THE
ZIMBABWE CONNECTION

Our most sincere recommendation is that you avoid trying to gain entry to Australia on a business visa unless you understand the Australian market well

The “Zimbabwe Connection” has been a not-for-profit, voluntary, association duly registered in terms of the Associations Incorporations Act, 1985.

At the AGM on November 28^th, it was decided we would be unable to continue operations as the Zimbabwe Connection had become too large for a voluntary organisation to manage effectively without either substantially increased voluntary hours or funding support.   We expect the closure to take us until the end of March 2006. 

We are concerned to make sure that you are still able to help yourselves as far as is possible and we will maintain the Zimbabwe Connection website purely for information in the future. 

In the meantime, here is some guidance for you – but please bear in mind that we are not migration agents – this information is passed on as representing our best experience in the last three and a half years. 

If you are UNDER 45 and you have a recognised degree, the chances of your gaining access to Australia are usually quite good.   You will have to have your degree recognised by a relevant industry organisation first, but look at the Department of Immigration website for further information. http://www.dimia.gov.au/migrate/skilled.htm - this will give you leads to all you need to know. 

You may decide to use a migration agent and we have used the following people (all ex Zimbabweans) with great success 

            Geoff Higgs                ghmigr8@bigpond.net.au

            Tracey Mays                 tracey@arams.com.au

            Martin Ross                 martin@rrs.com.au

At the moment, certain states (South Australia and Victoria in particular) are short of skilled people for new projects and contracts they have in hand.   It is worth therefore, putting these down as a state preference, and following up with those States to see whether you could get State nomination (STNI).   If successful, this will speed your application up.   Each state has its own immigration website, the South Australian skilled migration site for instance, is at www.immigration.sa.gov.au   There are lower criteria for immigration into regional areas and it may also be possible to get in this way.

 If you are over 45 or do not have a degree or two year diploma, send your c.v. to friends or family in Australia and see if they can find someone primarily in regional Australia, interested in offering you sponsored employment.   In this case, your best bet may be to come in on a temporary employment sponsored visa which can be converted to permanent residence with the agreement of your employer, once you have settled in.

Another source well worth watching is www.careerone.com.au.   This is a summary of all the job advertisements placed in Australian newspapers in the last week.

Our most sincere recommendation is that you avoid trying to come in on a business visa unless you understand the Australian market well - or you have absolutely no alternative.   In the case of the latter, please take advantage of the development boards which are there for you regionally to help gain greater understanding of the market place.    Overall, we find it has been far better to learn about Australia from the predictability of a couple of years in employment first, before investing your own hard earned money anywhere.

When you finally get visa approval - come with a positive attitude. You cannot stand with a foot in each camp, for you will never grow and move forward. Either decide that you are going to stay in Zimbabwe and build the rest of your life there, or move on to another country and become a productive citizen of that country - without ever denying your roots. But do remember those roots and memories with love and warmth - not with longing and despair. Our experience has taught us that whether you settle or not in a new country is almost entirely due to your mental attitude.

It is never easy. Dont expect it to be. We all have horror stories of our first few years in a new country - but they fade, they become part of the folklore and you grow from there.

It is in yours, your new community’s and Australia’s interests that Zimbabweans settle in as soon as possible and become productive citizens thankful for the benefits of the experience and learning gained in two great countries.