Australia and New Zealand Immigration News

The British are the largest Immigrant Group in Australia and Australia remains the most popular emigration destination for Brits.

There is a long history of Indian immigration to Australia. It is said that the first Indians arrived in Australia on Captain Cook's ship in the late eighteenth century.

According to Australia's Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC), while there has been a significant drop in temporary skilled overseas immigration due to the global economic slowdown, nurses are still in demand.

A report published by New Zealand think tank Institute of Policy Studies (IPS) states that the country needs to attract more migrant caregivers to look after its increasingly aging population.

Immigration programs to attract migrant caregivers need to be considered, the authors of the report stated -- in particular, permanent migration pathways.

In a recent press release, Australia's immigration minister said that while the number of foreign workers has decreased due to the slow economy, there is still a demand for overseas labor in certain sectors.

On 16 July 2009 the Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) and the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) announced that the National Migrant Statistics Unit (NMSU) established in July 2006 would continue for a further three years. Each agency has agreed to contribute $1.3 million to continue funding the unit. The memorandum was signed by DIAC Secretary Andrew Metcalfe and the Australian Statistician Brian Pink.