More than 800 prospective migrants converged on Sydney’s CBD for the inaugural ‘First One Migration Fair 2025’ on 25 October. Hosted by education-and-migration agency First One Education, the two-hour event offered on-the-spot consultations about Training (407), Temporary Skill Shortage (482), Employer Nomination Scheme (186) and Permanent Residency options.
With the Skilled Visa overhaul taking effect the same day, demand for real-time advice was palpable. Attendees queued to discuss updated English-language thresholds, faster regional PR routes and the new Core Skills Occupation List. Several NSW employers in healthcare and hospitality conducted preliminary interviews on-site, signalling a proactive approach to talent acquisition amid chronic shortages.
The fair also placed a spotlight on compliance and post-arrival settlement. Sessions covered recognising overseas qualifications, navigating Medicare waiting periods and strategies for securing rental housing in a tight market. Migration agents reported a surge in queries from international students contemplating a switch to employer sponsorship as the government tightens graduate-visa rules.
Organisers plan to take the roadshow to Brisbane and Melbourne in November. For HR teams, such fairs provide a low-cost channel to meet talent early in the pipeline and promote regional job offers that attract additional visa points.
While not an official government event, Migration Fair 2025 underscores how private-sector initiatives are filling information gaps as Canberra rewires the migration system.
With the Skilled Visa overhaul taking effect the same day, demand for real-time advice was palpable. Attendees queued to discuss updated English-language thresholds, faster regional PR routes and the new Core Skills Occupation List. Several NSW employers in healthcare and hospitality conducted preliminary interviews on-site, signalling a proactive approach to talent acquisition amid chronic shortages.
The fair also placed a spotlight on compliance and post-arrival settlement. Sessions covered recognising overseas qualifications, navigating Medicare waiting periods and strategies for securing rental housing in a tight market. Migration agents reported a surge in queries from international students contemplating a switch to employer sponsorship as the government tightens graduate-visa rules.
Organisers plan to take the roadshow to Brisbane and Melbourne in November. For HR teams, such fairs provide a low-cost channel to meet talent early in the pipeline and promote regional job offers that attract additional visa points.
While not an official government event, Migration Fair 2025 underscores how private-sector initiatives are filling information gaps as Canberra rewires the migration system.
