Travel concessions for international students

The Indian Consulate in Sydney welcomed the announcement by NSW Premier Barry O’Farrell in India that international students will be eligible for travel concessions of upto 35%.

Mr Arun Kumar Goel, Consul General noted that it was significant that the announcement was made in India and on the very first day of the Premier’s visit there, even though students from across the world enroll at educational institutions in the state.

Mr O’Farrell made the announcement on Oct 30 while on a week-long trade and investment mission there, his second so far.

With this, one of the major recommendations that had come out of the students’ crisis of 2009-10, now becomes policy.

(NSW and Victoria are the only states not providing this facility so far).

The Premier said international education is the state’s secondbiggest export industry, worth $6 billion.

“We have world-class universities, vocational institutions and research organisations, but we need to do more to attract international students seeking high-quality education, cultural and employment experience,” he said. “The travel concessions will increase the attraction of NSW as an ideal location for further education and provide better access to safe and affordable public transport options for overseas students.”

The concessions apply to all forms of travel, not merely to and from students’ place of study.

This year 10,200 Indian students are enrolled at educational institutions in NSW, the second largest number from any country.

Another major announcement by the Premier was a new annual scholarship for an Indian student at the University of Wollongong.

The scholarship, named in honour of Sir Don Bradman, has been established by the University of Wollongong (UoW) and the Bradman Foundation.

Mr O’Farrell said the annual scholarship would be awarded to a male or female Indian student who had completed secondary school and demonstrated academic, sporting, personal and social skills as well as strong participation in cricket. It will waive 50 per cent of their chosen degree’s tuition fees – making the scholarship worth about $11,000 per year.

University of Wollongong

Ambassador to India and former Australian cricketer Adam Gilchrist, who was present on the occasion, said, “Sir Donald Bradman left an enduring legacy to the game of cricket with his incredible achievements - Indian cricket fans understand that as well as anyone,” Mr Gilchrist said.

UOW Vice-Chancellor

Professor Paul Wellings said the UOW Bradman Scholarship was an indication of the growing strength of the University’s ties with India, as well as with the Bradman Foundation.

During the one-week trade mission Mr O’Farrell will visit Mumbai, Hyderabad and New Delhi for a series of meetings with senior Indian government officials, business leaders and investors.

Victoria state opens Mumbai office

Aiming to strengthen trade with India, Australia’s state of Victoria opened its second business office in India on 29 Oct.

To mark the opening, a Rs.1 billion agreement was signed between Victorian company SenSen and Mumbai’s L&T IDPL to deliver video-based, through CCTVs, data analytics technology to the latter.

The technology would be deployed at road toll posts across India and address the major problem of traffic congestion in the country.

The software provided by SenSen will recognise and accurately capture number plates in any language, in any font, size or configuration and pass the information directly to the billing mechanism.

Louise Asher, Victoria’s MP and Minister for Innovation, Services, Small Business, Tourism and Major Events, officially threw open the office at Nariman Point in south Mumbai.

“The deal between SenSen and L&T IDPL further enhances Victoria’s reputation and leadership in ICT (information and communication technology). It emphasises the outstanding talent at home and hi-tech capabilities locally that are ready to benefit the world,” Asher said.

The minister added that Australia already had established partnerships with other major companies in Maharashtra, like Mahindra & Mahindra, TCS and Aegis, which have significant investments in Victoria.

“Within the IT sector, nine leading Indian IT companies, including Wipro and Infosys, have invested in Victoria. We believe that our commitment to

India is for the long term and are positive that it will only grow in the future,” Asher said.

Victoria’s two-way goods and services trade with India has been valued at approximately $2 billion in 2011-12. The Victorian government runs an active programme of trade missions to India to create new business opportunities between the two economies.

On her third visit in the past 18 months to India, the minister is leading a strong business delegation to India to boost trade ties.

Australian filmmaker stopped from entering Idinthakarai

An Australian documentary producer and his wife were prevented from entering Idinthakarai on Oct 25, the epicentre of the protests against the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Project (KNPP) in Tamil Nadu, said police in Chennai.

According to police, David Bradbury a documentary filmmaker and his wife were stopped near Idinthakarai in Tirunelveli district, some 650 km from Chennai, from proceeding further and were taken to

Radhapuram police station.

Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd (NPCIL) is setting up the KNPP at Kudankulam with two Russian-made VVER 1,000 MW reactors. Villagers in Idinthakarai have been opposing the plant for more than a year fearing for their lives in case of a nuclear accident.

According to police the Australians were told that their activities were not in line with the kind of visa they possessed.

Police said the Australians went back to Nagercoil, around 40 km from

Important InformatIon for InternatIonal StudentS 31st december 2012 is approaching fast

If you held a student visa on 8th february 2010, you can use old Skilled occupation list (Sol as at 08/02/2010) to choose a suitable occupation from that generous Sol and apply for skilled Graduate visa (S/C 485). or

If you had applied for subclass 485 visa prior to 8th february 2010 or you held a subclass 485 visa on 8th february 2010, you can use old Skilled occupation list (Sol as at 08/02/2010) to choose a suitable occupation from that generous Sol and apply for subclass 885( Skilled residence) , subclass 886 (Skilled Sponsored residence ) or Subclass 487 ( Skilled Regional Sponsored – Provisional ). You can also use old points test. You Must Lodge above applications prior to 1st January 2013. Contact us to assess your possible options if you think that you are one of those lucky applicants who can avail the above generous transitional provisions.

We can also help you with the following applications: expression of interest, Skilled migration, Graduate skilled, State sponsorship, partner visa, Skill assessments, Student visa, employer nomination scheme , rSmS, Work visa subclass 457, Visitor visa, resident return visa, entertainment visa, mrt & aat reviews.

CANADA Migrate to

We have recently formed collaboration with regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant” practise in Canada We can now also arrange a free assessment for your Canadian visa options. potentIal applICantS assistance is also available for following Canadian visa applications.

CooKS and other suitable applicants Can be sponsored by Canadian employers for work visas.

If your application has reasonable prospect of success, “regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant” will advise you in writing of the application process, fees & charges associated with the application.

Internat I onal mIG rat I on Centre

Suite 1, level 1, 127 Burwood road, Burwood, nSW 2134 email: ajagota@iprimus.com.au phone: 02 97476071 fax: 02 97474031

AmRIT PAL JAgOTA 0414 338 423 (marn: 0532014) mAnVInDER K JOSAn 0410 719 375 (marn: 0962796)

Web address: www.theimc.com.au