Want To Stay Down Under? The Down Under Expo Is Back!

So you’re loving Australia and living the dream, white sandy beaches, amazing career opportunities and plenty of nightlife. You’ve probably met so many amazing people from all across the globe and you can’t imagine leaving. The thoughts of returning back home and possibly enduring the cold weather makes your skin crawl. So what are your options?

The Down Under Expo, now in its third year, is Australia’s only dedicated Employment & Education Exhibition that exclusively targets the combined career and immigration needs of overseas nationals currently living in Australia. Following the overwhelming success of the Melbourne & Sydney Exhibitions in 2011, the exhibition is back in Melbourne & Sydney for 2012 with the addition of Perth.

EMPLOYMENT
The Down Under Expo uniquely combines employment opportunities with skilled migration, offering employers and recruiters a targeted audience supported by the presence of Federal & State Government Skilled Migration Units (The Department of Immigration & Citizenship (DIAC), New South Wales Government, Victoria Government & Western Australia Government). Advice on skilled migration is readily available to employers and recruiters but more importantly for candidates.

EDUCATION
The Australian Department of Immigration and Citizenship’s research shows that more than one in five (22%) WHMs study courses during their working holiday in Australia. The Down Under Expo offers a range of vocational, foundation and employment related courses with the specific needs of skilled migrants and working holiday markers in mind. The exhibition offers a range of options including diplomas, degrees, IELTS preparation, adult migrant education courses and workplace training courses (OH&S, RSA, White Card).

IMMIGRATION
The Down Under Expo caters almost exclusively for the needs of Onshore Skilled Migrants by providing clear and transparent information on pathways to achieve employer and state sponsorship as well as permanent resident status in Australia. With the emphasis on Skilled Migrant Attraction generally being pursued offshore, the onshore applications and particularly grants for the Business Long Stay Visas (Subclass 457), has seen a significant increase year on year with a 44.9% increase by the end of October 2011 compared to the same period last year. Equally for the same period, the number of subclass 457 visa holders granted a permanent residence visa was 14.8% higher than the same period last year.

NEW SKILLED MIGRATION SELECTION MODEL LAUNCHES 1ST JULY
This coming July will see major changes to the Australian skilled migration application and selection process with the Department of Immigration & Citizenship (DIAC) launching SkillSelect. From the 1st July, Expressions of Interest (EOI) will be required as part of the skilled migration process but what does this mean and what impact will this have on skilled migrants currently onshore in Australia? Uniquely, the Down Under Expo is Australian’s only onshore immigration exhibition and this June in Melbourne, the Australian Department of Immigration will be presenting seminars on SkillSelect.

In addition to immigration, The Down Under Expo also combines employment and education opportunities for skilled migrants. For job seekers the opportunity to meeting with employers and recruiters, while for those seeking vocational, foundation and employment related courses, the exhibition offers a range of options including diplomas, degrees and of course IELTS preparation courses.

WHO SHOULD ATTEND THE EXPO!
For everything you need to know about Australian Visas:
• Professionals and other skilled workers from overseas seeking work or to establish a business in Australia.
• People interested in applying for permanent residency (PR) or citizenship.
• Tourists, working holiday makers, people visiting family or friends, or business people who want to know more about living and working in Australia.
• People seeking to study, train, or have their skills assessed in Australia.
• Education agents and providers to want to know more about immigration changes.
• Employers who want to know more about sponsoring skilled workers in Australia.

The Down Under Expo takes place Saturday and Sunday, 2nd and 3rd June in the Melbourne’s Crown Conference Centre (10am and 3pm), Sydney’s Town Hall on 27th & 28th July (10am – 3pm) and Perth’s Conference & Exhibition Centre Saturday 8th & Sunday 9th September (10am – 3pm). Register online for FREE ENTRY or Admission is $10 on the door.

Visit www.downunderexpo.com.au for more information.