Spokesperson alert: Government changes to boost migrant skills and qualifications recognition in construction

Overnight, the Federal Government has announced a $90.6 million investment to boost the number of skilled workers in the construction and housing sector, including a $1.8 million measure to streamline skills assessments for around 1,900 potential migrants from countries with comparable qualifications who want to work in Australia’s construction and housing sector, and prioritise the processing of around 2,600 Trades Recognition Australia skills assessments in targeted occupations. 

Spokesperson: 

Dane Moores is the Head of Strategic Relations at non-profit organisation SSI, which has convened the Billion Dollar Benefit advocacy coalition, a movement of individuals and organisations committed to reducing employment barriers so skilled refugees and migrants can work in their fields of expertise and contribute billions of dollars to the Australian economy. It is wide-ranging advocacy coalition – spanning employers, unions, peak bodies, research institutions and NGOs – united in our mission to support skilled refugees and migrants to achieve their full economic potential.

To find out more, visit: https://www.billiondollarbenefit.org.au/ 

Dane is available for interview and the quotes below can be attributed to him. 

Quotes: 

• “Australia is facing an unprecedented skills shortage, in construction and in many other industries.  

• “In some OECD countries, newcomers are less qualified than the wider population. The opposite is true in Australia. 

• “It is a welcome step forward to see this initiative fast-tracking the skills and qualifications recognition process for migrants with skills in the construction industry. There is a pressing imperative to extend this initiative to other key industries, as one in four permanent skilled migrants in Australia work below their skill level. 

• “For example, around half of migrant engineers are unemployed or working in other sectors at a time where there is an estimated 30,000 shortfall in engineers required by Australian employers. 

• “Australia’s current system for recognising overseas qualifications is expensive, time-consuming and bureaucratic. This isn’t just holding back refugees and migrants; it is holding back our economy.  

• “We must modernise the skills and qualifications recognition system, and we welcome this initiative from the Federal Government as a step in the right direction.”