I often meet families in Australia who are deeply concerned about the wellbeing of their elderly parents or relatives abroad. One recent example is a family of Colombian heritage who has been living in Australia for several years now. They are already Australian citizens, and their 94-year-old father has been visiting on a temporary visa.…
The Administrative Review Tribunal and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2025 proposes written-only reviews for student visa refusals, aiming to reduce delays and simplify appeal processes. If passed, the Bill would require the Administrative Review Tribunal (ART) to make decisions “on the papers” for student visa refusal reviews. Instead of attending a hearing, applicants would present…
A Western Australian company has been barred from employing migrant workers for five years after the Australian Border Force (ABF) found evidence of worker exploitation. The sanction marks the first issued under the ABF’s strengthened migration powers, which are designed to protect vulnerable migrant workers from mistreatment. The company has now been added to the…
Victoria has opened its 2025–2026 skilled migration program with 380 interim visa places, pending confirmation of the state’s full allocation from the Australian Government’s Department of Home Affairs. The Department of Home Affairs has granted Victoria 200 places for the Skilled Nominated visa (subclass 190) and 180 places for the Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa…
More than 13 years ago, I arrived in Australia on a student visa, having already completed various degrees in Poland: Bachelor’s Degree in Physiotherapy, Bachelor’s Degree in Business Management, and Master’s Degree in Business Management. At the time, I planned to continue in health, but life has a way of opening new doors when you…
On 2 September 2025, the Australian Government confirmed that the permanent Migration Program for 2025–2026 will remain at 185,000 places, the same as the previous year. The program maintains a strong focus on skills. The Skill stream accounts for 132,200 places (71 per cent) and is designed to strengthen the economy and address skill shortages,…
Australia extends Skilled Refugee Labour Pilot to 2026, offering 500 visa places for businesses to recruit qualified refugees into critical workforce gaps. The Australian Government has confirmed the extension of the Skilled Refugee Labour Agreement Pilot for another 12 months, keeping the program active until 30 June 2026. First launched in July 2021, the pilot…
Two unlawful non-citizens have been detected working in Melbourne’s karaoke industry during a multi-agency compliance blitz targeting migrant worker exploitation. The coordinated operation involved the Australian Border Force, Victoria Police and Liquor Control Victoria, who inspected multiple venues across the city. Officers identified a range of breaches and warned operators about the severe penalties for…
Jobs and Skills Australia has opened consultations on the 2025 Core Skills Occupations List (CSOL), inviting feedback from businesses, unions, governments, workers and other stakeholders until 26 September. The CSOL forms part of the Government’s skilled migration settings, guiding employer-sponsored visas under the Skills in Demand framework. Unlike previous lists, it does not prioritise or…
If you’re planning to apply for a 482 visa, one of the first questions you’re likely asking is: how long can I stay in Australia? This is an important consideration because the length of your stay affects your work plans, your family arrangements, and even your pathway to permanent residency. What are the Three Streams?…