Skilled Migrant Forum

Last month, Migration Queensland hosted a Skilled Migrant Forum for migrants who have settled in Queensland in the last five years. 

The forum provided the opportunity for new migrants to connect, and enabled us to listen to their experiences when settling here and understand the challenges they faced.

We welcomed Mr Yossi Witkowsky to open the forum and share his journey. Yossi provided insightful and humouress accounts of his settlement experience: from arriving days before Australia’s borders shut due to COVID, to his adaptation to Queensland slang and sayings. 

Participants then worked in groups to design possible solutions to some of the settlement challenges, specifically:

•   Employability: finding a job in your occupation in Queensland
•   Accommodation: finding appropriate accommodation, without an Australian rental history
•   Orientation and documentation: understanding and establishing essential documents and services, required to work and live in Queensland (e.g. Medicare, bank accounts, Tax File Number, school enrolment etc.)
•   Connection: Cultural adjustment, lacking sense of belonging, feeling alone and not knowing anyone. 

Each group presented their solutions, which were a mix of being innovative and creative, and simple and realistic.

Migration Queensland is planning to host a similar, virtual forum in the new year for migrants outside of Brisbane. We’re keen to understand regional perspectives on settling in Queensland. 

If you are interested in attending the virtual forum, please let us know and we will add you to the invitee list. 

We will use the ideas generated from both forums to identify resources that will better support successful settlement in Queensland.