[Darlene]

Good day Mark!

Thanks so much 🙂

[Darlene]

Hi Mark,

Thanks so much for your reply and the links. I have been reading them and reading between the lines to find anything that might help my situation. I wish consideration was given to contribution a person made to the state, how long they have lived there and how much contribution was made to the boost the local economy and help society.

The article you attached helped. Thanks for sending that.

Have a wonderful weekend!

Darlene 🙂

[Darlene]

Hi Mark,

Thanks so much. My visa expired mid-December. I have returned home but hoping for an opportunity to go back. I am oversharing here but if it helps someone else, it might be a good thing.

I was consistently working in hospitality for 7 years doing just about anything related to hospitality (kitchenhand, cleaning, food and beverage attendant and much more). I volunteered for almost 5 years for many organisations in Perth including Curtin Volunteers and Mission Australia for the homeless but had no paper qualification to qualify for a visa.

At the time, international students were not allowed to take on any other studies while on a student visa. I found out too late that this is now allowed as of 2023 or 2024. Migration agents and lawyers I went to in the past 3-4 years (too many to even mention), had no idea of changes happening so rapidly and were only familiar with the straightforward cases.

I was lucky in a way that I stayed in Perth when Covid hit because manpower was needed all around and I had no financial support especially as I was an international student studying full time, but I love hospitality and volunteering and continued until I left Perth. I was also part of the social community and paid all my taxes from day 1, to the extent I joked with friends that I could not hide with a name like “Darlene” and being just about everywhere in every major organisation in Perth 🙂

Let’s see what 2025 holds. Fingers crossed.

[Darlene]

Hey Mark,

Thank you so much for this. I will continue exploring and hopefully something turns up.

I was on a Temporary Graduate Visa (485) and had put in my application in Skills Select for a 190 and 491 but did not get an invitation. I also applied to a number of companies including the ones I worked with hoping for sponsorship, but they could not do sponsorship (according to human resources) and one big mining company I worked with was laying off people due to restructuring so many of my colleagues had left. None of the many companies I applied to in Western Australia (WA) wanted to do employer sponsorship and I could not apply for a visa without nomination.

I have to admit I am disappointed because I have lived and worked in WA for 7 years, contributed in a big way to the state and travelled there so often the past 15 years and yet could not obtain a temporary or permanent visa to stay on.

I will keep a lookout on the forum and websites. Keeping the faith. Thanks again.

Kind regards,

Darlene

[Darlene]

Hi Thomas, Thanks for sharing this. What I would like to say is do not be discouraged. Things are changing very rapidly now in my humble experience (too long to write here because it involves a lot of different aspects) and one has to be on the ball when it strikes. I do not know what field you are in but as Mark says, it is not impossible. There are a lot of movements between countries with growing population and demand that it takes time.

I love the people, peace, quiet, the outdoors and nature and beaches and have travelled to Australia since 2010 and I have volunteered and just worked everywhere in Western Australia (I was an international student supporting myself and with the limitations to working hours it was tough) and I am not giving up. It is a shame the only thing holding me back is a visa.

The forums help provide leads so check those and also the government website for changes.

Kind regards,

Darlene

[Darlene]

Hey Mark,

Thanks so much for this 🙂 This helps a lot directly or indirectly. I have recently had a few calls, none offering visa sponsorship but at least I know I have the experience, skills or background they need and some were really kind to say that they would check with colleagues or keep my resume in their files in the event something pops up.

As my visa has expired and I do not have any visa that allows me to work there at the moment, it makes it harder for the recruitment process as well.

Just an update / information I thought I would share with all.

Warm wishes,

Darlene