The federal government is under mounting pressure to overhaul Australia’s overseas skills recognition system after broad consensus emerged at the Economic Reform Roundtable.
The Activate Australia’s Skills campaign says the agreement among unlikely allies – the Australian Industry Group, the ACTU and ACOSS – gives the government a clear mandate to act.
Violet Roumeliotis AM, CEO of Settlement Services International, which convenes the campaign, said the current system was “expensive, bureaucratic, difficult to navigate and lacking transparency,” leaving hundreds of thousands of permanent migrants unable to work in the industries they were recruited for.
“This mismatch is costing Australia $9 billion in lost productivity, while industries like construction, teaching and health face critical shortages,” she said.
“It’s making it harder to meet national priorities, from building 1.2 million affordable homes to delivering a future made in Australia.”
The campaign is urging the government to create a faster, fairer and more streamlined process, proposing four key reforms: a single national governance system with an independent Ombudsman, better links between migration-related recognition and employment licensing, financial support and a centralised online portal, and the establishment of Migrant Employment Pathway Hubs to help skilled workers re-enter their professions.
Ms Roumeliotis said her organisation stands ready to work with the Treasurer, the Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations, and the Minister for Skills and Training to activate Australia’s skills.
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