Anna Warwick
Friday, August 01, 2008 at 12:12pmEvery day I’m thankful to be an Aussie. Even having dropped my earnings by working part time while setting up a business, I lived a short walk from the sea and, thanks to amazing tips from you guys, I learned to budget so that my lifestyle is still amazing.
I’m not saying it’s not painful sometimes getting up at 6 to work in the bakery, but I love the job and I am so grateful I get to do it – it was a lifesaver during the tough times. I’ve gotten to know so many people, like Lee from Thailand who works in the Thai restaurant, the Brazilian guys from the sandwich shop, and Anil and Ema – the Nepalese couple who work in the chicken shop. Only difference is – I get calls from agents about jobs with $90k packages. I choose to work in the bakery and make $15 - $20 an hour. These guys don’t have so much choice. In their own countries, maybe they did. But they love Australia and would do anything to become Aussies themselves.
I was at party on Friday night with some mates, many of whom are in the media. We began to discuss the phenomenal success of a mutual friend - talented video journo (formerly with news.com.au) Ariadne Zanella. Ariadne (26) ventured off to the UK not six months ago, and already she has landed a job at the Times Online and been taken under the wing of Clive James. She recently interviewed Germaine Greer and Cherie Blair. We were all completely stoked by Ariadne’s success, but the question came up – is there a brain drain in Australia? Do the great talents still have to go overseas to make their mark? Can people really make it here in Oz? If not, why not? Are we still victims of Aussie cringe, or is it just the small market/small population factor?
The Department of Immigration seems to be performing cartwheels to get skilled migrants into Australia – especially to rural and regional areas. They’ve signed reciprocal Working Holiday Visa arrangements for students, like the one with England, with the USA. They put on Australian “job fairs” in places like the UK and Sweden and fly Aussie employers out there to meet interested candidates.
But on Friday night I had to argue that every cab driver or office cleaner I speak to seems to be an engineer or a doctor or an industrial developer of some kind. I would have thought there was a brain flood down here in Oz these days, but the wildly complex work Visa and residency restrictions make it hard for industry to access this ready resource. The type of Visas migrants can apply for vary depending on where they’re from, how old they are, and what skills they have. Even if they are eligible for working permits they may still be restricted insofar as where in the country they can work, what work they can do, who they can work for and for how long. In the case of the engineer cabbies (one mentioned he had project managed the construction of bridges and hotels in Dubai), the fact that these minds were educated offshore renders their skills obsolete – they must have an Australian qualifications from an Australian institution.
On Monday night I met up with my German friend Doreen for her birthday drinks. She and her northern European mates – all well educated, middle class Gen Ys – originally came to Australia on student or backpacker Visas, and decided to stay. They have each applied for a different kind of permanent residency or working Visa, and a few were discussing the horrors of the verbal English exam they had to do to for the Department of Immigration. Most were gainfully employed, but one guy hadn’t worked in six months because he can’t, legally, until he gets his Visa. He can’t leave the country for six months either or he won’t get it. Doreen was lucky enough to get sponsorship from her company. This morning she forwarded us all an email from the Department of Immigration announcing that her Visa Application Type: Class BW Subclass 856 Employer Nomination Scheme had been approved – she is now a permanent resident, and over the moon about it. Lucky girl.
When I came home from Doreen’s party I noticed Ema mopping the fluro-lit floors of the chicken shop downstairs. I waved, and she gave me a tired smile. When I surfaced at ten the next morning she was serving juices and bacon and egg rolls. Ema works harder than anyone I have ever met in my life. She told me she does 90 – 100 hours work a week. I’ve made quiet enquiries and her pay would be from $15 to $20 an hour, depending on the shift. She does it to pay the $10,000 per semester uni fees for Anil’s engineering degree – they are out here on his student Visa. Anil works about 50 hours a week himself. They send money back home to the relos in Nepal too.
I take my hat off to Aussie migrants these days – the Department of Immigration do their best I suppose, but it’s still complicated, it’s still a waiting game, it’s still hard work. Let alone the homesickness they often feel; it’s not like they can jump on a quick flight. I can’t imagine it. I’m so impressed by Anil and Ema – two such lovely people, working so hard for the opportunities we sometimes take for granted – they are going to go far. We are lucky to have them!
To find out more about Visas and residency visit http://www.immi.gov.au/media/fact-sheets/index.htm and check out the fact sheets or use the search tool.
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