If you are currently in Australia and finding it difficult to get PR, even though there don't seem to be any major obstacles in your way, you are probably an international student who has an Australian qualification, but can't get employment. Usually the main reasons are lack of work experience and/or inadequate English language skills. Or it may be your inability to adequately market yourself to prospective employers.

If you feel this applies to you, you may want to think about enrolling in an Internship or in a Job Readiness program.

Internships

An official definition of Internship is "an internship is a carefully monitored work or volunteer experience in which an individual has intentional learning goals and reflects actively on what he or she is learning throughout the experience". A somewhat more intelligible definition would be "an internship is the transition from study to work which enables a person to further develop their skills, so that they are in a better position to succeed when they are ready to become part of the workforce".

An Internship is not a job - it is the missing link between your academic studies and employment. An internship program should therefore be based on what you want to achieve by doing the program. Because the main aim is for you to achieve the objectives you have set yourself, you will not be paid while you are doing an internship.

To assist international students who are finding it difficult to land a job and so qualify for Permanent Residence, or who are required by DIAC to undertake further training and/or studies before they can apply for Permanent Residence, AMES has established a close relationship with two of the major providers of internships in Australia, Australian Internship and Navitas Workforce Solutions.

If you are betweeen 18 and 30 years old and have an IELTS score of 6 in all bands AMES can place you in one of three work experience programs offered by Australian Internships, the Hospitality Program, the Professional Program or the Volunteer Program.

Contact AMES for details.

Through our arrangement with Navitas Workforce Solutions you are able, as an AMES client, to participate in an unpaid internship placement that will assist you to develop your career. The Navitas program is designed to prepare graduates for working in Australia by offering hands-on, practical work experience and professional workplace training. You can spend between 8-26 weeks working in your chosen industry alongside Australian professionals in a host organisation. Navitas Workforce Solutions and the host organisations they work with will develop a training plan and allocate a mentor for you. To help you get the most out of the program, your internship will be complemented by a short online Workplace Effectiveness course for which you will receive a Certificate.

Contact AMES for details.

Navitas Career Experience Program

In collaboration with AMES Navitas has set up a specially designed 18-week program for international graduates resident in Adelaide who for a variety of reasons don't require the Professional Year program, but need instead a work-readiness industry-specific training coupled with an internship to enhance their local employability. The program is by invitation only and consists of 6 weeks industry specific coursework, followed by a 12-week internship.

Contact AMES for details.