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Refugees as Skilled Migrants: Insights from Australia’s 2018 Employer-Sponsored Refugee Migration Pilot

Author

Listed:
  • Claire Higgins

    (University of New South Wales)

  • Sally Baker

    (University of New South Wales)

  • Stephanie Cousins

    (Global CEO, Talent Beyond Boundaries)

  • Ben Zhe Wang

    (Macquarie University)

  • Zhiming Cheng

    (Macquarie University)

  • Massimiliano Tani

    (UNSW Canberra)

  • Victoria Jack

    (University of New South Wales)

Abstract

Many of the more than 27 million refugees in the world today are highly educated professionals, but resolving their displacement via skilled migration pathways is typically not possible. At the request of employers facing severe skill shortages and the coordination of Talent Beyond Boundaries (TBB)–a non-profit organisation–the Australian government introduced in 2018 a pilot program enabling employers to sponsor refugees through an employment contract meeting existing skilled visa requirements. The pilot effectively added immigration places to refugees, as employer-sponsored visa are uncapped in Australia. We highlight some insights collected from TBB’s 2018 and subsequent pilots.

Suggested Citation

  • Claire Higgins & Sally Baker & Stephanie Cousins & Ben Zhe Wang & Zhiming Cheng & Massimiliano Tani & Victoria Jack, 2023. "Refugees as Skilled Migrants: Insights from Australia’s 2018 Employer-Sponsored Refugee Migration Pilot," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 170(1), pages 323-338, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:soinre:v:170:y:2023:i:1:d:10.1007_s11205-023-03130-9
    DOI: 10.1007/s11205-023-03130-9
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    References listed on IDEAS

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