ME Connect’s Tanaya Das speaks to Steven Gargano, the general manager of multiple hospitality businesses in the heart of Sydney’s eclectic Surry Hills, about what it means to lead an increasingly diverse workforce and what the 457 Visa means to hospitality businesses. As the European migrant crisis intensifies, we in Australia read the same headlines over and over again; from the so called patriots reclaiming what it is to be Aussie to scary headlines claiming businesses prefer 457 Visa holders to local workers. With over 30 years experience in the hospitality industry Steven Gargano currently manages the four-star Cambridge, 3.5-star Abey Hotel and boutique five-star ADGE Apartment; and has won numerous industry awards for the businesses he runs. He is also the recipient of the Multi Property Manager of the Year 2013 for the AAA Awards. With workers from over 10 nationalities working for the properties, Steven says, “diversity and different cultures are excellent. This combination enriches Australian-born Australians, and results in employees being accepting and understanding of dissimilarities and realising that we are all the same because in the end we really are all the same.” Successfully managing an increasingly global workforce requires more than tolerance and respect for different cultures. Gargano thinks it demands ‘good communication or listening attentively’. “Picking up on cues is crucial. Being supportive in what you can do for your employees and genuinely caring about their wellbeing. It is a continuous process; to truly listen to employee needs without being influenced by prejudice to knowing what gives them a better experience and motivates them to come to work,” he adds. Mainstream media as well as trade unions constantly like to claim that businesses are using sponsored workers for ‘cheap labour’; a curious argument when the migration industry knows that, by law, businesses are required to pay the sponsored worker at the local rate. Gargano asserts that 457 Visa holders are not a threat to local jobs, in fact, “in the hospitality industry an international workforce means ideas that make our hotels truly more international and the skilled workforce from overseas invigorates and adds vitality to the industry.” Businesses, big and small, as well as industry bodies keep asserting that 457 Visa arrangements are being used legitimately by employers to meet a genuine gap that currently exists between the number of skilled local workers and the rising demand for skilled labour. Gargano supports the claim. “Most companies are doing the correct thing. We don’t get the right local people applying for jobs. The 457 Visa is extremely important to us. Before we sponsor, we run ads for weeks and months. We would genuinely like to employ without sponsoring, however, we would be handicapped without the 457 Visas.”
Sydney Morning Herald has reported international student colleges are allegedly taking cash kickbacks in return for helping overseas workers and students win Australian visas using fake qualifications. And a Fairfax Media investigation has revealed a college that had already been flagged by another government agency as being involved in education rorts was offered the opportunity to apply for the fast-tracked visa process by the Immigration Department. Immigration offered TK Melbourne Education and Training College to apply for the expedited visa process in March, even though the Australian Skills Quality Authority had weeks earlier found the college to be in “critical non-compliance” with national standards. It was reported that leaked documents revealed that the college has allegedly been providing fake qualifications costing tens of thousands of dollars, a practice that industry sources say is widespread and is often coupled with the exploitation of overseas workers.
The OET and IELTS test English language skills very differently. It is important to note that OET is not any easier than IELTS, but it requires a different knowledge of English. The OET tries to imitate the target workplace and was designed by both health professionals and language experts together. In comparison, IELTS was developed at Cambridge University as a tool for testing English language proficiency for a wide range of purposes (i.e. entry to universities and various professions). It requires a very high level of English and has been termed as the “gold standard” because those who pass must be extremely proficient. However, there is an argument that this type of proficiency is not necessarily relevant to nursing. Patsy Deverall, an examiner for both OET and IELTS, states, “There is a huge intersection between language, culture and communication. IELTS is measure of English proficiency but doesn’t have a cultural component that can assess relationships between people or the cultural mores at play in particular situations with patients.” On the other hand, the OET tests English in a medical context, so it can be said to be of greater benefit to the candidate in their future employment. It is important to remember however, that regardless of whether a candidate sits the OET or IELTS, the Nursing Council may also require a Competency Assessment Programme to be undertaken so that overseas nurses are fully prepared to work. There are other small differences between the two tests: IELTS is substantially cheaper than the OET and is offered more often. This, combined with its established reputation, makes IELTS the more popular choice for most candidates. The OET also has its benefits – if a candidate does not gain a ‘B’ pass in one or more skill areas, they are only required to re-sit those areas (at a lower price depending on how many skill areas need to be tested). Whereas students sitting IELTS must re-sit the entire test if any section is failed. Both tests have their various strong points – IELTS is instantly recognisable worldwide, and the OET can be helpful due to its healthcare context – and passing either of these leads on to medical registration in Australia. Sydney College of English offers preparation courses for both tests and is able to support students in whichever path they choose to gain medical registration in Australia. Want to know more about the OET for Healthcare Professionals? Click here.
We all know that the IELTS is not the easiest English test out there. It is used by governments and academic institutions to prove your English proficiency so you can be sure that the standards are high. Many people repeatedly fail at IELTS exams because they usually underestimate the test and many times overestimate their knowledge. Use the following five signs for yourself or your client to know if there is a need to take a preparation course before taking the IELTS test. Sign # 1 Context: During the listening module, you’ll have to provide answers to 40 questions throughout four recordings. The recordings will be played only once, and you’ll be required to answer those questions on-the-fly. Typical questions include sentence completion, summary completion, form completion and multiple choice. Sign: If you feel that you lack the necessary speed, accuracy and focus when multitasking in English, you need an IELTS preparation course. How a course can help: Before each recording, you will have some time to read the questions. You need to know in advance what information you are expected to supply depending upon the question. Is it a number, a name, an address? You will learn this in the course. Also, it is not surprising to get lost during a conversation, but you need to recover fast or you will miss all the questions of that task afterwards. This would be a disaster. In the course, you will be taught how to follow a conversation even if you miss something and how you can recover to continue answering the next questions. Sign # 2 Context: The reading module consists of 40 questions (both academic and general training) spread across three sections. The purpose of this module is to test a wide range of reading skills such as reading for gist, reading for main ideas, reading for detail, skimming, understanding logical argument, and recognising writers’ opinions, attitudes and purpose. Test takers have to provide short answers, match information, complete sentences, match headings or complete diagram labels. Sign: If you are not familiar with these types of questions, or if you are trying to read these texts as you normally read a book, an IELTS course will definitely help you get a higher score in this band. How the course can help: You don’t have the time to go through the texts several times. There are strategies to help you to avoid this situation. You will learn, for example, how to skim the text and on what kind of information you need to focus. Additionally, in the course you will practice a lot the different types of questions and you will get used to them. This will save you a lot of time. I personally found to be very difficult the type of questions that are True/False/Not given; but after doing many teacher-assisted exercises, the difference became much clearer. Sign # 3 Context: The writing module is perhaps the one that most people struggle with. It has two tasks: in the first (academic training), you will be asked to describe and explain data, describe the stages of a process and how something works or describe an object or event. You need to do this in 150 words. In the second task, you will be asked to write an essay (250 words) in response to a point of view, argument or problem. Both tasks in the academic training must be written in a formal style. Sign: If you don’t know what a formal style is like, or if you feel like you know the answer but struggle to find appropriate and assertive English terms, you will benefit from taking an IELTS preparation course. How the course can help: Describing and explaining data requires practice. Even if you are an expert at doing this, you may struggle when trying to do it in English. In the IELTS course, you will learn the most appropriate language to do it. You will also practice the different types of charts (line graphs, bar charts, pie charts, tables, multiple data sources, processes, diagrams) so that you get used to them and will not, therefore, be surprised in the test. Truth must be told. Writing Task 2 is not easy at all. First, because the topic given can be hard to develop if you are not familiar with it. You might have an idea but remember, you need to develop it in 250 words and you only have 40 minutes. Second, because the essay must have a proper structure, you cannot write everything that comes to mind. In an IELTS course, you will learn what the structure of an essay is, how to develop it, how to write the introduction and conclusion, and so on. You will also learn how to connect your ideas using proper English. Additionally, you will practice writing about topics that are common on the IELTS so you become familiar with them. Moreover, you will learn and practice the different types of essays that commonly come up on IELTS: Agree or Disagree, Discuss two Opposing Opinions, Advantages and Disadvantages, Problems and Solutions, Causes and Solutions, Causes and Effects. Last but not least, the main advantage of the course is that a teacher will correct your mistakes and will show you how to improve your writing. Sign # 4 Context: The fourth and final module is there to assess your speaking skills. This test is less than 15 minutes long and is split into three parts. The first five minutes are reserved for introduction and general topics between the test taker and the examiner. The second part assesses the test taker’s ability to speak about a random topic given on a task card. The last part merely adds complexity to the second. At this stage, the examiner will also pay attention to pronunciation, lexical resource and fluency. Sign: If you lack fluency or coherence in direct communication, you need some practice. This module is all about repetition. Repetition, repetition, repetition! How the course can help: In an IELTS course, your pronunciation will be improved with the
“The industry can be a bit daunting in the beginning, but things eventually get better in terms of support from other members of the industry. You are quite isolated when you first start up, but with regular training, CPD and networking; you soon build up a good peer group and knowledge base.” ME Alliance member, Terry Collier (MARN: 1280360) They say never miss an opportunity to grow. Networking gives us this exact opportunity. When you network you give and receive. By simply meeting and talking to people, you develop a rapport that can get you long-term relationships and long lasting impressions among your profession. What else we get from networking? Building connections. An opportunity to grow our circle of business contacts. Making friends. It’s always good to have friends in the industry. Staying informed. We learn about what others are offering and what’s new in the market. Information sharing. We can seek and provide assistance on various matters. Stepping out means promoting ourselves. Making an impression. We can make positive influence and add credibility to our companies/brands. Self Esteem. By sharing, we play our positive role in contributing to the industry. Communication. We can’t communicate unless we know each other; and we will not know each other unless we meet. Socialise. We hardly get time to talk to each other. Networking events give us the time to meet like-minded in a relaxed environment, and at no cost of our work. ME Alliance is hosting a networking event for RMAs and education agents in Sydney this coming September, and would like all its members to attend. More than half of permanent settlers in Australia come here as students. RMAs and education agents can benefit heaps from working closely to develop their clientele and businesses in these very inter-related professions. And besides, for all the hard work all year round, you all deserve a break once a while! To express interest in attending the event, just drop us a single-liner at: admin@mckkrs.com.au and we will call you back.
From 1 July 2015, new registration standards for English language skills will come into effect for all professions, except Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health practice. The new standards are: a common standard for 12 professions: Chinese medicine, chiropractic, dental, medical, medical radiation, occupational therapy, optometry, osteopathy, pharmacy, physiotherapy, podiatry and psychology; the standard for 10 Boards (no additional wording); the standard for dental, with the addition for some very brief dental-specific words for applicants for limited registration; the standard for medical, with the addition of information about two medicine-specific English language tests; a profession-specific standard for nursing and midwifery, which shares many elements with the common standard. Document PDF Accessible format Date of effect English language skills registration standard PDF(375KB) Word version(577KB,DOCX) 1 July 2015 English language skills registration standard (dental) PDF(225KB) Word version(72.8KB,DOCX) 1 July 2015 English language skills registration standard (medical) PDF(216KB) Word version(72.6KB,DOCX) 1 July 2015 English language skills registration standard (nursing and midwifery) PDF(317KB) Word version(396KB,DOCX) 1 July 2015 These new standards were developed after a review of the existing standards, which included a public consultation. The consultation report provides a summary of responses, rationale for any changes and sets out the proposed way forward, including areas where further work is planned. Document PDF Accessible format Document Consultation report PDF(576KB) Word version(638 KB,DOCX) May 2015 The new standards introduce additional pathways for applicants to demonstrate evidence of their English language skills. Diagrams of how these work are included under ‘additional resources’. These new standards apply to all applicants for initial registration, regardless of whether they qualified in Australia or overseas, except for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health practitioners. The English language skills registration standard for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health practitioners is being reviewed at a later date, and does not change on 1 July 2015. Additional resources about the standards coming in to effect from 1 July 2015. Document PDF Accessible format Document date Letter from Ministerial Council approving the new standards PDF(1.10MB) April 2015 FAQ for all professions (except nurses and midwives): Find out more about the standards PDF(197KB) Word version(76.5KB,DOCX) May 2015 FAQ: Additional information for Chinese medicine practitioners PDF(280KB) Word version(83.4KB,DOCX) May 2015 Pathways diagram for all professions (except nurses and midwives): Explains the requirements for each pathway PDF(104KB) Word version(569 KB,DOCX) July 2015 Evidence guide for all professions (except nurses and midwives) PDF(268KB) Word version(799KB,DOCX) May 2015 Information specific to nurses and midwives Document PDF Accessible format Document date Pathways diagram for nurses and midwives: Explains the requirements for each pathway PDF(110KB) Word version(569 KB,DOCX) July 2015 Evidence guide for nurses and midwives PDF(296KB) Word version(207 KB,DOCX) May 2015 FAQ: Information for nurses and midwives about the standard PDF(271KB) Word version(395KB,DOCX) May 2015 About the English language skills test For more information about the tests, please refer to the provider’s website. IELTS OET TOEFL Pearson NZREX (medical only) PLAB (medical only)
Mr Subhuj Pradhan During the ME Alliance Student Seminar, we spoke to a lot of international students and temporary migrants who were qualified, but under-employed or finding it hard to find full-time employment. In order to get a few pertinent questions answered, ME Connect spoke to a manager in the hospitality industry for an insight into what gets a candidate hired. Mr Subhuj Pradhan is the Assistant General Manager of the Cambridge Management that manages three properties in the heart of Sydney’s vibrant Surry Hills. As a previous international student from Nepal and as a busy manager for three, four and five star properties, Subhuj hires many fresh graduates and we feel his insights can help our readers. Subhuj says international students have the experience and knowledge of different markets that can be extremely beneficial when being hired for customer facing jobs in the hospitality and the service industry. However many students need to concentrate on creating an effective resume and work on their interview skills. He says “Australia has a multitude of opportunities. This country doesn’t judge you by your color, sex, ethnic background etc. As long as you know you have a vision and you are on that path people respect you.” He believes this is a great place to study and work, the hospitality industry in Australia is booming and set to get even bigger in the coming years. The key attributes that any hospitality professional must cultivate are simple but very essential. “When I speak to my team; I tell them to put themselves in the customer’s shoes and treat guests exactly the way one prefers to be treated and they will have a successful hospitality career. Guest is everything. Empathy, understanding, knowledge and time management are definitely the key attributes. However as one progresses in this business one has to become an innovative decision maker, technologically sound and understand the expectations from all stakeholders like guest, owners and staff.” When hiring staff it’s the little things that make a difference between being hired and being overlooked. Subhuj says “Confidence, past experience, their genuine desire to progress and work within a team are things I look for when hiring someone. In this industry personal grooming is very important, as is personal attitude. If one lacks experience training can always be provided to enhance and sharpen the skill sets.”
On 8 May, the Department of Immigration and Border Protection made public the 2014 Independent Review of the Office of the Migration Agents Registration Authority. The review was conducted between June and September 2014 by Dr Christopher N. Kendall, who was appointed by the Assistant Minister for Immigration and Border Protection, Senator the Hon Michaelia Cash for the job. The reviewer made several recommendations to improve the integrity of the migration agents’ regulatory scheme and consequently improve consumer outcomes. Here’s a brief look at the key measures to be implemented: 1. Removal of lawyers from the migration agents’ regulatory scheme Lawyers who provide immigration assistance will no longer be required to register with the OMARA. This measure will remove the administrative burden requiring lawyers to register with two regulatory bodies. Minister Cash said, “Lawyers are already subject to one of the strictest regulatory regimes of any profession.” 2. Strengthening the training and entry qualifications for new entrants into the migration agent profession This will ensure that they (new entrants) are of an appropriate standard, without being unduly prescriptive or inflexible; and to protect socially and legally vulnerable clients, many of whom come from non-English speaking backgrounds. 3. Reviewing the re-registration process for migration agents This will help streamline procedures, including considering opportunities to reduce the regulatory burden for those agents who have a proven record of ‘good standing’. 4. Improving the management of CPD courses The framework will be reviewed with a view to creating a more competitive market for the provision of CPD. The role of the Office of MARA will reduce to that of monitoring the registration and eligibility of providers. This measure will provide greater flexibility to providers of CPD to manage the delivery of their courses. 5. Consolidation of the Office of MARA into DIBP This will improve information-sharing with the Department and provide consumers with timely, effective outcomes which are essential to maintaining consumer protection and public confidence in the integrity of Australia’s migration programme. 6. Reviewing the scope and content of the Code of Conduct The Migration Agents’ Code of Conduct will be reviewed to ensure that the required standards of professional conduct are clearly articulated. Full report can be viewed here: http://www.immi.gov.au/pub-res/Documents/reviews/omara-review.pdf Source: http://www.immi.gov.au/pub-res/Pages/reviews-and-inquiries/independent-review-omara.aspx
The Migration and Education Alliance of Australia in association with Cambridge English organised a migration seminar on 11 June to bring the international students and community members the latest valuable skilled migration, English skills and points test policies. This seminar was a first in a series of many such gatherings; as ME Alliance aims to have smaller, but consistent events so members of the public can get to talk at length and face-to-face with experts who can assist them on individual basis. ME Alliance thanks its communication partners; Indian Link and Mr. Miqdad Hasan from Career DC. Many thanks also to all those who attended and those who emailed their questions. As a commitment to positive contribution to the migration and education industry, ME Alliance will continue to connect those who need professional advice to those who are experienced in solving complex migration issues. If you have any migration related queries for one of our members, please feel free to email us on support@mealliance.com.au and we will forward your query to one of our esteemed members. For students or migration who would like to share their migration journeys, we are always happy to share your stories via ME Magazine, ME Connect and our website. We are committed to work together with student associations at universities and social communities to ensure the migration and visa knowledge are accessible to students and community members. Your feedback and interaction help us to formulate better events that serve the needs of the education and migration community. If you would like to be kept informed about any such event in future, please email us and subscribe to ME Connect.
An English language expert from Greenwich English College answers this one big question. As a migration or education agent you may often hear customers saying: ‘I have prepared for this test for such a long time and I cannot pass. I know all the tips and tricks about it and I still cannot get the score I need. I am sure they are doing it on purpose so that we cannot apply for a visa in Australia’. IELTS is not just another test. However, like all other tests there are some strategies/tips that can help candidates improve their score. Knowing the IELTS tricks and tips doesn’t mean that a high score is guaranteed. Here are some popular IELTS tips/tricks: Writing Make sure that the style used is appropriate (formal language to be used in essays and formal letters and informal language to be used in the informal letters). Make sure you answer the question. There is no right or wrong answer as long as you answer the question. The language is assessed not the ideas. Focus on both sides of the question (agree/disagree; positive/negative aspects; advantages/disadvantages; problems/solutions; causes/effects) Listening Write your answers in capital letters to avoid making punctuation mistakes. Use the checking time at the end of each section to read the next section. Predict answers. Your prediction may be the correct answer. Don’t focus on spelling during the listening. You can check the spelling at the end of the test when you transfer the answers onto the answer sheet. Reading Answers should be in order in the text. The first two sections of the test are easier than the third one, so answer the questions in order. Don’t leave empty boxes. Write an answer even if you are not sure it is the correct answer. Read the questions first and then find the information in the texts. Speaking Keep on talking. The more you talk, the higher the score. Listen to the questions and make sure you answer the question. Going off topic may mean that you didn’t understand the topic or you are trying to use memorised answers. Give shorter answers for PART 1 and longer answers for PART 3 Make sure you talk about PART 2 for at least for 90 seconds What are these tips/tricks? Imagine that you are building a house. The bigger the house, the higher the score. How can you build a big house? The answer is simple: by building a big and solid foundation! Will these tricks and tips help you build this foundation? The answer is NO. Grammar, vocabulary and word order help you build this foundation. Once your English level is good, the tips will definitely help you improve your score and not the other way round. When examiners mark your test, they have to look at all the aspects of your skills. Let’s take for example the writing test. There are four criteria examiners look at: Task Response (For example: Did the candidate answer the question? Is the format appropriate? Is the style appropriate? Did the candidate develop the answer appropriately? Did the candidate express his/her opinion clearly and draw a conclusion at the end of the task?) Grammar (For example: How accurate is the grammar? How complex is the grammar used?) Vocabulary (For example: Is the candidate able to paraphrase? How wide is the range of language used? Is the candidate using any collocations, idioms?) Coherence and Cohesion (For example: Are ideas organised logically? Are ideas connected using different ways of linking them, such as linking words, substitution, referencing?) Knowing the tips about the IELTS test will help candidates get a good score for their Task Response and maybe for Coherence and Cohesion. However, if the candidate is aiming to get a high score (7.0), both the Vocabulary and the Grammar must be improved. This is the reason why at Greenwich English College we have designed the only IELTS Online course which covers these two areas. If candidates constantly get 6.0 or 6.5, this is often because one of the four areas needs improvement. Again luck will not help you get a higher score. Understanding what examiners look for in your test is vital if you want to improve and get a high score. The recommendation is to focus less on tips and more on improving your English skills. This will help you get the desired score.