The government’s attempts to prevent visa-hopping to favour skilled migrants have instead forced many highly qualified international students to retrain.

Last year, David* came to Australia from China to pursue a master of business information systems at the Australian National University, after completing his undergraduate course in IT. As he fell in love with this country, he began studying Australia’s points-based skilled migration system, hoping to stay. His IT background scored well, as it was on the ACT’s skills shortage list. Provided he secured a job after graduation, he could start his application for a permanent skilled visa. At the time, government policy allowed STEM graduates a five-year post-study work visa, which gave him ample time to gain the required work experience. “I thought there was no way I wouldn’t make it through,” the 23-year-old recalls.

Industry insiders recognise the value of international students pursuing these degrees. Annie Butler, federal secretary of the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Association, says while around 40 per cent of registered nurses and aged-care workers in the current workforce were born overseas, about 80 per cent of them studied nursing in Australia. Cindy Smith, the chief executive of the Australian Association of Social Workers, says international students drawn to social work for skilled migration can “fill critical gaps in our workforce”.

Originally appeared in The Saturday Paper