Among other statistics, the report shows that  of the 56,834 former student visa holders who transferred to other visas in the first half of 2010-11, almost 30% continued their studies in Australia and were granted another student visa!
According to the report, student visa applications fell by 18.9% between 2008-09 and 2009-10, but since it’s still not less than the number of application in 2007-2008, we think this is just a temporary change.
One of the main reasons for this decline has coincided with the global financial crisis, which influenced the whole world. Other reasons are coincided with ongoing college closures creating uncertainty about the stability of Australian education providers, the welfare of international students studying in Australia,  the rising value of the Australian dollar and the recent changes in the visa processing to improve the integrity of the student visa program (Well, don’t you think it’s a good time to try the free visa assessment?)
There have also been changes to the skilled migration program which have effectively decoupled the student visa program from permanent residence.
We were also very glad (but not surprised) to know that applications that are complete are generally processed faster than incomplete applications. So, again, we suggest you not to take any unnecessary risks of wasting time, it’s to important to neglect it.

If you want to read the full statistical report you can find it here.

The northern Territory, although not popular as the National front, attracts mostly immigrants from the UK and Philippines as well as other countries such as China and New-Zealand.

In order to solve labour needs in rural areas and stretch the australian economy, Australian government makes a lot of efforts in expanding immigration areas beside the main cities to a special eligibility places which needs certain skilled and professional labour. All this efforts are according to a well crafted migration program.

You can download and read all immigration statistics here.

Australia Day is the official national day of Australia, celebrated annually on 26 January. If you want to migrate to Australia, it is wise to know some facts that will probably help you getting around and make the right impression while celebrating in the nearest pub. So, here are some facts for you:

1. Australia Day celebrates the arrival of the First Fleet at Sydney cove in 1788 when the land was claimed for Great Britain under the rule of King George III.
2. formal proclamation of the colony and of Arthur Phillip’s governorship was read out, even though the holiday is celebrated on January 26.
3. The tradition of having Australia Day as a national holiday on 26 January is a recent one. All of the Australian states and territories didn’t start using that name until 1935, and it wasn’t until 1994 that they began to celebrate Australia Day consistently as a public holiday on January 26.
4. The first official Australia Day celebration was in 1818 when the governor organized celebrations that included a 30 gun salute and a dinner at Government House followed by a ball.
5. New South Wales was the first state to declare Australia Day as a public holiday in 1838, the fiftieth anniversary of the landing at Sydney Cove, but it was called “Anniversary Day” until the mid 1940’s.
6. Great Britain didn’t stop sending convicts to Australia until the 1860s and the reason was the rising costs of keeping the system going.
7. The HMS Supply was the first ship of the First Fleet to land in Botany Bay. It was both the oldest and smallest of ships in the fleet, built in 1759 an armed trader.
8. The approximate number of convicts sent to Australia was 160,500, of whom 24,700 were women!

And do not forget to stay updated with the official Australia day website!

In Australia people have many freedoms but are still required to follow the law. Australians have a number of fundamental freedoms including free speech, joining groups, holding meetings, worshipping whomever they choose, and moving around in the country without restrictions. Everyone is free and equal and is expected to treat each other with dignity and respect. Discrimination isn’t allowed, and Australians don’t use violence, intimidation, or humiliation to settle conflict.

As long as the words don’t cause harm, aren’t false, and don’t prevent others from doing so, Australians can say whatever they want about the government or a social issue. Australia has a secular government, meaning that it doesn’t have an official religion. Religious laws (such as those about divorce) aren’t recognized by the government, and only laws from Parliament apply. Australians are free to gather together and protest any organization, including the government, as long as no one is hurt and nothing is damaged. Everyone in Australia is expected to follow the law, but at the same time all Australians are protected by the law. This means that even people with power, such as government officials and police, are not “above the law.”

All Australians are equal under the law, meaning no one should be treated differently because of their race, ethnicity, or country of origin; their age, gender, marital status, or disability; or their religious or political beliefs. What someone achieves should be a product of their talents, work, and efforts rather than how they were born or because they’re a favorite. Australians are proud of their peaceful society. Change comes from democracy rather than violence. They also have compassion for those in need and do things for the public good.

Many Australians help their community during their daily lives, whether by caring for the environment, working together in times of need, or volunteering to help others.

All of these values have been talked about and supported by Australians for many years, and have helped the many different types of people live together successfully. Australia’s cultural diversity strengthens its society, and the people of that society are asked to commit to its values, laws, and people in return.