Australia and India entered a program on 23 May, 2023. The Migration and mobility partnership Arrangement (MMPA) By 2024, this will see the introduction and implementation of the MATES program under MMPA in Australia, which will undoubtedly open many opportunities for young professionals. The Government of Australia has recently announced the opening of Mobility Arrangement for Talented Early-professionals Scheme (MATES), offering new opportunities to young Indian professionals. The arrangement shall be covered under the Migration and Mobility Partnership Agreement, which is a bilateral framework with the objective of pushing for two-way migration between India and Australia. This will be an opportunity for skilled Indian professionals to experience career growth while contributing to the Australian economy.
Eligibility Criteria for Young Indians
MATES program is only for those young Indian professionals below the age of 30 years who hold at least a bachelor’s degree, and their English language capabilities are above average.
The eligibility required for MATES is:
- Age Limit: The applicant age has to be 30 years or younger to apply for it..
- English Language Proficiency: Compulsory for all the candidates who have good English as their spoken language level to be very well adjusted into the workforce and society of Australia.
- Recent Graduates: The candidates should have completed their graduation in 2 years before applying for this program; this indeed appears to be an ideal proposition for any fresher wanting to kick start the international career.
- Educational Qualifications: The minimum is a bachelor’s degree in certain fields of interest which the Australian economy can benefit from including Renewable Energy, Mining, Engineering, Information and Communication Technology (ICT), Artificial Intelligence (AI), Financial Technology (FinTech) and Agricultural Technology (AgriTech).
Opportunities and Benefits for MATES Participants
The participants of the MATES program will have the chance to live and work in Australia for up to two years. It provided an opportunity for the gain of vital work experience, global work exposure, and forming a professional network important in career life thereafter. The program aimed at providing more than just job opportunities but also a pathway to permanent residency in Australia, a great advantage to a young professional venturing into long-term careers away from home.
For the first entry, visa holders in the MATES program are given a permit to stay for a 12-month period valid for only one further year, up to a total of 24 months. During this period, the participant gets an opportunity to work, build up his or her skill level, and acculturate to the Australian lifestyle. A multiple entry into Australia with this visa would give enough flexibility to a participant to travel back to India or other countries in between the period of stay.
Application Process and Costs
It has been reported that the pathway to the applications to the MATES program will start in the second half of 2024, whereby 3,000 registration timelines per annum will be up for grabs, and only Indian citizens can apply. The application process is easy, but competitive at the same time, which only shows that there is a high need for skilled professionals in Australia.
As per the Budget Australia 2024, application at the pre-application or ballot will attract a fee of $25; at this stage, applicants can participate in a lottery from which successful participants are to be drawn to apply. Those drawn out of the ballot will, in turn, be expected to pay an application fee of $365. Such two-tiered structure fees are able to deal with extremely large numbers of applicants while at the same time developing real interest from those willing to apply.
The very launch of the MATES programme is one step forward in the strengthening of professional relations between India and Australia. The availability of housing opportunities, under the MATES program, for young Indian professionals, with the possibilities of settlement within Australia, will aid greatly in building not only individual careers but also the multi-cultural and economic development in that country. Young professional Indians to prepare early applications open in 2024 for this unique opportunity to put into action the collective will to help expand the horizons at the international level.
