AUSTRALIAN IMMIGRATION NEWS

Australian immigration expo this weekend in the UK

Friday, 14 March 2008

Australian Minister for Immigration and Citizenship, Chris Evans is hoping that the two-day 2008 Australia Needs Skills expo this weekend will lure more skilled workers to Australia.

The expo, which will run from 15-16 March, will link Australian employers with prospective skilled migrants who are mainly young, highly qualified, English speaking people.

The Immigration Minister stressed the point that Australia is seeking more than 100 000 people in its skilled migration stream this year, including accountants, engineers, health professionals and trades people.

"There are skilled vacancies in all states and territories in more than 90 occupations," said Evans.

More than 4000 prospective skilled migrant workers are registered to meet Australian exhibitors at this weekend's London Expo. This includes employers, recruitment companies, and state and local government organisations.

Exhibitors at the expo will include nurses and allied health professionals; a Western Australian automotive engineering firm seeking to recruit 50 skilled mechanics; a Melbourne-based healthcare recruitment firm looking for doctors; a recruitment firm acting on behalf of WA local governments; as well as a Canberra organisation aiming to recruit a range of skilled workers.

This expo, which the Immigration Minister said are strongly supported by business and state and territory governments, have previously been staged in Amsterdam, Berlin, Chennai, Kolkata, Shanghai, Hong Kong and Manila.

Many businesses and government agencies participating in this year’s event are returning after finding valuable skilled workers for Australia at previous expos.

"These expos link Australian employment specialists including state and territory governments, regional bodies and businesses with skilled workers," said Evans.

"Employer-sponsored migration is a high priority in a skilled migration stream which has economic benefits for everyone in Australia."

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