The Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) is visiting Albany, Dunsborough, Busselton and Bunbury from November 15-18 to provide businesses with information on visas and employer-sponsored migration pathways.

One of the West Australian regional outreach officers will be conducting targeted free workshops in Albany on November 15, Busselton on November 17 and Bunbury on November 18 for regional employers.

The workshops will focus on employer-sponsored visa options for sourcing skilled workers as well as providing an update on recent changes to the 457 visa program and pathways to permanent residence, including the regional sponsored migration scheme (RSMS). The workshops will also provide employers with useful ‘how-to’ information on the employer nomination and visa application process to ensure timely and efficient processing by DIAC.

The workshops in each region will give employers the opportunity to ask questions and gain a better understanding of these visa programs. Migration workshops are to be held in the following locations:

Albany
Tuesday, November 15 from 5:30- 6:30pm
Great Southern Development Commission
110 Serpentine Rd, Albany WA

Busselton
Thursday, November 17 from 8-9am
John Abbey Room, Abbey Beach Resort
595 Bussell Hwy, Busselton WA

Bunbury
Friday, November 18 from 8-9am
Bunbury Chamber of Commerce and Industries (BCCI)
15 Stirling Street Bunbury WA

During the regional visit, the outreach officer will also be available for private consultations with employers or workers on immigration matters where required.

A department spokesman said some businesses in regional communities can experience difficulty finding local skilled workers and they may want to consider sponsoring suitably qualified employees from overseas.

“Our officer will be able to answer a variety of questions about the skilled migration program, including changes that came into effect last year, such as market salary rates, health insurance, training requirements and employer obligations,” the spokesman said.

The outreach officer will also be able to discuss other visa and citizenship matters. The department’s regional visits program enables people in communities outside of the capital cities to sit down and talk about specific issues they might face directly with an immigration officer.

“While the department has a great deal of information available over the phone or on the internet, some people may not be aware of recent policy changes, or they may prefer to speak to officers face-to-face, and these visits meet those needs,” the spokesman said.

Registration is essential for these seminars as places are limited due to venue size. To register for a regional migration workshop or for a private consultation, contact 08 9415 9705 or This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it .