Qualifications recognition reform for skilled migrants in Australia: Applying competency-based assessment to overseas-qualified nurses

Abstract

The past two decades have coincided with unprecedented Australian selection of skilled migrants, in particular professionals from non-English speaking background (NESB) source countries. By 1991, the overseas-born constituted 43 to 49 per cent of Australia's engineers, 43 per cent of computer professionals, 40 per cent of doctors, 26 per cent of nurses, and rising proportions in other key professions. Within one to five years of arrival, just 30 per cent of degree-qualified migrants were employed. However, few diploma holders had found work in any profession, and select NESB groups were characterized by acute labour market disadvantage. Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, barriers to credential ..