TEMPORARY GRADUATIFICATION: Impacts of post-study work rights policy in Australia

Post-study work rights (PSWR) are becoming increasingly influential in international students’ decision of study destinations. The rights and opportunities to work in the host country postgraduation are integral to international students’ expectations about return on investment in overseas study, employment goals, life and migration aspirations. Policy makers and education providers regard post-study work opportunities in the host countries as a drawcard for international students. Accordingly, enhancing employment prospects and outcomes of international graduates who stay in the destination country is increasingly crucial both for host country’s sustainable growth of international students and commitment to delivering on promise. Revised and introduced in 2013, the Australian government’s PSWR policy aims to provide international graduates from Australian universities with the opportunity to remain in Australia from two to four years and gain international work experience. The temporary graduate visa is often referred to as subclass 485 visa. The latest data from the Department of Home Affairs show that as of June 2019, there were 91,776 temporary graduates in Australia, which accounts for around 0.7 per cent of Australia’s 13.5 million labour force (Australian Government, 2019a). This research examines the effects of Australia’s temporary graduate visa policy. This study (2016-2019) is based on analysis of policy and multiple secondary data sources, a survey of 1,156 temporary graduate visa holders from 35 Australian universities and in-depth interviews with 50 key stakeholders including current and past holders of temporary graduate visa who remained in Australia or returned to their home country, employers, university staff, education and migration agents, government and key industry representatives.