Up next
Author
Share and Follow
FacebookXRedditPinterestWhatsApp


Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke has revealed the government is considering offshore recognition of skills to avoid lengthy wait times for migrants once they arrive in Australia.
At least 620,000 permanent migrants are working below their skill level in Australia, according to government figures.
Many who travel to Australia with in-demand skill sets report finding the process of having their qualifications recognised lengthy, expensive and confusing.
This often leads them to work in other jobs, such as food delivery or Uber driving, far from home support during the process.

In his inaugural address at the National Press Club as the Minister of Home Affairs on Thursday, Burke revealed that the government is exploring the potential for offshore certification or additional training programs.

“There’s conversations about exactly that. I’ve had partner countries raise that with me as well,” Burke said.
“The challenge is to find which of the careers and skill sets you could train for that don’t require a practical.”
He explained that the government would have to either be confident that the qualification doesn’t require an onshore practical assessment or provide offshore training that meets the necessary standard.

While emphasizing that these considerations are part of ongoing discussions, Burke refrained from making any definitive announcements.

However, Burke noted that those who arrive in Australia on sponsored visas, with employment already lined up, do not face these barriers.
“This has been a wicked problem that no government has been able to solve in the lifetime of any of us,” he said.
“If we can unlock this, then everybody wins. The economy wins, and the immigrant who is being given a promise of what it will be like to work in Australia wins as well.”
In its submission to the August economic roundtable, Activate Australia’s Skills estimated the nation’s economy could grow by $9 billion every year or $25 million a day, if the skills of migrants were put to better use.

The Activate Australia’s Skills initiative, a coalition of businesses, unions, social service organizations, and community entities, is advocating for a policy focused on the recognition of skills and qualifications.

Pirie welcomed the proposal as a “really positive development” but underscored the importance of maintaining a strong presence of students within Australia to bolster the international education sector.

Felix Pirie, CEO of the Independent Tertiary Education Council Australia, noted several sectors could benefit from offshore recognition to expedite the process.
“There is the capacity for some qualifications to be delivered offshore and recognised in Australia, where the additional elements required for Australia are delivered by Australian providers in an offshore context,” he told SBS News.
“There are already independent skills training providers delivering qualifications in hospitality, aged care, early learning and so on, in places like the Philippines, in Indonesia, and they’re delivering Australian qualifications in those places, and those graduates from those qualifications are ready and able to come to Australia and work.”

Pirie described the suggestion as a “really positive thing”, but stressed the government “can’t lose sight of the need to have students in Australia supporting our international education sector”.

In their 2024 report, Master Builders Australia estimated migrants in construction faced an average 18 months’ wait and $10,000 bill to have their skills recognised.
Master Builders Australia CEO Denita Wawn told SBS News she welcomed proposed changes to skilled migration, estimating the government needs to attract roughly 100,000 extra workers for construction needs, including building the National Housing Accord target of 1.2 million homes.
“The building and construction industry is facing skills shortages that can’t be filled domestically alone.
“We welcome any discussions with government about how we reduce the costs and long wait times skilled migrants face to have their experience and qualifications recognised without comprising on standards.”
Share and Follow
FacebookXRedditPinterestWhatsApp
You May Also Like
Thousands of items, inlcuding toys, have been pulled off Victorians shelves ahead of Christmas.

Victorian Retailers Recall Thousands of Toys Before Christmas Amid Safety Concerns

In Victoria, over a thousand products, including children’s toys, have been removed…
Police officers carry the body of a person on a stretcher after a mass shooting at a bar near Pretoria, South Africa, Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025. (AP Photo)

Tragedy Strikes South African Bar: 12 Lives Lost in Heartbreaking Mass Shooting

A tragic mass shooting unfolded on Saturday near South Africa’s capital, resulting…

A Faux Indian Wedding Blends Trend with Tradition

On a Saturday in mid-November, seven-time bridesmaid Merlyn Romit geared up for…
E-bikes warning NSW

Trauma Specialists Caution Parents on the Dangers of Unregulated E-Bike Purchases

Trauma doctors have warned parents to stop buying their children illegal e-bikes…
Redhead bushfire

Devastating Blaze Destroys 12 Homes: Wind-Driven Inferno Sparks State of Emergency

A 48-hectare bushfire in Redhead, located in Lake Macquarie, has intensified following…
Minister for Communications and Minister for Sport Anika Wells and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese take questions from students for a pre-recorded episode of Behind The News (BTN), at Parliament House in Canberra. Albanese has now defended Wells for several taxpayer funded trips she has taken.

Prime Minister Justifies Anika Wells’ Publicly Funded Travels to New York and Thredbo

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has defended Communications and Sports Minister Anika Wells…

NSW Beaches to Deploy $2.5M Drone Initiative After Recent Shark Attacks

In a bid to enhance safety and minimize the threat of fatal…

2026 FIFA World Cup Draw: Australia Set to Challenge Host Nation USA in Group Stage

The 2026 FIFA World Cup draw was as dramatic as the Andrea…