Australian Visa – MODL Revised

There was a report produced in the Melbourne Newspaper – “The Age”. This is a well read, well respected newspaper, produced in Melbourne, Victoria mainly for the local market, but sometimes articles written in The Age can have an effect Australia wide.

This is part of the article, written on 11th December, 2008.

There has been no confirmation/denial from within the Department of Immigration and Citizenship, nor from Senator Evans, who is the Minister for this Department.

However, it is expected that there will be a review of the Skilled Occupations List (Form 1121i), which in turn may lead to a review of those occupations listed on the Migration Occupations in Demand List (MODL), thus, the suggestion by the author, that these two occupations may be targeted.

Hairdressing cut may leave colleges stranded

* Sushi Das
* December 11, 2008

HAIRDRESSING and cookery are expected to be removed from the list of occupational skills in short supply in Australia — a move that would affect migration rules and have widespread ramifications for the international education industry.

Thousands of international students who complete courses in hairdressing and cookery can gain extra migration points towards applications for permanent residency because the two trades are currently included on the Migration Occupations in Demand List.

It is widely acknowledged in the international education industry that hairdressing and cookery are popular courses among international students because the extra migration points allow a “fast track” to permanent residency in Australia.

But the impact on training colleges nationwide is expected to be far-reaching, with possible job losses and business failures.

The removal of cookery and hairdressing could result in a significant drop in students seeking to enrol in such courses, leaving TAFE and private training colleges struggling to fill classes.