AHISA SUBMISSION
Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs References Committee
14 December 2018

Effectiveness of the current temporary skilled visa system in targeting genuine skills shortages

AHISA describes the impact on independent schools of changes to the Temporary Skill Shortage (TSS) visa program and, more generally, the impact of these changes on Australian education.

The processes to determine which occupations remain on the Skilled Occupation List (SOL) and in which category may reflect broad employment trends but do not take account of pockets of difference within the broader employment framework for particular occupations and within particular sectors. Independent schools rely on the option of overseas recruitment to fill specialised leadership and teaching positions, for example for delivery of International Baccalaureate programs. Independent schools in regional, rural and remote areas also rely on overseas recruitment to meet shortages of teaching and boarding house staff.

To make overseas recruitment viable, key education occupations must be re-designated as medium- to long-term listed occupations to enable applications for four-year visas.

 Submission on effectiveness of the current temporary skilled visa system in targeting genuine skills shortages