Key Facts:
One million Australians live and work overseas.
More than 90% of Australians overseas want to return home at some point, but only 15% have a clear pathway to do so.
75% of Australians overseas want to give back to their home country.
Comparable countries including Singapore, Ireland, Canada and New Zealand have introduced strategies, programs or dedicated networks to attract global skills, build domestic capability and engage their diaspora.
They recognise that talent is a national asset, wherever it is located, and are putting in place the strategies and infrastructure to turn that talent into national advantage.
As skilled migration numbers are debated, Canberra is being urged to modernise its outdated and fragmented approach to Australia’s talent and skills challenge.
Global Australians CEO, Kate McQuestin said Australia risks falling behind if policymakers continue to view the nation’s talent and skills challenge only through the lens of migration numbers.
“The reality is Australia is grappling with the impacts of a disconnected and outdated system that is impacting our competitiveness globally and having long-term consequences for all Australians.”
“Global competition for talent and skills is intensifying and other countries are moving decisively to secure the people they need to succeed,” says McQuestin.
“We currently have critical skills shortages, skilled migrants whose capabilities are not being fully utilised, Australians overseas unable to come home to jobs, and employers and investors looking for talent with no clear and coordinated plan to bring these pieces together.”
The not-for-profit organisation has proposed a range of solutions and recommendations to the Australian Government, which include executing a comprehensive Global Talent & Skills Strategy.
“We need a coordinated national approach that provides an accurate picture of Australia’s talent and skills today, identifies current gaps, and guides the capabilities Australia needs to develop, attract and retain for the future to compete globally.”
“That means bringing together skilled migration, Australians overseas and returning home, international graduates, employers and investors, with a clear understanding of Australia’s current and future capability needs. It must be backed by the infrastructure and practical mechanisms to connect talent, skills and opportunity.”
“The countries that can mobilise the right skills at the right speed will seize opportunities ahead of their competitors and build greater resilience in an uncertain world.”
“Australia does not need another strategy sitting on the shelf in Canberra. Countries that connect talent, industry and opportunity will go further, faster. The global race for talent demands that Australia act quickly or risk being left behind.”
Ms McQuestin said Global Australians was seeing firsthand the impacts of a fragmented system and the disconnect between Australians seeking to return home, employers looking for critical skills and the talent and capabilities Australia needs for the future.
“To give a tangible example, each week, around 80 Australians contact us asking for help to come home and find work. Many have significant international experience in technology, AI, digital, data, finance, energy and infrastructure, precisely the capabilities Australia says it needs.”
“At the same time, international business leaders and investors are raising concerns about Australia’s talent and skills shortages and the impact these constraints are having on their ability to build, grow and invest in their businesses here.”
Ms McQuestin said she heard these concerns directly from international business leaders and investors with interests in Australia at a Global Australians forum in Bangkok last week, echoing concerns raised at recent Global Australians events in the United States, the United Kingdom and Singapore.
“Australia’s skills shortages are increasingly causing concerns beyond our borders, affecting investment decisions in our country with long-term consequences at home.”
Around one million Australians currently live overseas, while millions more have returned after living and working abroad. Global Australians’ research shows more than 90% of Australians overseas want to return home at some point, yet only 15% have a clear pathway to do so.
“Countries such as Singapore, Ireland, Canada and New Zealand realise this and have introduced strategies, programs or dedicated networks designed to attract global skills, develop domestic capability, strengthen connections with their diasporas or create pathways for talent and expertise to contribute to their economies.”
“They recognise that talent is a national asset, wherever it is located, and are putting in place the strategies and infrastructure to turn that talent into national advantage. Australia remains one of relatively few comparable countries without a comprehensive diaspora or global talent and skills strategy.”
Singapore also recently announced a $241 million investment over three years to strengthen fintech innovation, including support for emerging technologies such as AI and the co-funding of at least 1,000 internships to develop the next generation of fintech talent.
More broadly, Singapore is taking a coordinated approach to talent, investing in its next generation, attracting experienced global professionals and maintaining connections with Singaporeans working around the world.
“We have Australians around the world with skills our economy needs, people actively trying to come home, employers looking for those capabilities and international investors concerned about accessing them.”
“75% of Australians overseas want to give back to their home country. We need to be better at keeping Australians connected while they are overseas and creating pathways for their skills, knowledge, networks and experience to benefit Australia.”
“This is not an argument for higher migration. It is about understanding the talent and capabilities Australia has today, identifying what we will need for the future, and putting in place the needed plan, policies and programs to turn that understanding into practical action.”
“We have been raising this issue for some time. We have identified the challenges, provided evidence and put forward practical solutions.”
Practical programs and infrastructure being delivered by Global Australians to address current challenges include:
The Career Pathway Program: connecting Australians overseas and returning home with recruiters, employers and Australian job opportunities with a percentage of commissions reinvested back into the community, while improving visibility of globally experienced talent for employers.
Global Connect Platform and app: connecting Australians globally with people, professional networks, knowledge, jobs and opportunities, including pathways home.
Global Australians Mentoring Initiative: connecting Australians across generations and borders to transfer knowledge, experience and professional connections.
Global Leaders Circle: harnessing the experience, perspectives and networks of accomplished Australians embedded in important international markets and industries.
Global Australian Report and Insights Panel: building a stronger evidence base on Australians overseas and returning home, including their experiences, capabilities, intentions, barriers and perceptions.
Global Australian Awards: identifying, celebrating and reconnecting exceptional Australians globally and those who have returned home.
Global professional and industry networks: connecting Australians by capability, sector, geography and opportunity, and maintaining connections with Australia while they are overseas.
Global Australians was supported by successive Australian Governments from 2002 to 2023. That funding ended, but the work did not.
“This is a global challenge with national consequences. It demands a national response, backed by our national government, just as we are seeing in other countries around the world. Australia simply can’t afford to stand still,” said Ms McQuestin.
About us:
Global Australians (formerly Advance.org) is the Global Community for Australian Ambition. It is an independent, not-for-profit organisation with a community of 70,000 Australians across 140 countries, including Australians living overseas, those seeking to return, recent returnees and Australians working globally.
