminars/south-africa/
