100 signatures reached
To: Migration WA, Hon Roger Cook, Tony Burke
Petition to Migration WA: Fairer Skilled Migration Opportunities for Western Australian Residents
Petition to Migration WA: Prioritise WA Residents and Expand Skilled Migration Opportunities Across Essential Sectors
To: Migration WA and the Government of Western Australia
We respectfully request that Migration WA give greater consideration to genuine Western Australian residents, locally educated graduates and skilled workers when allocating Subclass 190 and Subclass 491 state nomination places.
While we recognise the importance of construction to Western Australia’s growth, the state also relies on essential professionals across nursing, healthcare, engineering, community services, social work, disability support, education and other critical industries. These occupations contribute significantly to WA’s economy, public services and community wellbeing and deserve fair consideration in skilled migration priorities.
A key concern is the competition for limited state nomination places from interstate applicants. Many interstate applicants may pursue WA nomination opportunities but ultimately receive a Subclass 189 invitation or an invitation through their respective state’s nomination program. As a result, some may choose to remain in or return to their original state rather than establish their future in WA. This raises concerns about whether limited WA nomination places are consistently supporting the state’s long-term workforce and population needs. We encourage Migration WA to review this issue and consider greater recognition of applicants who already live, work and have established genuine ties in Western Australia.
Meanwhile, many international graduates who have studied, worked and contributed to WA struggle to secure nomination in their chosen professions. Faced with limited opportunities, some feel compelled to abandon their qualifications and repeatedly pursue whichever occupations appear to be receiving invitations at the time. This creates financial hardship, career uncertainty and a cycle of changing occupations instead of allowing graduates to contribute their existing skills to the state.
We therefore respectfully ask Migration WA to:
- Give greater consideration to genuine WA residents with local qualifications, relevant employment and established community ties.
- Review the impact of interstate applicants who may ultimately pursue or accept migration opportunities elsewhere.
- Expand and maintain balanced nomination opportunities across essential sectors, including nursing, healthcare, engineering, community services, disability support, education and other occupations aligned with WA’s workforce needs.
- Improve transparency around occupation priorities and invitation criteria so graduates can plan their careers with greater certainty.
- Recognise both economic and social contributions when determining skilled migration priorities.
We are not asking WA to exclude interstate applicants or disregard the construction sector. We are asking for a fairer and more balanced approach that recognises the value of retaining people who have already invested in Western Australia.
Western Australia needs skilled workers not only to build its infrastructure, but also to care for its people, strengthen its communities, deliver essential services and support its long-term economic growth. We urge Migration WA to ensure that locally established residents and skilled professionals across all essential industries have fair opportunities to contribute to the future of our state.
Thank you for considering this request.
The undersigned supporters of fairer skilled migration opportunities for Western Australian residents.
Why is this important?
Signing this petition is important because Western Australia needs a fairer and more balanced skilled migration system that recognises the contributions of local residents across all essential industries, not just construction. Many graduates invest years studying, working and contributing to WA, yet struggle to secure a pathway to permanent residency, while limited nomination places may go to interstate applicants who ultimately settle elsewhere. By signing, you can support local graduates, nurses, engineers, healthcare professionals, community workers and other skilled workers who want to build their future in WA, strengthen our communities and contribute to the state's long-term prosperity. Your signature can help make our voices heard and encourage Migration WA to reconsider its priorities.