Important Updates
Important Updates
October 1, 2025 | United StatesUnited States: Senators Grassley and Durbin Introduce H-1B and L-1 Visa Reform Act
October 2, 2025 | NamibiaNamibia: New Online Visa-on-Arrival Launched
October 2, 2025Somalia: Electronic Travel Authorization Launched
October 2, 2025 | United StatesThe Washington Post: How Companies Might Avoid Trump’s New $100K Visa
October 1, 2025 | United StatesUnited States: Federal Government Enters a Shutdown, Though Most Immigration Functions Remain in Operation
October 1, 2025 | United StatesUnited States: Senators Grassley and Durbin Introduce H-1B and L-1 Visa Reform Act
October 2, 2025 | NamibiaNamibia: New Online Visa-on-Arrival Launched
October 2, 2025Somalia: Electronic Travel Authorization Launched
October 2, 2025 | United StatesThe Washington Post: How Companies Might Avoid Trump’s New $100K Visa
October 1, 2025 | United StatesUnited States: Federal Government Enters a Shutdown, Though Most Immigration Functions Remain in Operation
October 1, 2025 | United StatesUnited States: Senators Grassley and Durbin Introduce H-1B and L-1 Visa Reform Act
Subscribe
Fragomen.com home
Select Language
  • English
  • French
  • French - Canadian
  • German

Select Language

  • English
  • French
  • French - Canadian
  • German
ContactCareersMediaClient Portal
Search Fragomen.com
  • Our Services
    For EmployersFor IndividualsBy IndustryCase Studies
  • Our Tech & Innovation
  • Our People
  • Our Insights
    Worldwide Immigration Trends ReportsMagellan SeriesImmigration AlertsEventsMedia MentionsFragomen NewsBlogsPodcasts & Videos
  • Spotlights
    Navigating Immigration Under the Second Trump AdministrationTravel & Mobility Considerations: Situation in the Middle EastImmigration Matters: Your U.S. Compliance RoadmapCenter for Strategy and Applied InsightsVietnamese ImmigrationView More
  • About Us
    About FragomenOfficesResponsible Business PracticesFirm GovernanceRecognition

Our Services

  • For Employers
  • For Individuals
  • By Industry
  • Case Studies

Our Tech & Innovation

  • Our Approach

Our People

  • Overview / Directory

Our Insights

  • Worldwide Immigration Trends Reports
  • Magellan Series
  • Immigration Alerts
  • Events
  • Media Mentions
  • Fragomen News
  • Blogs
  • Podcasts & Videos

Spotlights

  • Navigating Immigration Under the Second Trump Administration
  • Travel & Mobility Considerations: Situation in the Middle East
  • Immigration Matters: Your U.S. Compliance Roadmap
  • Center for Strategy and Applied Insights
  • Vietnamese Immigration
  • View More

About Us

  • About Fragomen
  • Offices
  • Responsible Business Practices
  • Firm Governance
  • Recognition
Select Language
  • English
  • French
  • French - Canadian
  • German

Select Language

  • English
  • French
  • French - Canadian
  • German
ContactCareersMediaClient Portal
  • Insights

Immigration’s Role in Australia’s Future Development

June 29, 2018

Alex-Paterson

Country / Territory

  • AustraliaAustralia

Related contacts

Photo of Alex Paterson

Alex Paterson

Senior Counsel

Sheffield, United Kingdom

Email

[email protected]

T:+44 (0) 114 289 2026

Related offices

  • Brisbane
  • Melbourne
  • Perth
  • Sydney

Share

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn

Share

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn

Related contacts

Photo of Alex Paterson

Alex Paterson

Senior Counsel

Sheffield, United Kingdom

Email

[email protected]

T:+44 (0) 114 289 2026

Related offices

  • Brisbane
  • Melbourne
  • Perth
  • Sydney

Share

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn

Share

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn

Related contacts

Photo of Alex Paterson

Alex Paterson

Senior Counsel

Sheffield, United Kingdom

Email

[email protected]

T:+44 (0) 114 289 2026

Related offices

  • Brisbane
  • Melbourne
  • Perth
  • Sydney

Share

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn

Share

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn

By: Alex Paterson

At the State of the Nation conference on 25 and 26 June, the Committee for Economic Development of Australia (CEDA) released its report Community Pulse 2018: The Economic Disconnect. The report sets out CEDA’s survey findings regarding Australian community perceptions of the country’s economic performance and the importance of a range of social and economic issues. The research suggests a number of areas where immigration will continue to play an important role in Australia’s future strategic direction.

Attitudes to Growth

The report reflects on Australian community attitudes to the 26 consecutive years of growth in Australia without recession – now a global record. Despite this achievement, CEDA found that only 5% of respondents consider that they have gained significantly from this growth, with most respondents (74%) identifying large corporations as the main beneficiaries.

Issues that Matter

Respondents were also asked to rank a series of social and economic issues in order of importance to the respondent. The top five identified issues were:

  1. Reliable and affordable health care.
  2. Reliable and affordable essential services.
  3. Access to stable and affordable housing.
  4. Affordable, high quality chronic disease services.
  5. Reduced violence in homes and communities.

These results deliver an emphatic message of the critical importance of aged and health care services. The significant shortfall of workers in aged and health care in Australia is well-known. Actuarially, after age 65 a person is more likely to require support with day to day living, which may include medical, nursing and personal care as well as home maintenance, cooking and transportation. Age 85 is the threshold beyond which a person can no longer live independently even with such support.  The significant numbers of Australians reaching these milestones through to 2050 will create the demand for an additional 980,000 aged care workers over the next three decades – some 30,000 per year.

Immigration

CEDA’s research demonstrates that community support for migration has remained high throughout the global financial crisis and the end of the Australian resources sector construction boom. In the Community Pulse survey, a majority of respondents did not identify “strong limitations on foreign worker visas” as a crucial issue, with an overall ranking of 21st out of 30 social and economic policy directions.

So what role does migration have to play in addressing some of the current challenges identified in the outcomes of the survey? At the most basic level, skilled migration programs provide Australian businesses with the ability to address any local labour shortfalls. In aged and health care, skilling and training programs for entry into this industry are significantly increasing, an example being the reskilling of automotive manufacturing workers in northern Adelaide. Given the anticipated shortfall of required workers, these training programs are not going to bridge the gap entirely.

As a revamped work visa program, the Temporary Skills Shortage (TSS) visa provides an avenue for appropriate and targeted use of aged and health care workers from overseas. The new Pacific Labour Scheme similarly allows regional facilities to supplement local supply with suitably qualified workers from Pacific island nations.

At the State of the Nation conference, infrastructure development was identified as key to restoring the connection between Australia’s macroeconomic performance and Australians’ sense of personal financial well-being. My colleague, Simon Haag, has written about the positive social and economic impacts of infrastructure projects here .

Large scale infrastructure developments incorporate the training of Australians to deliver benefits beyond the lifecycle of the project itself. Bringing skilled workers from overseas also enables these projects to quickly scale their workforce up and down based on the stage of the project; or rely on its global network with existing proprietary skills if the company is introducing new technology to Australia. These examples illustrate the positive effect of skilled migration – not just for the individual and their employer, but for broader long term skills enhancement within the Australian workforce.

Technological Innovation

Of course, infrastructure does not just mean bridges and trains. Increasingly projects are developing Australia’s social infrastructure.

At State of the Nation, technological innovation was cited as one of the keys to assist with meeting demand and managing access to aged care. Innovation can assist by reducing the ratio of carers needed per person without reducing (and preferably improving) the quality of care; and can also be a strong contributor to restoring the link between Australian economic success and an enhanced sense of personal well-being.

The importance of providing a skilled migration pathway for highly and uniquely-talented individuals with STEM skills was recognised by the Australian Government earlier this year with the announcement of the forthcoming Global Talent Visa scheme. Since March 2018, the Department of Home Affairs has been consulting with industry and other stakeholders to develop the program to ensure that it facilitates the entry to Australia of individuals of high value to Australia’s future development in cutting-edge fields of technological innovation. The scheme will be launched as a pilot program on 1 July 2018.

Like many other areas of policy reform, CEDA’s research activity shows that Australia’s visa programs need to be agile and adapted to Australia’s future needs, by complementing areas of growth and economic development through skilled workers, the introduction of new technologies, and building Australia’s capacity for innovation.

Fragomen engages closely with CEDA and actively participates in the policy research and debate it generates, most particularly in relation to migration. We congratulate the Board of CEDA on its latest report and for a successful State of the Nation conference.

Learn more about Alex Paterson.

Country / Territory

  • AustraliaAustralia

Related contacts

Photo of Alex Paterson

Alex Paterson

Senior Counsel

Sheffield, United Kingdom

Email

[email protected]

T:+44 (0) 114 289 2026

Related offices

  • Brisbane
  • Melbourne
  • Perth
  • Sydney

Share

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn

Share

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn

Related contacts

Photo of Alex Paterson

Alex Paterson

Senior Counsel

Sheffield, United Kingdom

Email

[email protected]

T:+44 (0) 114 289 2026

Related offices

  • Brisbane
  • Melbourne
  • Perth
  • Sydney

Share

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn

Share

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn

Related contacts

Photo of Alex Paterson

Alex Paterson

Senior Counsel

Sheffield, United Kingdom

Email

[email protected]

T:+44 (0) 114 289 2026

Related offices

  • Brisbane
  • Melbourne
  • Perth
  • Sydney

Share

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn

Share

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn

Explore more at Fragomen

Media mentions

The Washington Post: How Companies Might Avoid Trump’s New $100K Visa

Co-Chair Enrique Gonzalez highlights approaches for companies navigating changes to the H-1B visa process.

Learn more

Video

How to Get Your French Work Visa After Graduation: Job Seeker / Company Creation Permit

Learn how international graduates can stay in France for one year to find work or start a business. Discover eligibility requirements, application steps and transition options for the Job Seeker/New Business Creator permit. 

Learn more

Awards

Partner Priscilla Muhlenkamp Named 2025 National Law Journal Awards Finalist for "DC Managing Partner of the Year"

Partner Priscilla Muhlenkamp is a finalist for the 2025 National Law Journal Awards category, "DC Managing Partner of the Year."

Learn more

Media mentions

Post Bulletin: Trump’s New $100K Fee on Certain Work Visas Could Impact Rochester’s Medical Staff

Partner Bo Cooper highlights that new $100K H-1B fees could affect US employers, with possible exemptions for critical roles.

Learn more

Media mentions

The Caterer: Businesses Need to Be Ready for Government Crackdown on Sponsor Licences

Partner Louise Senior highlights the impact of record-breaking UK sponsor licence revocations and the steps hospitality businesses can take to manage compliance.

Learn more

Media mentions

Folha de São Paulo: Taxa de US$ 100 mil para visto dos EUA muda planosde brasileiros; veja opções

Partner Bo Cooper explores the impact of H-1B visa changes on companies and their talent strategies.

Learn more

Media mentions

Global Mobility Lawyer: Lawyers Try to Make Sense of Trump’s Confusing H-1B Fee Hike

Partner Bo Cooper explains that while new H-1B fees affect future petitions, US opportunities for international talent remain highly valued.

Learn more

Media mentions

Kommunal topinform: Staatsdienst am Limit

Fragomen explores in an article how international recruitment can help solve Germany’s public sector staffing crisis and support the future of essential services.

Learn more

Blog post

UAE Golden Visa: Work Permit Requirements for Employers and Professionals

Assistant Manager Charo Medida explains the work permit requirements for employers and professionals under the UAE Golden Visa programme.

Learn more

Media mentions

Business Insider: Trump's $100,000 Visa Fee Threatens Wall Street's Pipeline of Junior Bankers and Tech Talent

Partner Bo Cooper explains how proposed H-1B fee and lottery changes impact hiring of skilled international talent across sectors.

Learn more

Media mentions

Asharq Al Awsat: السعودية تمضي مع «رؤية 2030» بدعم التصنيع والتوطين وتوسع الاقتصاد

Partner Haider Hussain underlines the role of talent mobility in shaping future growth sectors in the Kingdom.

Learn more

Fragomen news

Fragomen Spotlighted in Financial Times for 2025 Innovative Lawyers Europe Awards

Fragomen is recognised by the Financial Times for its innovative work in workforce mobility and cross-sector collaboration.

Learn more

Media mentions

The Washington Post: How Companies Might Avoid Trump’s New $100K Visa

Co-Chair Enrique Gonzalez highlights approaches for companies navigating changes to the H-1B visa process.

Learn more

Video

How to Get Your French Work Visa After Graduation: Job Seeker / Company Creation Permit

Learn how international graduates can stay in France for one year to find work or start a business. Discover eligibility requirements, application steps and transition options for the Job Seeker/New Business Creator permit. 

Learn more

Awards

Partner Priscilla Muhlenkamp Named 2025 National Law Journal Awards Finalist for "DC Managing Partner of the Year"

Partner Priscilla Muhlenkamp is a finalist for the 2025 National Law Journal Awards category, "DC Managing Partner of the Year."

Learn more

Media mentions

Post Bulletin: Trump’s New $100K Fee on Certain Work Visas Could Impact Rochester’s Medical Staff

Partner Bo Cooper highlights that new $100K H-1B fees could affect US employers, with possible exemptions for critical roles.

Learn more

Media mentions

The Caterer: Businesses Need to Be Ready for Government Crackdown on Sponsor Licences

Partner Louise Senior highlights the impact of record-breaking UK sponsor licence revocations and the steps hospitality businesses can take to manage compliance.

Learn more

Media mentions

Folha de São Paulo: Taxa de US$ 100 mil para visto dos EUA muda planosde brasileiros; veja opções

Partner Bo Cooper explores the impact of H-1B visa changes on companies and their talent strategies.

Learn more

Media mentions

Global Mobility Lawyer: Lawyers Try to Make Sense of Trump’s Confusing H-1B Fee Hike

Partner Bo Cooper explains that while new H-1B fees affect future petitions, US opportunities for international talent remain highly valued.

Learn more

Media mentions

Kommunal topinform: Staatsdienst am Limit

Fragomen explores in an article how international recruitment can help solve Germany’s public sector staffing crisis and support the future of essential services.

Learn more

Blog post

UAE Golden Visa: Work Permit Requirements for Employers and Professionals

Assistant Manager Charo Medida explains the work permit requirements for employers and professionals under the UAE Golden Visa programme.

Learn more

Media mentions

Business Insider: Trump's $100,000 Visa Fee Threatens Wall Street's Pipeline of Junior Bankers and Tech Talent

Partner Bo Cooper explains how proposed H-1B fee and lottery changes impact hiring of skilled international talent across sectors.

Learn more

Media mentions

Asharq Al Awsat: السعودية تمضي مع «رؤية 2030» بدعم التصنيع والتوطين وتوسع الاقتصاد

Partner Haider Hussain underlines the role of talent mobility in shaping future growth sectors in the Kingdom.

Learn more

Fragomen news

Fragomen Spotlighted in Financial Times for 2025 Innovative Lawyers Europe Awards

Fragomen is recognised by the Financial Times for its innovative work in workforce mobility and cross-sector collaboration.

Learn more

Stay in touch

Subscribe to receive our latest immigration alerts

Subscribe

Our firm

  • About
  • Careers
  • Firm Governance
  • Media Inquiries
  • Recognition

Information

  • Attorney Advertising
  • Legal Notices
  • Privacy Policies
  • UK Regulatory Requirements

Our firm

  • About
  • Careers
  • Firm Governance
  • Media Inquiries
  • Recognition

Information

  • Attorney Advertising
  • Legal Notices
  • Privacy Policies
  • UK Regulatory Requirements

Have a question?

Contact Us
  • LinkedIn
  • Youtube
  • Instagram
  • Facebook
  • Twitter

© 2025 Fragomen, Del Rey, Bernsen & Loewy, LLP, Fragomen Global LLP and affiliates. All Rights Reserved.

Please note that the content made available on this site is not intended for visitors / customers located in the province of Quebec, and the information provided is not applicable to the Quebec market. To access relevant information that applies to the Quebec market, please click here.