‘This change is long overdue’: PR talent set to surge following Australian visa reforms
Thrive PR + Communication’s founder and CEO, Leilani Abels, has welcomed changes made by the government to its skilled visa program, which sees public relations added as a core skill occupation.
It was a game changing weekend for Australian comms agencies as the government added public relations to the new Core Skills Occupation List, allowing international talent to access an employer sponsored Skills in Demand visa.
Access to the visa allows them to extend their employment in Australia for up to four years, and carves out a future with a pathway to permanent residency supported by employers. The Skills in Demand visa has three streams, two of which can be applied to public relations: the Core Skills stream and the Specialist Skills stream.
Abels, who has been vocal about this in the past, said the public relations industry has long been hindered without a pathway to to permanent residency for global talent, and the skills shortage issue has been exacerbated by the pandemic.
