HARMONY DAY 2005

It is a day like no other. Harmony Day is Australia’s biggest annual multicultural event. It is held on the 21st of March each year to coincide with the United Nations International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination.

Today, Harmony Day provides an opportunity for the emerging African communities in Australia to join in the celebration of the nation’s successes as a culturally diverse society.

Contact: http://africanrefugees.blogspot.com

Visit: www.harmony.gov.au

MIGRANT LIFE IN FOCUS

There is nothing more beautiful than a snapshot of a new life. The Norwood, Payneham and St Peters Council in South Australia, in association with the Migrant Resource Centre, are holding a photo exhibition this weekend as part of the celebration of the National Harmony Day. The exhibition will feature the photographs of the new arrivals; providing an insight into the lives of young migrants in Australia.

LABOUR SHORTAGE AND MIGRATION

Australia’s ageing workforce demands new blood. It is common knowledge that the Immigration Minister, Amanda Vanstone, is advocating a radical relaxation of visa restrictions on skilled migrants in order to improve the prospects of attracting new workers to kick-start the Australian economy.

Indeed, evidence increasingly points to the fact the minister is pushing for a massive one-year rise of 20,000 in skilled places - a figure that is likely to take the overall migration program to about 140,000 in 2005-06.

Thus, it stands to reason that migrants of African descent might benefit from the new creative way of overcoming labour shortage and boosting the Australian economy.

A WIN FOR SKILLED MIGRANTS

The Australian government wants more skilled migrants, despite its policy of mandatory detention of asylum seekers and refugees who enter the country illegally. “I think we should fashion our immigration program to skilled immigration”, the Federal Treasurer Peter Costello said Wednesday. “We have got places for people. I would like to encourage that”. Indeed, this is a big win for skilled migrants whichever way you look at it.