Earlier this week Melbourne’s Grattan Institute released a report which found many graduating international students in Australia were being given “false hope”.
The report also considers Australia to be “too generous” in providing the right to work after graduation.
Brendan Coates, lead author of the report and director of the economic policy program at the Grattan Institute, said the Australian government’s decision to give graduates more time to stay in Australia was a mistake.
“If the number of international graduates in Australia continues to increase, the chances of getting a permanent visa will automatically decrease,” said Brendan.
the report found only half of graduates can get full-time or full-time jobs.
Meanwhile, in 2022, Brendan said less than a third of ‘Temporary Graduate’ visa holders will be able to switch to permanent visas or become permanent residents.
This number has decreased compared to 2014, when it was two-thirds of the total.
“No one wants to encourage international graduates to settle and suffer in Australia,” Brendan said.
“We have a responsibility to speak frankly to graduates about their low chances of permanent residency.”
“For most graduates, the answer they should hear is that they were not offered work rights so they could leave early.”
Causing problems due to uncertainty
The report noted that the number of ‘Temporary Graduate’ visa holders has doubled to 200,000 since 2019.
It is predicted that the ease of providing work in Australia after graduation could double the number of ‘Temporary Graduate’ visa holders to 370,000 by 2030.
Brendan said this would actually result in more graduates being trapped in uncertainty due to visas, especially amidst the pressure of difficulty in renting a house in Australia.
Like most international students, Mufthi Thanzeel studied in Australia with the hope of finding a job in his field after graduating from college.
He also hopes to become a ‘permanent resident’.
However, four months after completing his Master’s degree at Flinders University Adelaide, the 27-year-old’s fate is still uncertain.
“People said we had to have work experience when we applied, but they should have given us a chance first,” he said.
The Cyber Security graduate had been rejected several times for internships while still studying, because he did not have the right to work full time as a student visa holder.
Since graduating from college, Mufthi, who is from Sri Lanka, has applied for 15 jobs and admits that there are obstacles when applying for jobs.
However, he remains optimistic.
But at least the new visa changes give him more time to try to enter the workforce in Australia.
Last July, the Australian Government extended the ‘Post-Study Work’ visa, which gives Australian graduates the opportunity to stay and work in the country for two more years.
“I have four to five years to try my best,” said Mufthi.
“If I’m lucky, I can definitely get it. But if not, I might have to struggle a little.”
Reasons why companies don’t hire international students
Yeganeh Soltanpour, president of the Council of International Students Australia, said international students were often given “too much” information.
“Many students come with the goal and hope of being able to study and get a job,” said Yeganeh.
“But in some cases, they don’t know what they want.”
He also said universities often did not explain the qualifications needed to pursue their chosen career in Australia.
International students also often do not get comparable job opportunities to local students.
When Yeganeh first attended a career expo in 2018, many job vacancies openly stated that they did not accept international students.
“There are several vacancies that accept us, but the number is very, very small,” he said.
“I can count them on one finger.”
He said much had changed, but the Grattan Institute report noted that most companies still did not want to hire international graduates.
“The main reason companies don’t want to hire international graduates is because they won’t necessarily be able to stay in Australia long term,” said Brendan.
Recommendations for changing the rules
The Grattan Institute report says Australia must help international graduates to get jobs in Australia, one of which is by releasing a campaign that can change companies’ perceptions of international student graduates.
The report also calls for changes to visa rules to reduce the number of graduates experiencing uncertainty, and to better select the best graduates who can stay in Australia.
His recommendations include raising English language standards, limiting the age of temporary visas to graduates aged 35 and under, and only granting longer visas to graduates who earn at least AU$70,000 a year.
The age limit for the temporary residence permit visa is currently 50 years.
The findings also state that visa extensions for graduates from priority fields should also be abolished.
“Studying a field of science does not mean you are a talented graduate,” said Brendan.
Professor Lesleyanne Hawthorne from the University of Melbourne, who is also an expert on global migration policy, agrees with some of the recommendations made in the report.
However, he said the current system at least still provides many benefits.
“The migration route through study creates a channel for many job applicants, where the government can select migrants who have abilities,” he said.
“In the health sector, we already have thousands of international students … so it’s a huge resource for Australia.”
The “large number of young, capable migrants” is also beneficial for areas such as aged care and disability, according to Professor Lesleyanne.
He disagreed with the recommendation to grant visas with longer validity periods to graduates earning at least AU$70,000 (Rp. 700 million) per year.
Professor Lesleyanne also disagrees with the recommendation to reverse the decision to grant longer-validity visas to international students working in in-demand fields.
“I think both elements of eliminating visa overstays are overly simplistic claims,” he said.
While some graduates helping to fill Australia’s workforce may never be able to obtain permanent visas, “the problem of uncertainty is very real,” according to Professor Lesleyanne.
“It is important to explain to prospective international students that there is no certainty that they will be able to stay in Australia.”
Mufthi is aware of the possibility that he will return to Sri Lanka after his ‘post-study’ visa is completed, but he still wants to enjoy his time in Australia.
“We have an opportunity here, but if there is no way, we have to have another plan,” he said.
“We will never know what will happen in the next four years. Maybe I will get a job, maybe I won’t.
“We’ll never know, but we have to keep trying.”
This report was produced by Natasya Salim of articles in English
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2023-10-04 06:02:15
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