Bligh demands emergency intervention

Ms Bligh this evening (Wednesday) called for reconsideration of the 2009 skilled migration changes, new “targeted” three-year working visas for international graduates, better student visa processing arrangements and other regulatory changes.

She said the sector was in crisis “at the worst possible time for Australia’s economy”, and that national cooperation was needed to reconceptualise international education’s problems as opportunities.

“International education is not only our third largest export earner but we could also be using it to harvest the skills we need for the enormous growth in the resources sector,” she said.

“The resources boom provides unprecedented employment opportunities for Australian graduates in key disciplines such as engineering, environmental science, metallurgy but also law, hospitality, accounting and management.

“[But] the growth in the sector in the short-term is just too significant to be met by Australian citizens alone. We should be offering more opportunities for graduates in engineering and other disciplines to meet the looming skills gap needed for the resources industry.

“With 38,000 jobs needed in the sector in the next few years, we should consider making targeted offers of working visas for three years to international graduates before they return home.”

Ms Bligh commended the Commonwealth for initiating the Knight review of student visas, but said she was keen to see the report and its proposals for constructive solutions.

The Commonwealth has received the report, but hasn’t committed to a timeline for its release.

Ms Bligh acknowledged the damage done to international education by the Australian dollar, competition from North America and media coverage of assaults on Indian students.

“However, we’re rebuilding our reputation and the recent Australian Institute of Criminology study clearly suggests that there is no greater level of assault on the Indian community than others in the Australian community,” she said.

“The international education and training sector directly and indirectly employs more than 17,000 Queenslanders and we want to keep growing these opportunities.”

She said Queensland’s $2.8 billion international education export market had declined sharply since 2009, following seven years of growth averaging 13 per cent.

Be The Church: Harvest Time International

I want to share with you about a local ministry in Port Orange that provides assistance with food, household, and hygiene products for families who struggle to make ends meet. Harvest Time International has served the Central Florida community since 1994 and recently opened a location in Port Orange at 3350 S. Ridgewood Ave. Participation in the program does require prior qualification by their caseworkers, however, very few are turned away. Those who qualify for food stamps are automatically qualified to participate. For more information contact Harvest Time International locally at 386-526-4736 or check out their website here . Here is a testimonial by my Administrative Assistant, Barb Kennedy, who has participated in this program: "My experience at Harvest Time International has been great. The registration was quick and easy and the people were very kind and gracious to me. This ministry is basically a grocery store with significantly reduced prices. Items are donated by grocery stores due to damaged packaging, overstock, or expiration dates. Items that are expired are generally only a month or so past the date. They have many different types of items including a huge selection of cereal (ranging in price from $0.50-1.50), cookies, canned fruit/veggies, ready-to-eat meals, pasta, pasta sauce, bread (free - limit 4 per family), toilet paper, paper towels, soap, and other various items. I would highly recommend anyone that who needs help to make ends meet visit this ministry.

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