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Indian-origin model accuses Aus modelling agency of racism

2011-03-30T16:16:00.000-07:00

MELBOURNE: An Indian-origin model has accused an Australian modelling agency of racial discrimination as she is not a Caucasian, media here reported.

According to a report in the local daily 'WA Today', 25-year-old model Kema Rajandran was told by a Parth-based modelling agency that her work chances were "limited" in the country because she was not Caucasian.

After living and working as a model in the UK for two years, Rajandran e-mailed a short biography and photos to Chadwick Models in Perth recently, and was "truly disheartened" at the response she received a short time later.

"We think you are very photogenic and would be suitable for our Casting Division," the email from the academy coordinator read. "Please note however that as you are of non-caucasian heritage that your work opportunities in Perth would be extremely [sic] limited."

Rajandran said given the "extremely multicultural society of Australia", she was shocked at the response, and hoped that by her speaking out about it, the practice of culling models based solely on their appearance would change.

However, Chadwick's Perth manager Tanya Muia said she was "gob-smacked" that the agency could be labelled as racially discriminating against Rajandran, and that they were simply relaying her chances of finding work in a tight Perth modelling market.

"This is just ridiculous. I don't see that this is race related," Muia said. "If we don't feel that she's going to secure work in the Perth market... then we tell [her] about it. We have the liberty to give an honest opinion."

Muia said Chadwicks, along with other modelling agencies, provided models based on industry demand and that as such had no control over the "looks" chosen for various campaigns.

"We are not discriminating in any way. We represent every culture out there," she said. "There is a bigger picture here other than just that one line, and yes, we will be changing it. But we have worded it (the standard email response) that way for 10 years. We've never had a complaint."

Equal Opportunity Commissioner Yvonne Henderson said while she could not comment specifically on Rajandran's case, it is illegal for an employer to discriminate against an employee either at the workplace or in the recruitment process, based on their race.

She said there are some exemptions in the case of artistic performance, however did not believe that modelling agencies would fit into this category.

Rajandran said she was extremely disappointed to learn that her Indian appearance would hinder her employment opportunity, especially given the extensive work on offer in the UK to models of "all ethnicities and cultures".

She said she had previously expressed her thoughts on Australia's predominantly Caucasian-based image, and until she saw this email, thought she might have been exaggerating it in her mind.

"This is not right, and I want to bring it to the attention of Australians," she said. "I'm sure they are going to try and justify it... but it is not an acceptable comment."

Pic from http://kemarajandran.carbonmade.com

Hindu temple attacked by gunmen in Australia

2011-03-30T16:04:00.000-07:00

MEBOURNE: Australia's oldest Hindu temple in New South Wales was attacked by unidentified masked gunmen who fired several shots at it, triggering panic among the community members.

Sri Mandir at Auburn, which is more than three decades old, was attacked by two men, who were wearing balaclavas or ski masks, on the night of March 19.

The attackers were caught on CCTV firing shots at the temple. No one was killed or seriously injured in the incident, which created panic among the temple's priest and worshippers, local media reported.

A police spokeswoman was quoted as saying by the 'Sydney Morning Herald' newspaper that detectives were working closely with the community as part of investigation into the incident.

Rohit Revo, a Sydney resident and editor of a local newspaper 'The Indian', said the footage of the attack was handed over to police, but nothing has been done to solve the issue.

"Few bullets hit the wall at the temple entrance, just a feet away from the main door. One of the bullets grazed through the wall and ricocheted hitting the emergency door on the side of the temple," he was quoted as saying.

"A bullet was also fired on the roof of the temple which found its way through the false ceiling inside the temple. Looking at the bullet marks on the temple walls suggests that specialised big bullets were used in the operation," he said.

Normal bullets are of a very small width but these bullets have created bigger holes on the walls, Revo said.

"Neighbours are also sick of the escalating violence and have extended silent support to the temple by sending them e-mails etc but fear speaking in the public," he said, adding the recent incident was not the first one as the temple has been attacked several times since 2004.

Last November, some people armed with metal bars had smashed two windows of the temple, when six worshippers were inside.

The temple's priest Jatinkumar Bhatt claimed that he had also been harassed by youths in the past, but the latest shooting incident left him scared.

"I have a family as well, three kids and my wife," he said. "Throwing eggs and bottles is an ongoing process but this bullet really put us in a panic."

The Hindu Exclusive: Australian diplomats saw attacks on students as racially driven

2011-03-30T00:17:00.000-07:00

Even as Australian Ministers, politicians and officials were taking the position in public that there was no racial motivation behind the spate of attacks on Indian students in Australia, chiefly in and around Melbourne in the State of Victoria, Australian diplomats were quietly acknowledging to their U.S. counterparts that it was indeed a likely factor. Also, the Australian government's efforts, in their opinion, had only a limited impact on cooling tempers (230335: confidential, October 20, 2009).

The cables were accessed by The Hindu through WikiLeaks.

The number of Indian students enrolling in Australian universities had steadily grown over the past decade. In 2009, according to international student enrolment data in Australia, about 120,000 Indians had enrolled as full fee-paying international students, making Australia the second most popular educational destination for them after the United States. However, the situation abruptly changed in 2010, when incidents of attacks on Indian students, which had rapidly increased since 2008, reached a crisis point.

A cable sent from the U.S. Embassy in Canberra on January 7, 2010 (242815: confidential), five days after Nitin Garg, a 21-year-old Indian student, was stabbed to death in Melbourne, observed that Deputy Prime Minister Julia Gillard (she is now the Prime Minister), while condemning the murder, “stopped short of apologizing or referring to racial motivations.” Opposition leader Tony Abbott, the same cable pointed out, had also rejected any such suggestion. However, Peter Varghese, the Indian-origin Australian High Commissioner to New Delhi, seemed to think otherwise. He acknowledged that race “was likely a motivating factor is some attacks.”

The fallout of these attacks was not limited to the student community. “Former Australian Consul General to Mumbai and prominent Melbourne businessman, Shabbir Wahid, noted that concern over the issue was beginning to reach Melbourne's older and better established Indian communities, with some saying that they are reevaluating their long term plans to stay in Australia.”

To Anita Nayyar, the Indian Consul General in Melbourne, the fear of an attack was a personal one.

She confessed that she now “looks over (her) shoulder” while walking around Melbourne's central business district” (248490: confidential, February 12, 2010).

To the Australian government, the worry was two-fold. It had to redeem its battered reputation and image. The loss of revenue on account of fewer international students choosing the country as their destination was the other concern.

Higher education was then Australia's third largest export-earner, behind coal and iron ore, and for the State of Victoria it was the single largest item. In 2010, a U.S. Embassy cable from Canberra (242815: confidential, January 7) noted that Australia's Tourism Forecasting Committee had estimated that the number of students enrolling in Australian universities would come down by 20 per cent compared to the 2009 figures. And this would amount to a loss of $70 million in revenue.

A U.S. Embassy cable (248490: confidential, February 12, 2010), in an interestingly titled section “Press Wranglers Wanted,” noted, citing observers, that the “Victorian government has completely failed to manage the press on this issue” and that “sensationalist press accounts are exacerbating what would have otherwise been a very manageable issue.”

Ms. Nayyar was more candid with her views on the Indian media and the coverage of the issue. She told U.S. diplomats that “a visiting contingent of Indian journalists had already written their headline story, ‘why they hate us,' even before landing in Melbourne for a week-long tour. She went on to say that the Indian press was still enamoured with this story and has paid interviewees well for their stories of woe.”

The cable noted that matters were only made worse by unfortunate public comments including one by Victoria's police chief, Simon Overlander, that “the streets of Melbourne are safer than those in India.”

(This article is a part of the series "The India Cables" based on the US diplomatic cables accessed by The Hindu via Wikileaks.)

Australia wooing Indian students

2011-03-29T00:00:00.000-07:00

Hit by by a 35 per cent drop in the arrival of Indian students to its universities in the backdrop of the attacks, 35 Australian universities showcased a range of academic programmes, career opportunities and scholarships here in an attempt to woo youngsters to pursue higher education.

Maintaining that the attack on Indians students, who represent the second largest section among International students, had been 'overplayed', Michael Carter, Consul Commercial, Australian Trade Commission, told reporters that there was a drop of 35 per cent of Indian students to Australia last year. The attacks were 'isolated incidents', he said.

As per 2009-10 figures, about 600,000 foreign students were studying in Australia of which 100,000 were from India.

In the past there has been random attacks on Indian students and the Australian government has taken a serious view of the matter, he said. Law enforcement facility has been expanded, court system has been streamlined and various help lines and social networks in collaboration with Indian students have been set up.

Both the governments are committed to ensure that Indian students get good education in Australia and are safe, he said.

Pointing that the relationship between the two countries was stronger than ever before, he said India was the third largest trading partner of Australia. There has been an increase in investments of Australia to India and vice versa.

Carter, who will be overseeing trade and investment activities in South India from next month, said India-Australia trade was worth 22 billion Australian dollars and 80 per cent was in resources sector. India buys large quantities of coal, gold, copper and LNG, he said adding Infrastructure, Education and Agri business and Agriculture would be the areas Australia would be focussing on in India.

Organised by the Australian Government, the Education fair in India showcased the quality, innovation and leadership of Australian education and the global career opportunities an Australian education offers. The fair has covered 7 cities so far including kochi. A similar roadshow will be held in Colombo also, he said.

Source: Indian Express

Australian NGOs united in opposition to uranium mining and nuclear power

2011-03-14T04:06:00.000-07:00

Sydney, Australia — A coalition of 27 Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) is today releasing a joint statement reaffirming our united opposition to the nuclear industry. The statement has been endorsed by leading national environmental and public health NGOs, all state conservation councils, and key climate change action groups and networks.

Dr Jim Green from the Choose Nuclear Free project said: "Environmental, public health and climate change groups call on political parties to seriously combat global warming by adopting policies to support the rapid expansion of the renewable energy sector and energy efficiency. We reject nuclear power as it is dirty, dangerous and distracts attention and resources away from existing effective, safe and affordable solutions to climate change."

The group statement also expresses concern about the mismanagement of Australia's radiaoctive waste. Dr Bill Williams, President of the Medical Association for Prevention of War, said: "The federal government's National Radioactive Waste Management Bill 2010 suspends the application of key Indigenous and environmental protections and overrides all state/territory laws. The Bill upholds the strongly contested nomination of a dump site at Muckaty in the Northern Territory − currently the subject of legal action in the Federal Court initiated by Muckaty Traditional Owners."

"The current debate around nuclear is a serious distraction, when there are so many problems with the technology" said Greenpeace Head of Campaigns, Stephen Campbell. "Australia is a country with enormous potential for renewable energy. Nuclear is unsafe, dirty and expensive. Many countries around the world are far in advance of Australia in deploying renewables, and the few nuclear new-builds are massively over-budget and behind schedule."

Dr Ziggy Switkowski, Chair of the Board of the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation, is promoting the construction of 50 nuclear power reactors in Australia. Over a 50-year lifespan, 50 reactors would: 

* produce 75,000 tonnes of high level nuclear waste;

* produce 750,000 cubic metres of low level waste and intermediate level waste; 

* produce 750 tonnes of plutonium;

* be responsible for 1.8 billion tonnes of low level radioactive tailings waste (assuming the uranium comes from the Olympic Dam mine); and

* be responsible for 430,000 tonnes of depleted uranium waste, a by-product of uranium enrichment.

Greenpeace

Indian girl BRUTALLY raped, killed in Australia

2011-03-14T01:28:00.000-07:00

Melbourne: A 24-year-old Indian student has been found raped and murdered after her body was located stuffed inside a suitcase near a canal in Sydney last week.

"On 11 March morning, construction workers found the suitcase containing the woman's body in a water canal near Meadowbank Park and alerted police," said a statement issued by the local police.

The victim was identified as Indian student Tosha Thakkar and police were now waiting for the results of a post-mortem examination to determine exactly how she died.

They have confirmed she was last seen alive on March 9.

Thakkar was studying accounting at the Sydney College of Business and IT, which collaborates with Southern Cross University, and was a permanent resident of Australia.

Friends and family of Thakkar told media that they had no idea why she was killed.

The body of Thakkar was stuffed into a suitcase which construction workers spotted in a canal near Meadowbank Park as they were doing maintenance on an oil pipeline.

Police has arrested 19-year-old Daniel Stani-Reginald in connection with the murder and the accused was questioned by detectives and charged with murder and aggravated sexual assault.

Accused Stani-Reginald, who lived close to Thakkar in Croydon, was arrested at an Ashfield motel on weekend and appeared via video link in Parramatta Local Court yesterday, according to the Sydney Morning Herald newspaper.

The court refused to grant him bail.

The accused glanced at the Indian students who poured into the court in their dozens, filling the chairs and every centimetre of floor space, and then bowed his head for the duration of the hearing.

Charged with aggravated sexual assault and murder, he did not apply for bail and it was formally refused, with the matter adjourned to Burwood Local Court today.

Campus Review Exclusive: International student movement rising, paper warns

2011-02-01T02:22:00.000-08:00

A new discussion paper says international student disquiet in Australia is generating a growing movement. By Susan Woodward (Report published in Campus Review - Australia’s only dedicated higher education publication written for the sector by an independent voice)

Government failure to address racism and the basic human rights of international students in Australia is fuelling a rising social movement and could collapse the nation’s $18 billion export education industry.

This thinly veiled warning is contained in a research paper released last week by the Academy of Social Sciences in Australia.

In the paper, the academy outlines the conditions of racism, violent attacks, sexual harassment, workplace exploitation and overcrowded, expensive accommodation that are causing international student unrest.

“[The student movement] is going to definitely become stronger and stronger, because these human rights issues are unanswered, because the various, really difficult problems are not being addressed effectively by government – in fact, government is resisting addressing them,” said Professor Andrew Jakubowicz, who wrote the paper with Dr Devaki Monani, both from the University of Technology, Sydney.

No longer a marginalised minority, the sheer force of international student numbers would force policy change, or Australia’s $18 billion export education industry faced “catastrophic collapse”, Jakubowicz told Campus Review.

The paper is the second to result from a series of roundtables held last year involving the academy, the Australian Human Rights Commission and Universities Australia.

Titled International Student Futures in Australia, it examines the nation’s policies regarding international students and finds them to be shallow and unco-ordinated.

The paper calls on government to co-ordinate its policies and emphasises the need for social planning based on rigorous research.

“Poorly researched policy, under-theorised analyses, disconnected responses and unco-ordinated strategic perspectives have produced a somewhat chaotic approach,” the authors write.

The paper notes an overwhelming majority of international students have reported positive experiences and satisfaction with education quality.

Yet it also says the fight for international student rights in Australia is growing into a global social movement of “some significance” and representing three million students.

The Council of International Students Australia, which contributed to the roundtables, used the paper’s publication to pressure government to convene high-level meetings with peak representatives.

Council president Robert Atcheson called on the government to construct an instrument, such as a charter of human rights for international students, to align international students with their domestic counterparts.

“International students are in an extremely vulnerable position when they come to Australia to study and one of the reasons is because they lack basic human rights due to their temporary status within the Australian society,” Atcheson said.

The paper’s researchers also advocate for political rights. As taxpayers, international students “should be provided with access to some political influence, perhaps through being given the right to vote in local elections after 12 months’ residence, lasting for the period of their enrolment and recognised work experience,” they argue.

Tertiary Education Minister Chris Evans, whose international student strategy was tepidly received by the sector when released last October, did not respond to requests for comment for this story from Campus Review.

However, international student dissatisfaction is well known to the government. In a Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) briefing released to the media, the department informs incoming immigration minister Chris Bowen about the effects of migration policy on hundreds of thousands of international students.

“Many are aggrieved and they are beginning to mobilise,” the briefing warns.

Race discrimination commissioner Graeme Innes agreed government failure on human rights threatened the whole international student industry.

He said he was not confident the government would be able to prevent the industry’s collapse.

“All the figures and all the trends suggest otherwise. It’s been trending up at around 12 per cent per annum since the '90s, but all the forecasts suggest within the second half of this year there will be a 22 per cent drop in international students and that will move to 30 to 40 per cent,” Innes said.

“It’s going to hit the VET sector first and the higher education sector a bit later, but there will be a number of universities that [receive] a great deal of their budget from international students that will be seriously affected.”

Innes said economic damage wrought by recent flooding had already cast doubt on whether the Australian government could achieve its budget surplus goal for 2012-13.

“The last thing the government would want is a decline in the fourth-largest export industry,” he said.

He said it was “picking and choosing” which parts of the international student crisis to address and not facing up to the major ones.

“If you look at some of the surveys that [higher education researchers] Chris Nyland and Simon Marginson have done, rape and abuse and threatened violence against international students is the most serious issue, as viewed by international students, and that issue’s not really being addressed,” he said.

“We don’t have a multicultural policy and we don’t have an anti-racism strategy and we don’t really have a recognition that race is a factor in these problems.”

There were signs, however, that the government would recognise Australia’s lingering problems with racism and begin to develop such policies in the near future, Innes said.

The human rights commission is developing its own policies for international students in Australia in a “minimum standards” document it intends to take to government by mid-year.

Innes said growing international student advocacy was understandable.

“[International students] either address these issues in an organised way and advocate on their own behalf, or they tolerate some of the very concerning things going on, or they [will] go home,” Innes said.

Is Melbourne becoming another Kampala for Indians?

2010-11-01T13:52:00.000-07:00

AMRITSAR: More than 30,000 Indians have left Melbourne in past one year due to incessant race attacks, harsher visa norms for Indian students and denial of permanent residency to them, Gautam Gupta, the spokesperson of the Federation of Indian Students in Australia (FISA), said.

Speaking to TOI, Gupta said that a majority of Indian students, roughly around 20,000, have left Australia for Canada while rest of them have shifted to other relatively peaceful cities including Sydney, Adelaide and Perth.

Recently, a 12-year-old boy had to undergo surgery to reconstruct his eye socket after he was attacked by a group of students, Gautam said.

Race attack was one of the major reasons behind the exodus of Indians from Melbourne. There were other significant factors too. "There are no jobs and students can't survive without that," Gautam Gupta said, while adding that the Australian government was denying permanent residency to many Indians despite fulfillment of conditions. The Oz government has also imposed visa restrictions on Indians and certain new rules were floated every now and then.

An Indian student Bhushan Kumar (name changed) who is studying in Melbourne said that since they (Indian students) work hard and can afford expensive gadgets and wear branded clothes, the locals gets jealous and attack them to take out their frustrations. "Melbourne is now like what Kampala was for Indians whose ruler Idi Amin had ordered Indians to leave the country after locals' uproar against Indians success," he added. He also informed that not only students but some well-settled Indian families had also shifted out of Melbourne.

Gautam Gupta claimed that it was due to the efforts of FISA that the issue of discrimination against Indians became public and they got all the people together on a single platform and made government and police more focused in their approach. He, however, said that FISA could hardly do anything to stop Indians from leaving Melbourne. He said, according to police reports, there had been about 1500 incidents of attacks against Indians but according to FISA, the figure was four-time higher than the police version.

"Australia is no more a favourite destination for Indian students. These days Canada and UK were the best options for students willing to pursue their studies abroad," said Sushil Kailashi, a local travel agent. He said that race attacks had tarnished Australia's image as a 'peaceful country' and parents were not ready to send their children where they were being continuously subjected to race attacks. Sushil further added that students were not keen on going to Oz because the Australian government had also imposed unrealistic restrictions. "Parents of a student willing to take up a two-year diploma course in Australia have to show funds of Aus $36000 which was beyond the reach of many," he said.

Read more: Is Melbourne becoming another Kampala for Indians? - The Times of India http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/indians-abroad/Is-Melbourne-becoming-another-Kampala-for-Indians-/articleshow/6853025.cms#ixzz144AH2Cld

My complaint against Investigators, case-officer and Assistant Director of Australian Immigration Department

2010-10-31T04:29:00.000-07:00

As you know, I want to formally complaint against all the Investigators, case-officer and Assistant Director involved in my brother’s sponsored skilled migration case. I have filed complaint in Ombudsman, Global Feedback Unit, Appropriate ministers in both countries - Australia and India and with Australian Human Rights Commission.

We have been humiliated and racially abused from the last 10 months by all of them (Investigators, Case-officer and Assistant Director of Brisbane Migration Office). Investigators have not considered our rights and referred us many times as Indians (When I am Australian Citizen) and also discussed in front of us – how Indians are involved in frauds and other criminal activities. I strongly disapproved on these accusations and unprofessional and unwise statements from Government officials who are working in a multicultural, multiethnic society.

The main paints we want to discuss with Ombudsman are:

From Investigation/ Investigators division:

1. Why they (Investigators) discussed with us that majority of "Indians” have done this fraud in front of me and my brother to humiliate and Insult us in the most unprincipled means when they knew we are Indians and they are generalizing.
2. Why they have not recorded the Interviews even after many requests when they have used these Interviews as evidences against my brother.
3. Why Investigators refused to accept the evidences and said, we don't consider pictures, videos, recordings, references etc... As evidences and we only consider Statutory Declaration as evidences.
4. Why Investigators told us in almost all Interviews neither they, nor visa-officers have any time to watch recordings and videos?
5. Why they (Investigators) have given all kinds of weird suggestions and tried to corrupt his (My brother’s) judgment and genuineness during these Interview discussions.
6. Why they influenced him that even if he has genuinely worked at Bakery, if he agrees with them then they even consider giving recommendations about his case to his case-officers for residency. What if my brother has said, yes rather than fighting against this injustice and completely unethical practices, would they have given the residency to him? – They would not, is not it? They would have recorded his only that specific part of conversation and then declared him a fraud.
7. Donna gave choice to my brother to start his 900 hours of volunteer work-experience all over again and to complete it from another bakery when we know it was an incorrect offer.
8. Why they did not listen to my brother what he had to say when they have called him for Interviews? Are these people allowed to ask any kind of unethical and unprincipled questions?
9. Why they did not tell my brother that he had the choice to remain silent or speak in front of his Immigration agent/ Lawyer if he is not comfortable speaking to them?
10. Why Investigators have given incorrect Information to his Immigration Agent to not to accompany my brother to his Interviews with DIAC officers?
11. The tone in which these officers were speaking was very humiliating and insulting.
12. Why they said they will record only some part of his conversation not the whole Interview? Is it an ethical practice?
13. Who is responsible for psychological and mental harm to my brother from the last 10 months even after being a genuine candidate?
14. Do these Investigators have any specific guidelines or Immigration Department has given them all –rights to behave in whatever way they can?
15. Investigators said they have the policies in place to not to record all the meeting conversation and only some part of it, I need to know is it true?

From visa application/case-processing:

1. Why the case-officer did not give me his contact details- land line and email when I was the authorized recipient in my Brother’s case? I had to either call the department or wait for hours or I had to send emails to the general email address. Which I have confirmed from Immigration minister’s representatives, compliance department - Global feedback unit, from lawyers was our right and he should have provided it to us.
2. Why they (Case-officer) did not reply back to my emails and telephone calls and even in decision letter they mentioned only one call/ one email when I have actually sent them 4-5 emails and called them 4-5 times or more.
3. Why the case-officer – Anthony BROWN did not speak to me even not once to discuss the case of my brother?
4. Why then we have been advised “Statutory Declarations” will not be considered as evidence to prove the genuineness of the visa applicant when Investigators have said this is what we should submit to department as evidence and not other documents?
5. The Manager Catherine (After my many attempts to speak with case-officer) called to request OHS Forms, Insurance Documents and Work-Safe documents to submit and said they will consider these documents? What if the candidate has not even heard about these documents?
6. On which website, Government documentation the requirements and guidelines have been written about where to work, how to work, how to prove your genuineness, what documents to submit, what evidences will be considered? And everyone should submit OHS Forms, Insurance Documents and Work-Safe documents?
7. Why we have not been informed the time-frame of any processing’s? Why we have not been informed that what documents have been considered and what not?
8. Investigators have clearly told us that all this Investigation is on the basis of a template submitted by 900 people (though case-officer has written 200 people) and we have even given them the copy sent to us by my brother’s Immigration Agent as guidelines there and then so why they have not considered it and thought that my brother could be a genuine candidate who has worked to complete his 900 hours of work-experience?
9. Why the Department of Immigration and Citizenship has not called the owner of the bakery directly to verify the details in the whole process when they had the time to call my brother for 2 telephone Interviews and 3 face-to-face Interviews?
10. Why the case-officer has said that I have submitted “Statutory Declarations” as evidence to his request to submit more evidences when I have submitted it even before we got his request?

After refusal – part:

1. When I spoke with representative of Immigration Minister, why I have been advised that I should contact the Assistant Director, Mr. Wayne RIDDLE when he clearly told me in his first discussion with me that he can’t help me at all regarding my complaints/ feedback/ questions?
2. Why the assistant director called me and yelled, screamed and threatened me to not to speak to other students?
3. Why he called me to my work number and not even asked me if I was available to speak to him?
4. Why he accused me that I am acting as Immigration Agent and I should not speak with anyone else regarding this case?
5. Why he humiliated and bullied me in front of everyone in my office during work hours?
6. He said, Investigators and Immigration Officials are from different departments (but no one is ready to listen anything that is the biggest problem here) and I should not discuss with them what Investigators did to us?
7. He said they don’t give contact details of the case-officer to anyone because that is a general policy at DIAC but I know it’s not true and case-officer always give their email or email of the team they belong to and their contact details.
8. He said, they don’t give contact details as it may distract them (case-officers) to work efficiently and effectively. What kind of efficiency is this that you are not providing contact details when you are requesting or sending letters for proof to submit further evidences from candidates.
9. He said, it’s only them (case-officers) who can contact you whenever and whatever ways and case-officers may or may not attend your calls or reply back to your emails? Is it a policy? What are the rights of the candidates? I can’t simply understand how no-one is allowed to speak and discuss their genuine concerns with the case-officers but they have all the rights and privileges to call, abuse, behave in whatever way they want to, does not matter even if the most indecent and insulting way.
10. Why as a responsible government department and when case-officer has especially given us only 21 days to express and provide further details no-one answered my emails and phone-calls on the below dates and time:

30/07/2010 1:33 PM
03/08/2010 11:50 AM
26/08/2010 1:40 PM
31/08/2010 04:16 PM
08/09/2010 02:42 PM

And emails sent on

Wed, Jul 21, 2010 at 12:32 PM
Friday, July 23, 2010 3:17 PM
Friday, July 30, 2010 4:17 PM
Sun, Aug 22, 2010 at 8:36 AM

These all communication was done before the case-officer has given his decision but I have never heard from him though the case officer has indicated in refusal letter and from the letter from Mr. Wayne RIDDLE that only on one occasion I have requested the case-officer to contact me. Which is completely untrue and inaccurate.

Thank you.

Foreign student drop leads to uni job cuts-90% Indians saying "No" to Australia

2010-10-20T03:30:00.000-07:00

The Victorian Opposition says hundreds of jobs will be lost because of the Government's failure to address concerns about violence against Indian students.

The National Tertiary Education Union says Monash University will cut about 300 staff because of a nationwide fall in international student numbers.

The university needs to cut $45-million from its budget.

Monash's vice-president of administration, Peter Marshall, says the exact number will not be known until the end of the month.

"We've tried to be open with staff, to tell the reasons why we're having to take this prudent management act," he said.

"All we've asked staff to do is to express interest in a voluntary separation package."

Mr Marshall says the university will first try to cut expenses associated with purchasing, contracting and staff travel.

"We think this is because of the immigration uncertainty that international students are now experiencing and also the strength of the Australian dollar," he said.

Opposition leader Ted Baillieu says violence in Melbourne has played a significant role in the decline in international students coming to Victoria.

"There is no doubt that the violence against international students set up a situation where there was great apprehension," he said.

"When the visa changes were introduced, the Government sat on its hands and ignored what were obvious problems and on top of that the Government's failed to regulate the vocational education sector."

Education Minister Bronwyn Pike has hit back at suggestions the Government is to blame.

She says the value of the Australian dollar and changes to Federal immigration laws are causing the fall.

"The high Australian dollar means that we are not as competitive for many students and Ted Baillieu is a bit silly for not noticing this," she said.

"The other factors are squarely in the hands of the Commonwealth Government and we're certainly working with them to get the right balance between educational opportunities and on-going residency."

Sharp dive

The vice-chancellor of the University of Melbourne, Glyn Davis, is warning tertiary student applications from India are expected to fall by up to 90 percent by 20-11.

He says the Federal Government must fine-tune its student visa policy to continue to attract overseas students.

He says incidents involving students in Victoria have played a part in the drop-off in applications.

"Most people think about universities in terms of the local students," he said.

"In this state, higher education is the largest export. So this is the single biggest industry in Victoria and it's taking a very sharp dive."

ABC NEWS by By Melissa Brown http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/10/14/3037834.htm

Investigators and Immigration Officials are giving bribe and incorrect information to students to agree with them for residency.

2010-10-16T22:17:00.000-07:00

Please note: I know a lot of other incorrect and unethical Information, Department of Immigration and Citizenship especially Investigators are providing to other people but as I am not allowed to share those experiences without their (Student’s) consent and written approval to publish their views and experiences on this website, I am only sharing the Information which I have personally witnessed and heard and recorded from these Investigators.

I came to know about all Immigration Department’s tactics and completely unethical practices almost 10 months ago, when they interviewed my brother first time on phone and then the Investigator called him again second time for telephone Interview and then for three long, intensive face to face Interviews.

First of all, I came to know about this recently that it’s the right of everyone to wish to remain silent and ask for a lawyer or speak only in front of a lawyer. If you are not feeling comfortable speaking to someone who is trying to intimidate and harass you – please speak or hire a lawyer first before going to any Interviews or speaking to anyone on phone.

They (Investigators) have given all kinds of weird suggestions and tried to corrupt his (My brother’s) judgment and genuineness during these Interview discussions. Even one of the Investigator said, your owner of the bakery and all other students have agreed with us and you should also compromise with us and then another said if you agree with us, we will not harm you as we are only against the owner of the bakery and then one said we may even give recommendations about you to your case-officers for residency. The main Investigator said, I can even give you a choice to start your 900 hours of volunteer work-experience all over again and complete from another bakery and one said we have all proof against you so you have to agree with what we are telling you. Not even once they stopped themselves and listened what my poor brother had to say on these completely incorrect and unwise offerings. My brother told them he has genuinely worked and completed his 900 hours of volunteer work-experience from the bakery and he founds “NO” logic grounds to agree with any of their indecent offers. When we requested to see the evidences they have against my brother, they brought a letter template and said “All other 900 people have submitted the same template like your brother”, I told them can I use your computers and showed them at the same time the email and template our Migration Agent has sent us as for guidelines, which we have given to the owner of the bakery and we have no information how that were submitted by other 900 students – if this 900 students statement is true. I even told them being a lecturer, I have noticed all kinds of different tactics sometimes some students use to cheat in their assessments or in examinations but that does not mean, I will fail all my class students, I will only plagiarize or take actions against only those selected students not everyone.

I even don’t understand how the owner of the bakery would have agreed on such allegations and accusations when people have genuinely worked and completed their 900 hours of volunteer work experience and like in my brother’s case when I have drive him to work so many times, when so many times even I got late from work because I thought to ask for his progress to the owners or to meet some of his colleagues working at the same time.

Investigators keep on asking him the names of other colleagues who worked with him. Which he has told them but I was thinking if you ask me personally to be very true, who studied with me 3 years ago or worked with me, I only remember very few people and recognize few faces, and how they expect the answers of these kinds of questions from these poor people. Who have to study, work, complete assignments and assessments, leave their country and come to a different country away from family and friends and are going through continuous emotional and psychological changes. Being an International student about myself, I remember how difficult things were for me to survive and live in a completely dissimilar country. For example, I was waiting for train in Melbourne Central Station the other day and when some of my class-mates approached me, I was not even able to recognize them at all, I even did not recognize their face, only then I came to know about them when they told me some of the Important events and things which happened some years ago and about our lecturer’s and trainers and some of my best friends (people in my group).

I even told these Investigators when they were speaking in an unacceptable tone that if you have called these people for Interviews or Investigations - whatever you call that, you should give time to them to express themselves but you are just so full in your minds that whatever you believe, whatever you are thinking is right and all others are wrong. You are not even considering any evidences and speaking in an unacceptable, humiliating and intimidating tone.

One of them (Investigator) then said, we have found 900 people doing wrong things from your brother’s bakery and majority from Indians, I told him there “It is a very unprofessional and unwise statement from professionals like you who are working in a Government department – If you will consider the percentage of Indian students who came to Australia in recent years, you will acknowledge that its quite higher than the people from other countries so its people who can be right or wrong, not Indians and don’t ever use this statement in front of other Indians”.

In my brother’s case the main Investigator said – his Immigration agent can’t accompany him because he is also under Investigation when he had nothing to do with anything. The Immigration Agent was very upset about it and told them, it is completely unacceptable way of operating and completing your Investigation.

Hence, I am wondering about these following things here from my brother’s case because I don’t have knowledge in Immigration Law and practice:

1. Are these people allowed to ask any kind of unethical and unprincipled questions?
2. What if my brother has said, yes rather than fighting against this injustice and completely unethical practices, would they have given the residency to him? – They would not, is not it? They would have recorded his only that specific part of conversation and then declared him a fraud.
3. Why they are not recording all conversations? How can you justify not recording the conversations and only some part of it?
4. Who is responsible for psychological and mental harm to these genuine poor young students?
5. Do these Investigators have any specific guidelines or Immigration Department has given them all –rights to behave in whatever way they can?
6. If they are not listening to people why they call them for Interview?
7. From my experiences with these Investigators I have found them completely biased, unprofessional and unethical they even mentioned many times during our discussion they don’t consider pictures, videos, recordings as evidences and only consider statutory declarations as evidences, which case-officers and other officials are refusing to accept. What an injustice happening here by all of these people. – I have recorded all this conversation.
8. Are these people allowed to give any kind of suggestions, offers to students?

I have evidences for everything what I have written here in this post about how humanity has been humiliated by these officers.

Disclaimer:
Only the general suggestions and my own experiences with the Department of Immigration and Citizenship are shared here in this post. Please don’t consider this post or any part of it as a legal advice or information and always speak to a reputed Lawyer/s and Migration firms to discuss your case.

References:
Picture is from http://www.brearleyssolicitors.com

General Information to International Students

2010-10-15T13:30:00.000-07:00

Dear Students,

As a lecturer, as an International student by myself, as your brother I am writing this post for you where you may find some Information which assist you and help you to fight against Injustice - if it has happened with you.

First of all, I would clearly like to mention that all the Australians are not racist, neither biased, It’s just few people in the society like in any other society in the world but I do accept here at very high ranks who are doing completely incorrect, biased, racist and unacceptable things. For example:

- Investigators hired by the Immigration Department are not willing to listen to anyone, they are not willing to consider any evidences, they are not providing proper guidelines – they are not telling students, it’s their right to not to speak or speak in front of their lawyers, they are also giving completely incorrect information to people like in my brother’s case the main Investigator said – his Immigration agent can’t accompany him because he is also under Investigation when e had nothing to do with anything. I have also recorded their conversations when they are speaking about how they as Investigators, neither Immigration officials have time to go through any evidences.

- Case-officers are again behaving in a completely unacceptable way. They are sending emails to students without any contact details. You contact the department does not matter how many times, they will be on break and never available to speak to you or they will request for those document evidences which you have never heard before like in my brother’s case a Manager from the Brisbane office has requested to provide OHS Forms, Insurance Documents and Work Safe documents, which I have never signed in my 12 years career and 6 years in Australia.

- Directors and other top level officials are behaving in a completely unacceptable way like in my brother’s case, when I filed a complaint in Global feedback unit, Ombudsman, and with Indian consulate – the director called me and yelled, screamed and threatened me to not to speak to other students, he accused me I am acting like a Migration Agent and he tried his best to Intimidate and bully me to shut up and mind my own business. They even started justifying that Investigators and Immigration Officials are different departments (but no one is ready to listen anything that is the biggest problem here) and we don’t give contact details of the case-officer to anyone because that may distract them to work efficiently and effectively. What kind of efficiency is this that you are not providing contact details when you are requesting or sending letters for proof to submit further evidences. What kind of system is this that you are advising applicants it’s only us who will contact you and you have no rights to contact us. I have all of these things in written what I am saying here. The biggest problem with them (Immigration Department) is that they are only assuming things not speaking with people, or going through proper evidences. For example in our case, Director of Brisbane Immigration Office assumed and phoned me to my work number especially when I have sent him one email earlier requesting for the best time to speak so that I should give him a call, he called me straightforwardly and started speaking. I was not comfortable but I spoke to him but then again second time he did the same thing and not even asked me if I am available to speak to him. He just went on and on and on uninterruptedly. Luckily I was in a meeting and put him on speaker so that everyone can listen what he is saying but he was yelling, screaming, bullying, harassing and intimidating me.

Look even after all these experiences, I still believe in Australian law and system and we all should always because these are just few people who are doing completely unacceptable things and as I said earlier not all Australians.

Please note, If you believe Department of Immigration and Citizenship is doing something completely unacceptable please note:

-Try not to go to Migration Agents, always and ALWAYS go to Lawyers or to a reputed Migration firm…
- You MUST speak to your local MP or/ and discuss your problems, case with as many people as you can. Don’t forget to speak to International Student Care Unit as they provides excellent Information and assistance.
- Always write down every single detail call-time, email, letters sent to Department or to anyone and everyone else, discussion you had with them, name of the officers because they will not provide these details to you again and you will need this for launching your case in MRT or High Court wherever applicable speak to your lawyers as they know about these things.

PLEASE NOTE: Don't forget to record all conversations if you can through the record function on your mobiles, all Interviews and discussions. This works even if you hold your mobile next to the receiver of your land line phone. All you have to do when the phone rings is to say "Excuse me for a minute" and start recording the conversation.

- Please note, if your application has been rejected, you have only a very limited time to appeal in MRT (Migration Review Tribunal) A VERY LIMITED TIME!!! Speak to your lawyers immediately when you get rejection letters. Sometimes only 7 days - depends upon your case!!!
- Like in my brother’s case, I believe Injustice has been done so I have complaint in Global feedback unit, Ombudsman, to Minister etc… you can do it as-well but speak to your lawyers before taking any action.

**********************************************************************************

Please note: If you have any questions or concerns, I can’t give you any legal advise at all but I can refer you to reputed Lawyers. Please don’t consider this post as a legal advise but just only sharing my life experiences and some general Information as I have seen very few platforms which are actually helping students at this stage but I can understand your pain and sufferings, and your circumstances.

Disclaimer: Only the general suggestions and my own experiences with the Department of Immigration and Citizenship are shared here in this post. Please don’t consider this post or any part of it as a legal advice or information and always speak to a reputed Lawyer/s and Migration firms to discuss your case.

It was my dream to drive BMW in Australia: Dreams shattered and life ruined - The truth of Australia

2010-10-14T13:42:00.000-07:00

It was my dream to drive BMW in Australia: Dreams shattered and life ruined – The truth of Australia.

Please note: This is a true story of another genuine student who came to Australia in 2008 and now leaving the country this Sunday. He expressed his unbearable pain and frustrations with me. My heart was crying listening his side of story and going through all evidences he was showing me to prove his genuineness and innocence.

Met with this student day before yesterday after three years. I remember, I met him first time when he was working with my brother in Axilleon cakes five days in a week, four hours each day to complete his 900 hours of volunteer work-experience back in 2007-2008. Never thought at that time that we will meet again in such circumstances and unfavorable conditions and especially when he will be leaving Australia for forever this Sunday 17th of October.

His name is Vishal Gupta; he arrived in Australia on 9th of November 2006 under a student visa to pursue his studies in Della international college in two years of diploma in Patisserie. His student visa was valid up to 31st of December 2008.

He completed his course on time and then got state sponsorship approval and applied for Permanent Residency. He got his bridging visa in December 2008 from the Immigration Department.

He started living in Perth because that was the visa condition to live in Western Australia for two years.

After one and half years he got a call from Donna Rowe – the investigator appointed by Department of Immigration and Citizenship and she asked him to give an interview on phone regarding his TRA work-experience, He got surprised about the call because he thought it was for letting him know about his permanent residency as he has genuinely worked at Axilleon and completed his 900 hours of work experience.

Donna asked him the same questions again and again over the phone and then she said his PR application will be rejected, IT SOUNDED TO HIM IT WAS PREDECIEDED DECISION, which she was just announcing to him then she also said she is sending him a letter, which then came after about 5 months. Vishal tried his best to answer all questions which she was asking but he was certain she is not listening to anything and was just pretending to assist him with this inquiry and was very adamant to declare her judgments and unwise decisions.

He also clearly told her that his employers, his colleagues will give evidences about his genuineness but no-one considered it. For Donna and other Investigators these were never the evidences. (As I have recorded all their conversations, which I have all-ready submitted to my lawyers and other officials about how this whole Investigations and decision-process has been conducted).

Then Vishal got a call from his registered Immigration agent on 1st of July 2008 that she has received a letter from immigration about his PR application and they are asking them to reply within 28 days.

He got extremely sick after hearing the inaccurate decision of the Department – According to him no one listened to him and especially not the Investigators and Immigration Department, He was going through extreme level of tensions and frustrations he even went to see his doctor. Doctor did admit that he was going through high tension-level and gave him medical certificates which he sent to his case officer but anyways he replied to the letter.

Then he got a decision letter from his case officer that his PR application has been rejected. They did not give him any satisfactory reasons that why it has been rejected. In his refusal letter they mentioned his TRA has been cancelled but then he spoke to TRA department and they said, it’s valid for his life-time and his TRA has not been cancelled at all.

Then Vishal thought he will go to MRT because as knows he was genuinely working over there at bakery and he was confident enough that if he will fight, he will win.

He was going on a right track until his migration agent suggested him not to apply for MRT but apply for student visa in its place.

Vishal told his Migration Agent that he only has 21 days to apply for MRT, but Migration Agent said don't worry about it and if his student visa will be rejected he will still get another 28 days to appeal in MRT. He got these assurances again and again from his registered migration agent. He paid him $2000 for his assistance.

He thought he is his migration agent, he is charging him to represent him in MRT and in front of Department of Immigration and Citizenship and as he is REGISTERED with immigration department so he must be right and he trusted him for all what he was doing for him.

He (Migration Agent) applied his student visa on 30th of August and got reply on Vishal’s student visa from Department suggesting that he has applied an invalid application on 1st of September but he didn't care to call Vishal and to let him know about it at all.

Vishal went to his office again on 8th of September and then he told him that unfortunately his student visa has got cancelled and then he said to him he has another appointment on the same day with his case officer who rejected his student visa and the Migration Agent is sure that he is doing the right thing and department is doing the wrong things.

VISHAL QUESTIONED HIM ON WHICH VISA HE WAS ON NOW, HE SAID BRIDGING VISA - A. When he was not. He was again lying to him and taking advantage of his innocence and inexperience in Australian Immigration laws.

His Migration Agent then also said that when any application gets rejected immigration department will always give 28 days to stay on current visa and the tiem to apply in MRT again.

Vishal left his office unenthusiastically and thought before his Migration Agent was promising him that he will get his student visa and now he is saying completely something else, He thought he should call immigration department and ask them straightforwardly.

He called Immigration department and the officer there said to him that he is not on any kind of visa and his visa status is illegal in Australia, HE GOT SHOCKED.

He went to Immigration office same day and the officer in compliance department gave him bridging visa E under a condition that he will depart Australia this Sunday.

He booked his tickets, packaged his bags and was ready to leave when he read my article on www.hellooz.com about how Investigators, Immigration Officials, and Migration Agents are taking advantages of innocent students and contacted me. I visited him yesterday, spoke to Indian consulate, and discussed the matter with International Students Care Services and then with many other reputed lawyers and barristers. He discussed all his evidences, showed all his evidences and everyone was feeling sorry for him – about his experiences and about how he has been abused, humiliated by Australian system.

The first thing he asked me was, I loved Australia; I love its people, why they all have treated me this way? I tried to tell him that Australia also has many good people as-well but he was deeply hurt, angry and helpless. He started telling me how his dream was to drive a BMW in Australia, open an import-export business in Australia, he also discussed how he was sincerely in love with an Australian girl but did not want to use her for residency and told her that he will only marry her when he will get his residency.

He also discussed that how much he love his family back in India, about all his brothers and sisters that how much they all love him, care about him but then he paused for a while and started crying and expressed his feelings that how he missed a brother like me here in Australia. How he has been treated and used by all these people. He questioned me, you have worked in Universities and Institutes have you seen the same thing? Is it happened only with me? I don’t know what to answer him. I have no answers if truth to be told. I am also very frustrated that how these young people have been treated by almost everyone in Australia. They come here; they spent the most precious years of their lives here and what they get from the system? – An unfair, completely autocratic, confused and corrupt system.

He requested to everyone from lawyers to Indian consulate to International Student Care Services that he is a genuine student who has completed his work-experience and all other requirements, please don’t play with his life and consider his application. He only did what has been advised to him and nothing illegal. He is not illegible, his parents have sent him to Australia with many hopes and dreams – which he believes have been shattered and his life has been ruined. He has no information why all of this has happened to him.

He again requested to help him with tears in his eyes and with false hopes that Government may consider his application again and realize what they have done with one young man, his family and with all his friends in Australia.

I personally believe after hearing his story that Australian Government has blood on its hands and one day they all have to answer to the world not just to India about the atrocities and racism they are doing especially with Indian origin people. I don’t know how god let these things happen; I don’t know…I am having so many unanswered questions in my mind – why Vishal paid for the incorrect suggestions given by a registered migration agent with MARA, why his evidences were not considered and why he has got no assistance from the local government.

I am very confused and questioning myself – why I came to this country? Why I witnessed all this? And will it stop… but when?

The story of Injustice and Racism in Australia: Indian students humiliated, victimized and racially abused: Part 1: My brother’s story.

2010-10-08T14:26:00.000-07:00

Please note: This is my email to the Minister of Immigration and Citizenship about my brother's case. The email was forwarded to a Manager of Brisbane Immigration office but they simply refused to assist me in any inquiry.

I have requested to submit all the evidences pictures, videos, recordings, references, statutory declarations to the Department but I have been advised, department don't have time to go through these documents and neither treat these documents as evidences. I have been asked to submit OHS Forms, Insurance certificates and Worksafe documents as proof – which in my 12 years of career, I have never signed by myself and no-where these documents were written as requirements for those who have to complete their volunteer work for 900 hours.

I was so fed-up with everyone that I started recording everyone from Investigators to Immigration Officials to everyone else and now I have all the evidences with me about the Injustice and racism in Australia.

We have all-ready submitted the following documents to Immigration Department:

· His work-experience · Confirmation letter of his duties and responsibilities · Advanced Diploma course in Patisserie · Certificate IV Occupational health & Safety from NSCA · Positive TRA Assessment results after department conducted his interview · Hours and the time he worked at his workplace – Sign in register · All the photographs while he worked there at the bakery · My support to the applicant under subclass 886 Skilled – Sponsored · Three Interviews face to face and without any video recording after many genuine requests to the Investigators · Two telephone Interviews for each for almost an hour · Complete assistance to all inquiries and investigations department conduced

Step 1: Studies & TRA

Raminder (The applicant) came to Australia on 6^th October, 2006 on a student visa to study Advanced Diploma of Hospitality Management – THH60202 and as a requirement of TRA – 900 hours of volunteer work-experience was required outside the classroom environment.

It was advised by the Immigration Department to me in early January, 2007 on phone that the work-experience for the purpose of skills assessment may be obtained before, during or after the course and the volunteer work experience to complete 900 hours will be considered by skills assessing authority.

I also confirmed this from Australian Immigration Law Services and Australian Migration & Visa Lawyers and from many other reputed law-firms. We have been advised by almost everyone from Immigration Department to lawyers that there are no other conditions applicable on 900 hours of work-experience.

Raminder started his studies on 29^th January, 2007 and as according to the criteria set by Government itself found a volunteer job on 24^th of February, 2007 which was just after one month of his studies. I drive him to work many times and on a regular basis discussed his progress with him.

Q1: My first question to the Decision-makers is how could you expect from someone who has entered into a completely different field and setup of hospitality or any other Industry from a different country and non-English speaking background to perform all his duties as an expert chef or supervisor without even successfully completing his hospitality course?

Nevertheless he learnt all what he could from cakes, biscuits, pies, pastry, to fillings and after successfully completing his studies plus more than 900 hours of volunteer experiences. He (Raminder) applied for TRA; his application got rejected on the basis of unsupervised work and knowledge of Occupational health and safety. He studied his Certificate IV in Occupational Health and Safety – BSB41407 from NSCA and proved competent in all the TRA requirements and got his TRA.

Q2: I need to know when his TRA was assessed have not they checked and confirmed his education background, work-references, 900 hours of volunteer work experience and then they advised his outcome or TRA department and processing have/ had no significance?

I believe, a department is there to make sure Government’s policies and procedures are implemented in the approved manner or not and if a department is not doing their duties as they suppose to do there is no reason to have it at the first place.

Step 2: Investigations

This is the most distressing, unethical, not at all in conformity with facts or truths - part of the whole journey for us.

Raminder completed his Advanced Diploma of Hospitality Management – THH60202 and launched his permanent residency application as on subclass 886 on 24^th May, 2009. It was not at all said and implemented that every student has to work in his field of studies after applying their residency or by completing 900 hours of volunteer work-experiences.

On 31^st of January, 2010, Raminder received a telephone call from “An Officer” at the Department of Immigration and Citizenship”. She took his initial Interview on phone and called him again after few days and spoke to him for half an hour to forty five minutes and then requested him to come for an Interview as a part of ongoing Investigation Officer also advised, his Migration Agent, Toni Hamilton SMITH can’t accompany him because he is also under investigation as they (Department of Immigration & citizenship) believe he (Toni) has helped Raminder in getting these work experience certificates. Toni (Migration Agent) advised his colleague Frank will go with Raminder. Raminder or I have never met Frank before.

Last week of February, 2010 on the day of Investigation, the Officer who called Raminder got sick but she did not care to Inform Raminder about it, Raminder waited for few minutes with Frank at reception and then his case was given to Donna and her colleagues. When Investigators started questioning Frank also started compelling Raminder to compromise with the Department. Which Raminder said, why he would and he was in utter shock hearing what Frank was also telling him to do for no-reasons.

Investigators did not ask him many questions on the first Interview which was not video-recorded and when he came home he discussed with me all what happened. I took leave from my work next day and went with him to see Frank. He has opened his Migration business with another colleague. Frank charged Raminder approximately $700 a day for the Investigation hearing.

When I met with Frank and his friend, I asked him that if he were in doubts why he did not confirm from Raminder before going into the Investigation with him? On what grounds Raminder compromise? And what he knows about his case?

He was completely blank but started telling me how he had bad experiences in the past from Indians. After hearing his discussion, I told him, to be very honest and upfront you know nothing about Raminder’s case and I have no information why Toni had so much faith on you. I also told him every case is different and he needs to learn and respect Individuals not because of their nationality or race and make a general judgment especially in his occupation.

The same day, I went to see Toni Hamilton SMITH and expressed my feelings; I took the case in my own hands because I knew the genuineness of Raminder. I also sent him many emails regarding this experience.

I took appointments with many lawyers and Migration Agents and spoke to them regarding my Brother’s case, they all advised me they can’t do anything until Department don’t tells us the final decision or we have to pay them the whole fees to apply for Permanent Residency to handle this case. It was the worst time of my career-life as-well as I was racially and psychologically abused at my workplace and we were not sure how we will arrange all these expenses.

It was then, I took the case in my hands and called, Donna to confirm why my brother has been subjected to all this inquiries and dragged into all-this. She said, you have to come to Department with your brother for another Interview and she can’t assist us on telephone.

We went for second Interview on Tuesday 30^th March, 2010 at Morning 10:00 AM. In the starting of the Interview, I requested them why this Interview is not video-recorded? They said, it is just a casual chat and they don’t find any reasons for recording this conversation. I found it quite unprincipled and incorrect exercise of their rights and positions.

Donna was with her colleague and questioned Raminder:

- Why he did not know all the answers of his TRA assessments?

He explained them that it was his first Interview in his life but he answered as many questions as he could but he also admitted he knew some of the answers were completely incorrect but he was very nervous even from the name of the Interview and he was not realizing what he is was speaking as answers for some of their 1 to 1.5 hours of Interview but then he also explained he got the successful result from the same department, who believes he is competent in all his duties and responsibilities.

- When he knew all the names of staff members, why he does not know the relations between them?

Raminder again repeated the names of every staff member but then colleague of Donna questioned who Tina’s husband is? Raminder knew it is Costa but he was not very sure, if they are married or live-in relation. Even Donna contradict her colleague and said, when he knew the staff, she does not think it is important for him to ask for relationships between them and at the same time, I told them look, I worked with University of Ballarat/ MIT for 4 years and never knew both of my managers are real sisters.

- Then the colleague of Donna said, they have substantial proof that Raminder’s experience is not genuine. We requested to see it. They showed us a template and said they have found it from 900+ other applicants.

My brother (Raminder) then told them, give us a computer and he will show them the email sent to us by our Migration Agent, Toni Hamilton SMITH on Nov 10, 2008 with the template which we have given to the owner of the bakery and we have no idea how that has been circulated (if it has).

- They said can we bring some other evidences for them especially a “Statutory Declaration” from the employer of the business.

We went to see Tina Gallons and requested them if she can give us a “Statutory Declaration”, she said she has no problems with it if Government officials will give this in writing. I discussed this with Donna, she said on phone have you kept a record of time he (Raminder) worked there. We said, yes we have kept for our records. She said can you bring it for them to see? It was all-ready afternoon, we went home, took the original records with us with print-out of the email and template they have suggested us, this whole Investigation is in point of fact is based upon.

We went to Immigration Department around 1:30 PM for third Interview on 30^th March, 2010, Again it was not video recorded and Donna’s colleague was changed.

We submitted the records. They took the originals and given us back the photocopies. We also told them we have videos, photos, recordings while Raminder worked at the Bakery Shop.

They said, they don’t consider these as facts and you (Raminder & I) have to bring something else to prove your (Raminder’s) genuineness. My brother requested what other documents, they said, this is something you have to think about what other documents you can bring to us.

- At this stage, they also suggested they can offer Raminder a choice of showing 900 hours of volunteer work experience from a different bakery from now onwards.

My brother said, why he should go through all the required stages and processes which he has all-ready completed as a genuine applicant. They said, well it is your choice.

- Then they again questioned him what other proofs he can submit to prove his genuineness other than videos, pics, references, qualifications, recordings, experience-letters which he has all-ready submitted or requested to submit because they believe these things can easily be organized?

Raminder answered, look I can call my employer in front of you and you can hear what she will say or you can call her on his behalf and hear what she has to say on his genuineness. Investigators said, they will call her and put her in jail when they will have all the proofs and evidences.

Raminder then said, it was not just my brother but many of his friends and my friends have also seen him working there during this time-period but Investigators said they can only believe

someone from the Bakery where he has worked and completed his 900 hours of work-experience.

I intervened and said, look what do you expect him to say and why should he say that what they want to listen and why they are not considering any facts or information at all or even giving the opportunity to him (reminder) to express himself?

Her colleague said, they have found 900+ people majority from India doing incorrect things. I corrected there and then and said I have no information of how many people have done the wrong things because I have no privilege to check or judge your gathered Information but if someone has done the wrong thing, it is some people and not wise to say Indians and every nation and religion have good and bad people but Raminder is a genuine applicant who has genuinely worked and completed his 900 hours of work-experience.

Investigators advised they will send all the Information to the case-officer of my brother with all the assistance and documents provided to them during all these Interviews with them. I said when we should hear from them, they said there is no time for this Investigation as it’s an ongoing process and the time-period could be inestimable. I just could not believe myself about what is happening to us and why it is happening to us.

The discussion ended there but we left the Immigration Building with really very heavy heart and mind with thousands unanswered questions in our minds.

Q3: Why all three Interviews were not video recorded even after our requests?

Q4: Why we have been advised, Department don’t consider videos, pics, references, qualifications, recordings, experience-letters?

Q5: Which other documents they were expecting us to submit then all of these mentioned above?

Q6: Why they call us for Interviews, when they were not ready to listen to us and were adamant to give us their decision?

Q7: Why Raminder should go through 900 hours of process when he has successfully completed and submitted all the requirements to the Government at that time?

Q8: Why they did not consider the template and email we have submitted as a proof that we have not got it from anyone else but it was given by Raminder to the employer of the Bakery in my presence?

Q9: What they have found against Raminder that they are humiliating him this way?

Q10: What documents were required to apply for residency at the time of application made and which document is fraudulent or incorrect?

I found throughout the Interview that they were not even allowing him (Raminder) to speak. They were uninterruptedly asking him questions after questions after question. We were very confused that if you don’t even listen to us why you have called us for an Interview?

The Investigations-part ended here but it did enough emotional and psychological damage.

Step 3: Case-Officer’s Decision

We all were waiting for the decision, but we were sure all the facts, evidences, and discussions would be considered before the final judgment would be made by the case-officer.

One day I came to know about the former Immigration Minister’s idea on Visa-cap on Migrant numbers and I was shocked and stunned because it means cap and cease all applications and affirm that the applications have never been made. I honestly was very frightened for all the International students and their future, especially those who have all-ready launched a genuine visa-application according to all the set guidelines and criteria’s.

I thought to inquire about my Brother’s case as the last discussion which we had with the Department was in April, 2010. I called Immigration Department and have been advised that there is no case-officer allotted to his case and I should keep patience.

I spoke with one of the Immigration lawyers and he suggested after hearing all my story, I should send Immigration Department a Statutory Declaration to strong his case as he has been sponsored by an Australian citizen and as I have witnessed all what has happened until this point.

I sent the “Statutory Declaration” on 21^st July, 2010 with clearly mentioning if you need Statutory Declarations and/or evidences from others, please let me know. I did not hear at all from Department about this email.

On 23^rd of July, 2010 I got an email from “Case Officer: Anthony Brown”, It was sent to us by brisbane.gsm.documents@immi.gov.au email address where no contact details or email ID was mentioned of the case-officer.

I called the Department the same day, the officer asked me the file number and then put me on hold. He did not answer even after one hour. I was in my office with other staff members so I had no other options than to cancel the call and then call some other time but I attached the same “Statutory Declaration” sent on 21^st July, 2010 and replied to the email.

I discussed it with my brother and my wife (though parents were still not aware), they all were awfully disheartened.

There was again no answer from the Department for many days so I called Department’s help-line on 30^th July 2010 and requested that I would like to speak to Anthony Brown but I have been advised he can’t speak to me at the moment but he will give me a call back on 3^rd August at 1:00 PM.

On 3^rd of August, I was in a meeting with many other staff members when around 11:50 AM I got a call from Catherine, supervisor of Anthony who said she is calling on Anthony’s behalf. I was really uncomfortable speaking at that time but considering the significance of the issue, I spoke to her.

She discussed the gravity of the issue and I said, Raminder has genuinely worked at the Bakery and we have all-ready submitted all the proofs and evidences and I have also submitted Statutory Declaration and as I was about to say that if she wants others who have seen him working in the bakery can also do it but she refused to accept any “Statutory Declarations” and requested to submit some other documents.

I questioned what other documents you can bring to prove his (Raminder’s) genuineness; she said you can submit, OHS Documents or forms, Insurance Documents, WorkSafe documents. I told her in my 12 years of career and out of which almost 6 years are in Australia, I have not signed these documents and these were never the requirements of skilled migration application even we all know WorkSafe has changed its regulations recently in July, 2010 and how could you expect these documents from the applicants who have launched their applications in 2009 or prior to 2009?

She said well then the decision will be taken on the basis of the Information which we have, which we have had no idea.

I was not very happy after this discussion with Catherine because according to me she was again not listening to me at all and was only adamant to declare her judgment but I thanked her for her time she took to call me to discuss the case.

I discussed the whole case in a detailed manner with local M.P Ms Maria Vamvakinou MP on 22^nd August, 2010 and she advised me to speak to her staff Tasneem Chopra who will be able to assist me in this case.

Tasneem tried to contact Department on numerous occasions (as according to her) but she has been suggested by the Department that she is not the authorized recipient and they couldn’t discuss the case with her. She advised me this in the morning on 8^th of September, 2010 that she has to be the authorized recipient to receive Information from the Department but she also said, Department has advised her that they will send me a reply today but what I got from the Department was an email stating “At present your application is undergoing routine processing. Unfortunately, ensuring all the legal requirements are met in relation to an application can take some time.”

I was not able to control myself at this occasion; I sent an email to Department to confirm “Expression of Comment” letter has been sent on 23^rd of July, 2010 and more than 28 days, have been passed and still we have had no answers from the Department and I can’t control myself on this occasion and requested the Department if they can share the Information with Tasneem if she will be an authorized recipient.

I got an email just after one hour of the first email stating the Application has been refused because

“During investigations conducted by DIAC, over 200 fraudulent work references on Axilleon Cakes letterhead and showing the name of the owner of the business where located in the possession of an intermediary known for providing fraudulent work references. The intermediary stated to DIAC staff that the owner of the business was paid $300 per work reference, on the basis that the owner would confirm work references as genuine if approached by government departments. The intermediary stated work references were provided to applicants with no work having been completed at Axilleon Cakes. The intermediary stated some students may have attended Axilleon Cakes, however the purpose of this would only have been to familiarise themselves with the business set-out and process.”

I was really annoyed and very angry that why all of this has happened to us after being genuine applicant and perplexed with the thoughts is it happens to every other applicant?

I wrote to the Department and CC-ed email to many Media Channels including The Age, The Telegraph, The Hindu, and India Today etc... On 09^th of September, 2010. I got their responses and telephone calls to share the whole story with them.

When my wife, brother and few other friends came to know about it, they said they think I should discuss it with Minister of Immigration, Australia before making things public. I wrote to Immigration Minister first on 10^th of September, 2010 when Chris Evans was minister and then again on 12^th of September when Chris Bowen became minister.

Now my questions are from Case-officer’s decision are:

Q11: Why the case-officer did not give me his contact details when I was the authorized recipient in my Brother’s case? I had to either call the department or wait for hours or I had to send emails to the general email address.

Q12: Why the Department of Immigration and Citizenship has not called the owner of the bakery directly to verify the details in the whole process?

Q13: Why we have not been informed the time-frame of any processing’s?

Q14: Why we have been advised “Statutory Declarations” will not be considered as evidence to prove the genuineness of the visa applicant?

Q15: On which website, Government documentation the requirements and guidelines have been written about where to work, how to work, how to prove your genuineness, what documents to submit, what evidences will be considered?

Q16: How you save students from frauds and what help do you provide to International students?

Q17: Most importantly, why you have treated my brother the most unmerciful way? You need to let us know the proper reasons because we have not just spent our money, we have spent our life, hopes and dreams in Australia.

Q18: We had no information what documents have been taken into consideration to give the final decision?

Being a senior lecturer in many colleges and universities, I have seen enough things happening with students by the colleges, these Migration agents who have opened their businesses, and I can’t imagine it from the Immigration Department.

I believe, you are one of the most responsible departments who are answerable to all Australians for whatever you are doing and as a Citizen of Australia, and an authorized recipient of my Brother, I am waiting to hear from you the concerns I have discussed with you.

I don’t really understand – what are you doing and why you are not thinking that all of these applicants could be genuine with valid applications as-well and your decision will ruin not just their lives but of course of their families as-well. They have spent the most productive years of their age in Australia and have only done what the system has advised them.

According to my opinion, it is not just unconstitutional; it is inhuman and sheer insult of trust and confidence of all those people like us who have faith and trust on Australian Law & Order and Immigration Department.

Now my final questions are:

Q19: What would you like to hear from us as a proof that Raminder genuinely worked at the bakery shop and completed his 900 hours?

Q20: Why we go through MRT, wait for a year or more to hear the decision on his case – when we have not got justice from you?

I am sincerely waiting to hear from you. I hope you can understand our frustration, pain and anger and also difficulties telling this to our old age parents who have spent so much to sent us here and have high hopes from us.

Many thanks.

With kindest regards,

Sukh Sandhu

Australian gov't vows to stamp out abuse of foreign student system

2010-09-25T06:39:00.000-07:00

Australian government pledged on Tuesday it would not tolerate abuses of the system governing the education of foreign students in Australia.

Concerns about Australia's third-biggest export industry have reignited after an investigation by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation 's Four Corners program claimed some colleges and migration agents are ripping off foreign students.

The claims follow recent fiery debate sparked by violence against international students, especially Indians.

Australian Foreign Minister Stephen Smith insisted the government was taking action to stamp out abuses of the system.

"The cracking down so far as the migration agents' regulatory arrangements are concerned will assist in that process, just as the efforts that we've been making together with the Indian government," he said.

However, the Migration Institute of Australia believes a lack of policing of the industry is the issue, not regulation.

"The big issue, I think, facing us at the moment isn't so much the people that are currently regulated, but what we haven't got is any real action when someone steps outside of the regulatory framework and is acting illegally," the institute's chief executive Maureen Horder told Australian Broadcasting Corporation Radio.

"I think successive governments have been tardy in policing the lack of compliance in the migration advice field," she said.

Source: Xinhua

Australia's "education destination" standing threatened

2010-09-25T06:34:00.000-07:00

Education is Australia's third largest export, worth around $AUD15 billion each year, but for overseas students it is also a way of gaining residency in Australia.

Australia's immigration programme is largely based on a points system and some occupations score more points, making it easier to settle in Australia.

However the economic downturn, combined with recent attacks on foreign students and collapse of some private colleges, means Australia's standing as an education destination is under threat.

Presenter: Michael Cavanagh
speakers Maureen Horder, Executive Officer for the Migration Institute of Australia
http://www.radioaustralia.net.au

Most international students go home: TDA

2010-08-10T02:48:00.000-07:00

While officials rail against an education-migration ‘nexus’, they’re unfairly connecting the two in the processing of student visas, according to the peak TAFE body.

Political parties should keep migration issues out of the regulation of student visas, according to TAFE Directors Australia (TDA), with new research suggesting around one in ten international students at TAFE colleges seriously pursue permanent residency.

TDA is also calling for public and private VET to be treated differently in the processing of student visas.

TDA’s survey, conducted late last year, covered over 5500 international students from all major source countries studying at 36 TAFE institutes.

According to TDA, 40 per cent said living and studying in Australia had been a factor in their choice of college, and 30 per cent said the possibility of migration had also been a factor.

“But towards the end of their courses, when they were asked what they planned to do, only 13 per cent said they’d apply for permanent residency,” said TDA’s director of international engagement, Peter Holden.

Holden said 29 per cent of the respondents had attributed their choice of college to the reputation of Australia’s education system. He said 24 per cent had cited family in Australia, with cost motivating 21 per cent and the institute’s reputation attracting 18 per cent.

“The take-home message, from a TAFE perspective, is that international students come here for the educational experience,” Holden said.

“A small percentage are interested in pursuing permanent migration. But TAFE is not selling permanent migration; we’re selling the education experience.”

Holden acknowledged that some students may not have disclosed their migration intentions. However, the TDA research is consistent with other surveys which have shown that while significant proportions of international students consider migration, relatively few act on it.

The International Education Association of Australia said that while there had been 630,000 international students in Australia last year, just 65,000 had migrated.

Despite this, Holden said TAFEs are suffering from “an overreaction from various government policies” designed to curb migration and visa fraud.These included the generally higher risk assessment levels assigned to VET students compared to those seeking university visas.

Holden said this was largely due to the risk associated with private colleges. “The problem we’re facing at the moment is to be clearly differentiated in the VET sector,” he said. He said TDA had asked the immigration department “to consider separating private and public in terms of establishing risk assessment levels”.

However the Australian Council for Private Education and Training has rejected private-public distinctions, saying only a small proportion of private colleges have failed.

Holden said that while TAFEs attracted only a small part of the international VET market, any decline in enrolments could still impact on planning, budgets and staff.

He said signals from the other sectors indicated TAFEs could expect a 30 per cent slump in enrolments this year.

“I’m starting to get feedback that the number of students attending information sessions is dropping dramatically.”

And while international income was important, it wasn’t just about dollars.

“It’s important that our institutes are internationally recognised. Part of that is to have international students studying at TAFE. It’s about being promoted as international organisations.”

TDA CEO Martin Riordan said the pressure was on 2011 enrolments because of the strengthening dollar, aggressive overseas competition and cutbacks to skilled migration.

“Unless we’re careful, political leaders may unwittingly threaten a major Australian industry, and income which has supported infrastructure, services and jobs for lecturers and ancillary staff.”

by John Ross for http://www.campusreview.com.au

AIR INDIA TO FLY DIRECT DAILY BETWEEN MELBOURNE AND DELHI

2010-07-22T14:33:00.000-07:00

Victoria is the first state to have secured India’s national airline to fly daily direct services between Melbourne and Delhi in a significant move that will further strengthen trade and cultural ties between Victoria and India.

Premier John Brumby and Industry and Trade Minister Jacinta Allan today signed a deal with Air India to fly daily direct services between Melbourne and Delhi out of Melbourne Airport, starting from 1 November this year.

Mr Brumby said Air India’s decision to make Melbourne the destination for its first direct international flights to Australia was recognition of Victoria being Australia’s premier destination for Indian tourists and businesses.

“Air India will also be establishing their regional headquarters in Melbourne. This Air India deal will create up to 78 jobs and see up to 123,000 new tourist and business arrivals from India to Victoria each year,” Mr Brumby said.

“This significant move is in part due to the strong ties Victoria shared with India. With daily direct flights between Melbourne and Delhi we expect these ties to become even stronger as more Indian tourists and businesspeople discover Victoria, and more Victorians discover India.”

Mr Brumby said data from Tourism Research Australia late last year showed a 17.4 percent increase in visitors from India to Victoria in the year to March 2010.

“Victoria and India share common interests in cricket, international education, film and trade,” Mr Brumby said.

“With a growing Indian community living here in Victoria we are also seeing more relatives and friends visit Victoria which is great for local jobs and the economy as tourism grows.”

Ms Allan said Air India’s arrival in Victoria highlighted the competitive strengths of Melbourne Airport compared to its interstate equivalents.

“Melbourne Airport is Australia’s major around-the-clock, curfew-free international airport, accommodating international carriers at about half the operating cost incurred at Sydney,” she said.

“The airline is now one of 560 aviation and aerospace companies operating across Victoria, which collectively employ around 22,000 people and combined with the Tourism sector generate approximately $20 billion of economic activity for the state each year.”

Source: The Premier of Victoria

Skilled occupation lists for migrants to shrink

2010-05-17T01:19:00.000-07:00

Cooks and hairdressers are just two of the 219 occupations to be struck off the list of valued vocations under Australia's skill migration program.

SKILLED MIGRANT OCCUPATION LIST

A new skilled occupation list has been devised as the federal government cracks down on people seeking permanent residency through low-value education courses.

Developed by Skills Australia, an independent body, the list has slashed the number of occupations deemed to be highly valued from 400 to 181.

Other occupations to disappear from the list include acupuncturists, private dance teachers, illustrators, piano tuners, journalists and naturopaths.

Immigration and Citizenship Minister Chris Evans said the list would ensure Australia's skilled migration program is demand-driven rather than supply-driven.

"Through a targeted migration program, the Rudd government will attract skilled migrants of the highest calibre and deliver people with real skills to meet real need in our economy," Senator Evans said in a statement.

The new list would close the door on those trying to manipulate the migration system, Senator Evans said.

Only people with relevant occupations in the new list will be eligible for independent general skilled migration.

"International students who have the skills our economy needs will still be able to apply for permanent migration or be nominated by employers but we will no longer accept the thousands of cooks and hairdressers who applied under the guidelines established by the Howard government," Senator Evans said.

People who completed short courses in vocations including cooking and hairdressing and had poor English skills were almost assured of gaining permanent residence as a skilled migrant under the previous government, the minister said.

More than 5000 of the 41,000 general skilled visas granted in 2007-08 were granted to cooks and hairdressers, and three quarters of them had formerly studied in Australia.

Both occupations have been struck off the new list.

Skills Australia had sought advice from industry skills councils and peak industry bodies to make sure the list contained occupations Australia needs in the medium to long term, Senator Evans said.

Young Australians should be trained and given the chance to fill existing job vacancies first but there were some occupations for which there was not enough trained people, he said.

"Hospitals can't go without nurses, country towns can't do without a local GP and the resources sector increasingly needs skills."

The new framework is proposed to come into effect on July 1 and will be updated each year.

People who have already applied for visas under the general skilled migration program would not be affected by the implementation of the new list.

Source: AAP

Student Exploitation: Overseas Students paying $30,000 to $1,00,000 for Canadian Visa from Australia

2010-03-18T14:04:00.000-07:00

Soma Joseph had come here from India with big dreams but a year after her arrival she is in a state of disarray.

Hoping for greener pasture, the woman from Kottayam in Kerala, who worked as a nurse in Saudi Arabia earlier, had come here last year as a student with her husband Biju. She had taken admission to Community Welfare course in Melbourne International College, a private institute.

She continued her studies and also worked in a nursing home while Biju worked in a restaurant. Soma had expected that she would work in community welfare sector after completing the course and would get Permanent Residency (PR).

However, her dreams were shattered after the Australian government changed the PR policy, taking off community welfare from the priority list. The government has also closed down the Melbourne International College for lack of facilities. Adding to her woes, Biju met with an accident and suffered from brain injury.

"It is a life and death situation for me here. Now my hope for PR looks faded. My husband has been ailing and I do not have money to support the family," she told reporters here.

Anita Nair, India's Consulate General in Melbourne, said that Soma's case is just tip of the iceberg. Thousands of Indian students are caught in such situation as their dream for PR seems to have vanished.

Nair said Soma is being provided help by certain Indian organisations and Catholic society.

The Australian government has changed its PR policy by dropping Community Service, Cookery and Hair Dressing from the priority list. This means students pursuing these courses will face difficulty in getting PR.

Most of these students take loan to pursue higher studies with the hope that they would pay back once they work in Australia after getting PR.

Nair said that the problem started with the huge influx of Indian students in the last two years. There are about 97,000 Indian students pursuing higher studies in Australia.

The flow of the students increased by 160 percent in 2007 over 2006, while it again increased by 94 percent in last year over 2007.

Majority of them come as students and use the studentship as a fast track to get PR. These students come from small towns and their competence level is poor.

She said the Australian government is to be blamed for the huge influx of sub-standard students from India.

The Australian government has said that changing the PR policy is its prerogative.

"Australia's need for skill changes from time to time. So the PR policy changes," a senior official of Department of Immigration and Citizenship said.

As the Australian Government becomes strict in giving permanent residencies to overseas students, Students have found another destination and its, Canada.

My family members have told me that how they got the shock of their life when they visited a agency running in Australia who claims to give permanent residency to Overseas Students but you need to pay money between $30,000 to $1,00,000 for Canadian PR Visa from Australia.

I believe, Its exploitation of students and I am really concerned about all the poor students who are paying money to such crooks just to settle abroad.

What to do soon after arrival in Australia: list of 8 important things

2007-02-24T03:53:00.000-08:00

Below is a list of 8 important things you should do as soon as possible after arriving in Australia. Tick them off as you do them.

YOUR CHECKLIST

A. Apply for a Tax File Number

It is one of your most important forms of identification in Australia. Your TFN is valuable. A Tax File Number (TFN) is a unique number issued to you by the Australian Taxation Office to assist the Tax Office administer tax and other Australian Government systems.

To apply for TFN, Please click on this link: http://www.ato.gov.au/

A TFN will help you:

lodge a tax return
ask the Tax Office about your tax affairs
start or change jobs
limit the amount of tax you pay on interest of dividends earned if you have savings accounts or investments that earn income.

Apply for a Tax File Number

Do this first. To receive an income in Australia, you need a Tax File Number (TFN).

Income includes wages or salary from a job, payments from the government, and

money earned from investments including interest on savings accounts.

HOW TO APPLY FOR A TAX FILE NUMBER

In Australia, you can telephone the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) and have

an application form sent to you. Alternatively, you can apply for a TFN at the ATO

website 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Forms are also available from ATO or

Centrelink shopfronts which are listed in the White Pages telephone book.

Australian Taxation Office (ATO) contact details

Telephone 13 2861

Apply for a TFN online Online individual TFN registration

In person ATO shopfront locations

Centrelink shopfront locations

ATO website www.ato.gov.au

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B. Register with Medicare

Welcome to Medicare - Australia’s universal health care system. Medicare ensures that all Australians have access to free or low-cost medical, optometrical and hospital care while being free to choose private health services and in special circumstances allied health services.

To apply for Medicare, Please click on this link: http://www.medicareaustralia.gov.au/

Medicare provides benefits for:

consultation fees for doctors, including specialists
tests and examinations by doctors needed to treat illnesses, including X-rays and pathology tests
eye tests performed by optometrists
most surgical and other therapeutic procedures performed by doctors
some surgical procedures performed by approved dentists
specified items under the Cleft Lip and Palate Scheme
specified items for allied health services as part of the Enhanced Primary Care (EPC) program—contact Medicare on 132 011 for more information
You can choose the doctor who treats you for out-of-hospital services.

�

C. Open a bank account

As we all know, A bank account is a financial account with a banking institution, recording the financial transactions between the customer and the bank and the resulting financial position of the customer with the bank.

The best bank in Australia is "The Commonwealth Bank" and the Melbourne CBD branch in Elizabeth-Bourke Street Intersection is famous for providing its great services to its Clients.

The Information regarding, How to apply bank account can be found at; http://www.commbank.com.au/personal/apply-online/apply-now/accounts/

According to Australian Government Website www.immi.gov.au, "In Australia, most income including salary or wages and government benefits are paid directly into a bank account.

You should open a bank account within six weeks of your arrival, as you usually need only your passport as identification. After six weeks you will need extra identification to open an account."

�

D. Register with Centrelink

Centrelink is a Federal Government Statutory Agency which provides financial support to families and individuals to assist them to maintain independence.

Financial assistance is given to students by way of income-tested schemes such as Youth Allowance, ABSTUDY or Austudy. These allowances are usually paid fortnightly during the period of eligibility.

It can also be beneficial to book an appointment to see the Centrelink Social Worker or Disability Officer. They can be a useful resource in navigating a tricky system as they can do a lot of the groundwork for you.

For more Information about Centrelink, Please click on: http://www.centrelink.gov.au/internet/internet.nsf/home/index.htm

�

E. Contact the Health Undertaking Service �

F. Register for English classes �

G. Enrol your children in a school �

H. Apply for a driver’s licence �

Total costs for a Student

2006-02-24T03:55:00.000-08:00

Total costs for a Student

When we have to calculate the total cost of a student studying in Australia we have to taken into consideration few important details about:

Tuition Fees (HECS - HELP)

Text books, equipment & supplies

Computer & Internet

Establishment Costs

Accommodation

Groceries & Food

Utilities - The service (electric power or water or transportation or phone etc…) provided by a public utility)

Public Transport

Entertainment/Other

Ancillary (Furnishing added support – accessories etc…)