A recent report on Australia's skills shortage has identified a significant shortage of engineers, with the nation currently producing less than half of its current annual engineering workforce needs.

Peak engineering body, Engineers Australia has told a Senate Inquiry that Australia needs to address this shortage as a matter of urgency as the current shortage is creating lost opportunities for infrastructure projects and developments, with as many as 20 engineering projects not proceeding in the past six years due to the shortage of qualified engineers.

According to Engineers Australia’s International and National Director of Policy, Brent Jackson “the answer is complex, but includes controlled skilled migration to arrest engineering shortfalls, and better government infrastructure planning processes, to manage workforce planning."

Mr Jackson's comments reiterate the continued need for Australia to attract skilled overseas workers to migrate to Australia to live and work, with skills shortages evident in several other industries affected by the country's current resources boom.

AMVL International Recruitment connects overseas skilled workers seeking sponsored employment with Australian employers experiencing a shortage of workers in the trades and engineering industries. We currently have a number of clients who are recruiting skilled overseas workers with offers of employer sponsorship (sublcass 457 visas) for the right candidates. Interested? Click here to register or email jobs@australianmigrations.com for more information.

In the latest example that fraudulent behaviour is not tolerated by the Australian Government and the Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC), Indian student Rajesh Kumar has pleaded guilty in the West Australian District court to ten bribery offences related to the IELTS English language test and has been jailed for 14 months.

The story was recently covered by The Australian;

One count involved Kumar paying $5000 to Kok Keith Low, who worked at Curtin's English language test centre, to have his own scores falsified so he could get permanent residency.

Australia's skilled migration policy at the time created a boom market allowing overseas students to parlay low-value diplomas and degrees into permanent residency.

However, they had to get minimum scores on the International English Language Testing System.

Kumar is the 10th person convicted of bribery charges following a WA Corruption and Crime Commission inquiry into the trade in faked IELTS results at the Curtin centre.

In court, judge Jeremy Curthoys described Kumar's role in the test fraud as that of a "spruiker".

Kumar recruited students to the scheme, keeping between $2000 and $7000 of the fee they paid (up to $12,000) to have Low change their IELTS results.

Low usually took $1500 per student and the rest of the money went to intermediaries.

Low was sent to prison for two years.

To read the full story at The Australian, click here (subscriber link).

Do you need assistance with your Australian visa application? Contact Australian Migration & Visa Lawyers. Our team of friendly and professional Registered Migration Agents specialise in all visa categories and are committed to the MARA Code of Conduct.

The Ventura Group, Melbourne's largest bus company are currently seeking to employ and sponsor bus drivers from Ireland who are willing to relocate to Australia. Given Ireland's economic down-turn and this opportunity to obtain sponsored employment in one of Australia's biggest cities this is certainly an opportunity not to be missed. As Australia's economy booms Ventura have identified the need to employ an additional 50 - 100 drivers for the busy city.

Candidates are required to have minimum 3 years bus driving experience, excellent customer service skills with good employment and driving histories and in return will be provided with full-time employment in a secure industry, plenty of overtime, leave entitlements, uniforms and more, all within a friendly work environment. In addition successful applicants will be offered full visa and relocation assistance by Ventura.

Applicants are encouraged to apply as soon as possible and can do so here. Recruiters for Ventura will be visiting Ireland in the last week of April to conduct formal interviews and driving assessments so be sure to apply prior to be considered for one of these positions.

To learn more about Ventura click here to visit their website. 

Want to learn more about migrating to Australia? Contact us or email migrate@australianmigrations.com to speak to one of our friendly and professional Registered Migration Agents. We specialise in all visa categories and are committed to the MARA Code of Conduct.