Statement: Migration, Pathway to Nation Building Report 

Significant recommendations in a parliamentary report tabled this week offer a call to action that would revitalise Australia’s migration policy, particularly when it comes to activating skilled migrants who are already in the country but blocked from using their full skillset, according to leading non-profit organisation Settlement Services International (SSI). 

The Migration, Pathway to Nation Building Report, released by the Joint Standing Committee on Migration this week, sets out a roadmap of key actions and policy recommendations designed to enhance Australia’s migration system.  

SSI welcomes the report as recognition that an equitable, fair migration system, underpinned by robust policy settings, is essential for nation-building in Australia. 

It is particularly heartening to see the report call out a number of changes we are progressing through the Activate Australia’s Skills campaign, including establishing a national skills recognition body, creating a seamless process for skills recognition including an online, in-language portal, removing cost barriers to skills recognition, and setting up skills recognition navigators. 

It was disappointing that the report was silent on some of our sector’s longer term challenges, such as the four-year waiting period for permanent migrants to access income support. At present, this waiting period leaves migrants at risk of poverty and hardship, while also exacerbating skills mismatches by forcing migrants to earn a wage as quickly as possible, even if the work does not make full use of their skills and qualifications. 

SSI’s submission to the Committee recommended either removing or reducing this waiting period or, alternatively, having the waiting period start on arrival rather than once permanent residency is obtained. 

It was, however, welcome to see other game-changing recommendations, such as shifting Australia’s settlement services system closer to the Canadian model, with broad eligibility to settlement services on the basis of need. 

If resourced appropriately, this would create positive sustained change for new migrants to Australia, many of whom are precluded from accessing quality, wrap-around support from providers like SSI due to visa type and other eligibility criteria. 

Other key recommendations included establishing a fully funded independent research, data and analysis institution on migration policy and associated portfolio considerations, which would go a long way towards ensuring evidence-based, effective migration policy. In addition, the report highlighted the value of increasing migration to regional areas, calling out the need for a specific inquiry into this issue, along with changes to existing schemes to achieve higher rates of regional settlement and retention. 

We urge both the Committee and Federal Government to continue engaging with our sector to refine these proposals and ensure changes rolled out are comprehensive, fit-for-purpose and, ultimately, generate real outcomes. 

Media enquiries:  

Hannah Gartrell, Head of Executive Communications and Media 

M: 0423 965 956  E: hgartrell@ssi.org.au