As part of the Australian Government's initiative to fill skilled employment vacancies, The Mount Isa Chamber of Commerce has joined its group of Regional Certifying Bodies (RCBs) for Skilled Migration. As an RCB in Mount Isa, we are authorized to certify businesses and organizations in local and surrounding areas and provide information and help toward sponsoring overseas skilled workers to migrate and work in Australia.
With today's current skilled worker shortage, the Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme helps to meet local production and service demands of business as well as provide employment and quality lifestyle to trained overseas people.
The Department of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs (DIMIA) is committed to providing various sponsorship programs to suit a variety of different needs to employers, prospective employees and their families. Some of these include:
Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme (RSMS) Permanent Visa
Temporary Business (Long Stay) Regional 457 Visa
Temporary Business Skills (Provisional) Visa
Skilled Independent Regional (SIR) Visa
Temporary Medical Practitioner (Subclass 422) Visa
Employer Nomination Scheme (ENS) Permanent Visa
Skill Matching Permanent Visa
Skilled (Australian Sponsored) Visa
Working Holiday Maker Visa
Student Visa and
Trade Skills Training Visa
The Mount Isa Chamber of Commerce deals mostly with the RSMS Permanent & Regional 457 Temporary Visas.
Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme (RSMS) is specifically designed to help regional employers sponsor permanent migrants to fill a full-time skilled vacancy (available for at least two years) when the position cannot be filled locally. The migrants can be from overseas, or skilled temporary entrants in Australia.
Generally, skilled migrants need to be less than 45 years of age, have functional English, diploma level qualifications and relevant work experience. However, exceptional circumstances surrounding vacant positions may be recognised.
Visit: www.immi.gov.au/skilled/skilled-workers/index.htm.
Temporary Business (Long Stay) entry arrangements provide a fast, flexible way to recruit skilled workers for up to four years. It only takes a few weeks to process these visas.
The threshold criteria for these visas include concessions for regional employers and minimum salary and skill requirements for the sponsored worker.
Once the original visa expires, employers can sponsor their worker for another period of temporary employment. Many employers go on to sponsor their employee permanently under the RSMS.
Visit: www.immi.gov.au/skilled/skilled-workers/sbs/index.htm.
Some of the conditions of certification of a business through these visas include the following:
The employer must be operating in a regional area or area of low population growth
The nominated position must be a certifiable position
The position must be genuine
The position must be full-time
The position must be necessary to the operation of the business
The position can not reasonably be filled locally
The individual's employment conditions and remuneration must be in accordance with levels provided for in Australian legislation and awards
To apply for either of these visas you can apply in writing to DIMIA, online at www.immi.gov.au or by contacting the Chamber of Commerce.
Skill Matching Database (SMD)
If you need help finding suitable skilled workers you can use the web-based Skill Matching Database (SMD), which contains the details of skilled migrants interested in regional Australia.
The SMD contains the occupations, education and personal details of over 7000 skilled persons in over 300 occupations, many of which are in demand in regional Australia. These people are keen to make contact with employers. They are young, English speaking and have trade or professional qualifications that meet Australian standards.
Use the SMD to view people's work histories and resumes.
People of interest to you on the SMD can be sponsored under the RSMS.
Visit: www.immi.gov.au/skills/index.htm.
For more information please contact:
Department of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs (DIMIA)
Phone: 131 881
Visit: www.immi.gov.au
DIMIA Translating & Interpreting Hotline: 131 450
DIMIA Business Centre
BRISBANE
Phone: (07) 3360 5105
Email:
Regional Certifying Bodies (RCBs) help employers sponsor permanent or temporary skilled workers.
Through their knowledge of the local labour market, they are quickly able to certify that job vacancies cannot be filled locally and that the minimum requirements have been met.
Contact an RCB when you wish to sponsor someone under the RSMS or temporary business entry arrangements.
Contact:
76 Camooweal Street, Mount Isa QLD 4825
PO Box 1705, Mount Isa QLD 4825
Phone: (07) 4743 9881
Fax: (07) 4743 7266
Email:
Other helpful contacts:
Community Settlement Service Scheme
Migrant Support
The Community Settlement Service Scheme (CSSS) was devised to assist migrants and refugees to adjust to, and participate equitably in their life in Australia.
This service scheme is funded by the Department of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs (DIMIA) and auspiced locally by the Mount Isa Community Development Association Inc. with a part-time Coordinator.
The CSSS is a free service and holds monthly advisory committee meetings.
The CSSS also coordinates cross-cultural training and volunteer support.
The short-term outcome of the scheme is to address immediate needs, such as English language, housing, childcare, education and employment.
The long-term outcome is that all migrants and refugees living permanently in Australia can participate fully in Australian society.
Mount Isa Community Development Association
Old Court House, Isa Street, Mount Isa QLD 4825
PO Box 345, Mount Isa QLD 4825
Phone: (07) 4749 1404
Phone: (07) 4749 2888
Fax: (07) 4743 2241
Email:
Mount Isa Community Housing Program
Old Court House, Isa Street, Mount Isa QLD 4825
PO Box 345, Mount Isa QLD 4825
Phone: (07) 4749 2888
Fax: (07) 4743 2241
Email:
Multicultural Festival
Organised by the Good Shepherd Catholic Church and representatives of Centacare Employment, the festival is held on the first Friday evening of September each year from 5-10pm. The night includes live entertainment and a variety of foods and handicrafts from many different cultures.
Contact:
17 Stanley Street, Mount Isa QLD 4825
PO Box 324, Mount Isa QLD 4825
Phone: (07) 4743 6088
Phone: (07) 4743 7671
Fax: (07) 4743 6036
Email:
Adult Migrant English Program (AMEP) Citizenship Course
Mount Isa Institute of TAFE
165-179 Abel Smith Pde, Mount Isa QLD 4825
General Enquiries: 1300 308 233
Phone: (07) 4744 9999
Fax: (07) 4744 9970
Email:
Web: www.tafe.qld.gov.au
