Immigration Forum / Australia and NZ / August 2007

Not personally, or not reliably, no.  However, if it is any help,
you haven't stated your actual academic qualifications in a way
that can be interpreted from an Australian point of view.

The Australian education system is a quite a bit different than
the US system, in my experience anyway.

Basically, students in Australia tend to specialize earlier.

From a medical point of view, for example, in the USA a
"GP" or "General Practioner" graduates from high school,
does four years "pre-med" in a college or university in some
prefatory courses.

If graduates with a B.A. or B.S. with high enough grades, he or
she may qualify for admission to a medical school.  Four more
years of intensive study, then a year of internship, a year of
residency, and they qualify for "general practice" as a G.P.

If want to be a "specialist", add a few more years.  Then,
unless the US has a military draft at the moment, might have
a deferred military commitment to meet.

So lets assume, at the best, no current draft, and an
"average American".  Graduates from high school at 18,
four years of university in "pre-med".

Now 22.  If good enough grades, might get into medical school,
another 6 years.  [Including internship and residency, of
course.]  Age 28.

If required to meet deferred military service, perhaps another
3 or 4 years in US military.  Now age 32.  

If meets these requirements, at age 28 or 32 can now start out
as a "general practitionary", assuming he has the money to repay
his university debt and can afford to set up a practice, and wait
for patients to appear.

In Australia, not only a "bit different" but a "lot different"!
What Americans call "high school" is tougher and more specialised
here.

Students specialize earlier, have to pass standardized national
exams, or used to anyway.  If they don't pass at age 16,
usually leave school.  

If they pass at 18, get a "leaving certificate" which lets them
qualify for university.  

In medicine, after, say four more years of study and practical
experience, they can get an "MB, BS"  [Bachelor of Medicine,
Bachelor of Surgery, and can then go into practice as a "General
Practitioner".

Anything they can't handle can be referred to a specialist, who
will probably have at least an "M.D." degree, equivalent to a
doctorate degree in medicine.

Since Australia has a universal health service, it works o.k.
Under "Medicare", the universal health care service, he or she
is capable of diagnosing and referring.

In city areas, some directly charge the "standard fee" against
the "Medicare" system and the visit costs the patient nothing.

Some charge extra to avoid hypochondriacs, but even then
the patient gets a percentage rebate of the fee.

Now, in "trades" such as electrician, plumber, etc. a high school
student might choose to "drop out" of high school at age 14 and
enter an "apprenticeship" to learn a trade.  He or she spends
4 or 5 years at low pay, but learns the trade.

Nice traditional system, but may not work all that well in the
modern world.  If trains as an "apprentice electrician" cannot
easily change to "plumbing".

Admittedly a rather involved explanation, using analogies, but
can you now see why the immigration authorities might need more
information on your actual qualifications?

Otherwise, you application might [repeat might] just go into the
"too hard" basket.

Personally, would suggest that you might want to think this over,
be prepared to recast your application in Australian terms, and
submit the problem to the Australian embassy or consulate.

Would strongly suggest that you be completely honest with them.
If you have ever been arrested, even for a traffic violation,
detail it.

After all, it is a matter of public record in the USA, they do
check, and you may be rejected because of it, simply because
you haven't been honest with them.

Of course, the same applies the other way around, but even more
so.  Australians wanting to even get a "tourist visa" for the USA
have been knocked back on any criminal violation, including
smoking of "pot" at age 13 or something.

How about "trade" qualifications?  Well, if the intended
immigrant hasn't completed an "apprenticeship" they may
not qualify as a migrant.

Yes, it is a complex system difference.   Australian states are
much more independent than U.S. states, and even if immigrant
"X" has qualifications in New South Wales, this doesn't mean that
he or she automatically qualifies in all other states.

This applies on even something so simple as a "graded drivers
license" which can be statewide or nationwide.

After reading this rather long post, can you see that your US
qualifications might be very confusing to Australian Immigration?

Even if you were a "Doctor of Medicine", an "M.D." this USA
qualification would not necessarily enable you to practice in any
single Australian state, let alone the rest of them.

Individual states here jealously guard their power, and there can
be a lot of difference between one state and the next.

Hope this post is helpful to those who might want to migrate to
Australia, but would appreciate any questions or feedback.

Incidentally, I note that there seems to be little "traffic" or
"message interchange" on this group.

Do readers who really want to migrate to Australia realize that
there are some profound differences between the U.S. and
Australia?

They don't seem to bother the large number of Americans who do
choose to live here, though! :-)

Incidentally, I can't help noticing that this group has a very
low posting rate compared to other groups.  

Do most Americans posting to this group assume that they "know
everything they have to know about Australia"?

There are a pretty large number of Americans who choose to live
in Australia, and vice-versa.

Historically, see:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gold_rush

This group seems to have a very low posting rate for Americans
and others who seem to be willing to change continents &
countries.

Personally, I find Australia a great place to live, or I would
have gone back to the USA long before now!

Anyone on the group want more info?

....Kangaroo16

You may be eligible for a skilled visa as an IT lecturer. If you want me
to assess your eligibility, feel free to go to
http://www.ptlabs.com.au/assessment.html

Regards,
Peter
Registered Migration Agent, Specialist in ACS/RPL/IT cases

http://www.ptlabs.com.au/