The Australian Law Reform Commission (ALRC) is currently considering whether to remove the age limit requirements for skilled immigrants. Current age limits for people, who are applying under the Skill Select program is set at 50 years. However there are some concerns, that this in conflict with the Australia’s Age Discrimination Act. At the same time there are some fears that if Australia removes the limit, older immigrants will be able to contribute less to the Australian economy since they will retire earlier and will then become a burden for the state.

There are some people however, who think such fears are unfounded. According to professor Simon Biggs, Professor of Gerontology at the University of Melbourne, older immigrants are more productive than Australian people at the same age. Older migrants bring skills and often financial resources to their host country from their country of origin so it isn’t that they are coming with a blank slate. They often come with skills that have been paid for elsewhere or they are bringing earnings and savings that they have accumulated abroad.

Professor Biggs that Australia is going to miss a lot of good skilled immigrants if it does not abolish the upper age limit or at least raise it. He gives as an example European Union and USA both of which do not have an age limit for skilled immigrants.

The ALRC current position is that there is no need to abolish the maximum age for Australian Skilled Immigrants on discrimination grounds. The reason for is because at the time of their application, applicants are still not part of the Australian workforce, they are not covered by the Age Discrimination Act. Furthermore there are no age limits for temporary work visa or 457 visas.

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Skilled workers from abroad are one of the most important factors for the success of the Australian resources industry according to a new research made by the Central Queensland University. Foreigners provide a vast range of essential workers and are needed beyond the resource sector such as in medical care and mechanics. For example a report made in the Gladstone, South Australia, found that 51% of the dentists in the town are foreigners. Dr Ros Cameron  from Central Queensland University who leads the Gladstone Skilled Migration Research Report said that for the first time it becomes clear how important are skilled migrants in resource regions.

According to him foreigners are providing around one third of the health services in the city. In addition to that they are delivering a lot of important skills such as chefs, welders and motor mechanics.

Cameron said the Gladstone example showed the importance of solving issues such as spouse isolation and the adequacy of cross cultural training. One of the most important findings of the study is the need for settlement assistance for spouses and families of the skilled immigrants. Businesses need to tap into existing immigrants organizations and communities in the region and to help with the integration of the skilled workers’ families in the region.

Dr Ross Cameron Pointed that “Strategies to combat racism through cross cultural training, public celebrations of diversity, building inclusive schools and inclusive workplaces would go a long way towards assisting in retention

She added that Up until now a lot of work has been done in this direction but there is need for more involvement from Gladstone industry and businesses

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