The proposed SOL has excluded occupations such as cookery, hair dressing and community welfare. These courses have been very popular among the Indian students because it offered an easy pathway to permanent residence in Australia upon completion of 2 years of study.
Commenting on the change, Naresh Gulati, CEO, Oceanic Consultants says these courses had earlier led many new education providers to set up shop purely because of the ever increasing demand for these courses.
A large number of private colleges had mushroomed in Australia to cash in on the growing demand. Such institutions might feel the heat of this change, he explained.
The new SOL will effect all students who have been granted student visas on or after February 9, 2010 and were aiming at obtaining Australian permanent residence upon completion of cookery, hair dressing and community welfare courses. They will be unable now to seek permanent residence on the basis of such qualifications.
Those holding student visas before February 8, 2010 may heave a sigh of relief as they would have time till December 31, 2012 to complete their studies and apply for the permanent residence or skilled graduation (Temporary - subclass 485) provisional visa.
Any student who fails to apply for these visas before the stipulated deadline would lose the chance of securing permanent residence as no further extensions are possible.
Gulati says the students had to choose courses that are in line with their career objectives as the SOL could change anytime. Because of this, students opting for courses that were only in tune with the migration policies risked their future.
Instead, the students could obtain world-class education and build a truly international career if they chose to pursue professional courses as per their career aspirations.
Gulati points out that skilled professionals seeking migration to Australia without using the education pathway could apply under the current SOL before July 1 this year as it the new list would not take effect till that date.