18 September 2008

Down Under Expo to lure workers to Australia and NZ

The 2008 Down Under Expo will be held in Ireland next weekend for the tens of thousands of prospective migrants looking to move to Australia and New Zealand.

For two days (September 27 and 28), 50 exhibitors including the Australian Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC), the New Zealand Government Immigration Service, state and territory government representatives, skilled migration units, employers, recruitment agencies, and migration agents will provide face-to-face information and advice for people wishing to move Down Under.

Every year thousands of Irish nationals flock to the Down Under exhibition to speak with government officials, migration experts and employers to discover the wealth of migration opportunities available.  Free seminars are also available that outline employer sponsored schemes, general skilled migration, working holiday programmes, and information about Australian visas and New Zealand visas.

As there is not a visa office in the Dublin Australian Embassy, and no New Zealand Embassy in Ireland, the Down Under Expo is the best opportunity for Irish nationals to explore the options for Australian and New Zealand migration. 

"The days of young people hopping on a plane and outstaying their visitor visas is well gone and Australia and New Zealand have taken over from the security-conscious States as the destination of choice for emigrants," said Stephen McLarnon of SGMC Group, organisers of the Down Under Expo.

"Job emigration may be back but, unlike other times in our history, we’re ensuring that Irish emigrants are equipped with the information, paperwork, contacts and job options they need for starting a better life abroad."

Both Australia and New Zealand are particularly looking for tradespeople, nurses, engineers, IT professionals, farmers, miners and hairdressers to fill the skills shortages in both countries.  A more comprehensive list of the skills shortages in Australia can be found on the Migration Occupations in Demand List (MODL).

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The Australian Visa Bureau is an independent consulting company specialising in helping people apply for an Australia visa.

Article by Jessica Bird, Australian Visa Bureau.