Global IT experts are the winners in a visa announced by the Australian Government to “fast-track” skilled migrants to permanent residency.
First announced in August, the Global Talent Independent Program (GTIP) will identify and attract highly skilled people from around the world to come and work in Australia.
Up to 5,000 talented people in the areas of agricultural technology (agtech), financial technology (fintech), medical technology (medtech), cyber security, space and advanced manufacturing, and quantum information/advanced digital/data science and ICT will be sought this financial year.
In formally announcing the visa today, Minister for Immigration, Citizenship, Migrant Services and Multicultural Affairs David Coleman said three was intense competition for global talent.
“We want to position Australia at the forefront of major growth trends in the world Economy,” he said.
“By enabling local businesses to access the world’s best talent, we will help to grow high growth industries in Australia.”
“Over time, the Global Talent program has the potential to have a transformative impact on the Australian economy.”
The Department of Home Affairs today announced a headhunter had started in New Delhi, India. Others have already been deployed around the world in Washington DC, Singapore, Shanghai, Dubai, Santiago, Berlin.
The scheme will target “the world’s most highly skilled migrants” earning a minimum of $149,000 per year in Australia. They will earn permanent residency within weeks.
Minister for Industry, Science and Technology Karen Andrews said skilled overseas were required “for our domestic tech industry to grow”.
“We can create high-paying local jobs by making Australia a global technology hub and the Global Talent program is a signal to tech companies that we’re open for business.”
Reaction
Universities Australia Chief Executive Catriona Jackson said local institutions supported the scheme.
“Australian universities are supportive of any scheme that supports Australia’s knowledge economy and enables Australia’s universities to recruit the best and brightest from around the world," she said.
“Strong global engagement is crucial to the success of Australia’s university sector, and to our country’s wider economy.”
The Group of Eight (Go8), made up of Australia’s research-intensive universities, also welcomed the move, saying our current skill base in Australia is too small to take full opportunity of fast-growing areas such as AI and quantum engineering.
“We need more specialised experts who can help us foster the development of Australian talent, to ensure that we remain and grow our prosperous society, and with a diverse range of career opportunities.," said Go8 CEO Vicki Thomson.
"The fastest way to do this, is to welcome more of these highly skilled people to Australia.
"This is an important initiative to support our capacity to participate in a global economy increasingly dependent on knowledge generation and development."
