Evolving pathways: From the education-migration nexus to the education-work-migration nexus in Australia

In response to a range of problems associated with the direct link between international education and migration, which came to public attention in 2010, the Australian government has sought to address these flaws through various policies, including revisions to post-study work rights. This article explores how the education–migration nexus has evolved. No longer a direct link, it has transformed into an education–work–migration pathway, highlighting the growing importance of work within this nexus. Drawing on a study that includes a survey and 50 interviews with key stakeholders, including international graduates on temporary graduate visas, the article uses spacetime as a theoretical framework to analyse graduates’ post-study journeys and the different spatial-temporal intermediaries they encounter. The findings underscore how the traditional view of the education–migration nexus is now outdated and emphasise the central role of work in shaping the emerging education–work–migration pathway.