03 April 2008

Australian visa potential due to funeral directors dying out Down Under

Australia is running out of funeral directors and embalmers, meaning the industry might have to look abroad and utilise Australian immigration to bring in skilled workers to operate within the funeral industry. Employee training schemes have also been launched in the industry in an attempt to fix the skills shortage.

Richard Davis, chief executive of InvoCare, which conducts around 20 per cent of funerals across Australia, said: "Attracting new people to the industry is an ongoing challenge, particularly given the fact that within family-owned businesses, younger generations choose not to follow on with the tradition."

According to the Australian Funeral Directors Association, which was formed in 1935, the widespread skills crisis that Australia’s labour market is experiencing has contributed to the industry’s recruitment difficulties. Funeral directors and embalmers who are interested in a move to the country can apply for a skilled Australian visa, with the online Australian skilled visa assessment an ideal way to gauge their qualification to emigrate to Australia.

Australia needs funeral directors: Anyone applying for an Australian visa should begin by completing the Australian Visa Bureau's online Australian visa application to see if they meet the Australian visa requirements.