MODL Review

[Guest surhythms]

Hi All

 

ANyone have an opinion on the MODL Review that is going to happen. We have only started our initial stages of the process so I dont know whether to worry or not!

 

14 August 2009

MODL Review

At the start of this year, in response to the unfolding global recession, the Minister for Immigration and Citizenship, Senator Chris Evans, introduced a series of changes to processing arrangements for visa applicants under the GSM program. The purpose of the

reforms was to ensure that the program is more tightly targeted to our skill needs during a period of weak labour demand, including by shifting the focus of the program from independent to employer and State sponsored migration. Among the changes was the

introduction of a Critical Skills List. Unsponsored applicants whose nominated occupation was on this list were given priority ahead of other applicants.

Senator Evans also announced the government would conduct a review of the MODL. Since its introduction in 1999, the MODL has been the primary targeting mechanism for selecting skilled migrants from among the pool of visa applicants. The decision to introduce

the CSL and review the MODL signalled that the government felt the MODL was insufficiently responsive to changes in economic conditions.

The Australian Government today released issues papers for, and called for comments to, the Migration Occupations in Demand List (MODL) review.

The evaluation process will be a major step in constructing a framework for migration which will meet Australia's longer term economic, social and demographic needs.

The MODL review will assess the central skills targeting mechanism for the General Skilled Migration (GSM) program. The MODL was introduced to target the GSM program, to applicants who had skills in occupations and specialisations in short supply in Australia.

Attached is an outline of the objectives of the review and the process being undertaken jointly by the Department of Immigration and Citizenship and the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations.

The first of two Issues Papers has been released today for public as part of the review. Responses to the first issues paper are due by 28 August 2009. During the course of the process, DIAC also plans to hold consultation forums in Sydney and Melbourne to which members of the migration advice industry will be invited.

This paper covers the following topics:

· background on the MODL

· economic and demographic challenges facing Australia

· need for a new MODL

· proposed principles for a new MODL.

· Select skills: principles for a new MODL

The second paper, to be released in September, will put forward options for:

· a new MODL methodology

· the role of MODL in the GSM assessment process

· transition arrangements to the new MODL.

The changes to the MODL will not affect the ability of Australian industry to meet its skill needs through the Employer Nomination Scheme (ENS) and Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme (RSMS). Other arrangements currently in place, including the Critical Skills List (and the priority processing arrangements), will continue until the outcomes of the MODL review are finalised.

Frequently Asked Questions - Review of the Migration Occupations in Demand List (MODL)

Q1. What is happening to the Migration Occupations in Demand List (MODL)?

A review of the purpose of the MODL and its methodology has commenced and is expected to be completed in late 2009.

The review aims to make MODL a more strategic tool in identifying the medium to long-term skill needs that complement Australia’s skill supply through the domestic tertiary education sector.

Q2. Why is the MODL being reviewed?

The review of the MODL is aimed at developing a better link between skilled migrant employment outcomes, the national training agenda and the work of Skills Australia, to ensure that skilled migration is aimed at responding to future skill needs which cannot be addressed through domestic training and skills development.

Q3. When will the new MODL be implemented?

The arrangements for the transition to the new MODL will be determined once the outcomes of the review are finalised.

The Critical Skills List will remain in place while the review is in progress and then be phased out following the implementation of any recommendations flowing from the review.

Q4. What will happen to priority processing of CSL applications?

Occupations which are listed on the CSL receive priority processing, which assists the targeting of the migration program. These arrangements will continue until the review is finalised. Once the review is finalised, arrangements for phasing out the CSL will be announced.