INTERNATIONAL EDUCATION
By Roger Bartholomew

Roger Bartholomew spends his life talking with students - both as a teacher and as a counselor. His position as president of International Education Specialists, Chairman of Southville Foreign University and Director/Teacher at Southville International School all involve listening to students and parents and advising them on their studies and careers. He is a frequent speaker in schools, colleges, universities, public forums and focus groups. He can be reached at rogerb@inter-ed.com.

Opportunities in Australia

This month’s column is being written in the land from Down Under or Australia. After many hundreds of e-mails and text messages asking for information about NZ last month, I felt I had to do a final visit of Australia before moving on.

Entering Australian airspace, I reflected on the fact that I was flying QANTAS but that the plane I was in did not have a hole the size of an armored car beside my seat and statistically, at least, I was fairly safe. However, upon filling out the Australian immigration arrival form, one question leapt out off the page at me:  “Do you have a criminal record?” In the old days, that was the only way down to Australia, unless you wanted to pay for a ticket, but today the only criminal record I had was recorded by Barry Manilow – and I decided not to declare it.

Destination Adelaide – the Capital City of South Australia and the only State Capital that still accepts regional migrants from overseas. The purpose of my visit was twofold: firstly to work with University of South Australia to enable almost all Filipinos with Nursing degrees (with or without Board Exams and work experience) to become licensed professionals in Australia as quickly and as inexpensively as possible. Mission was accomplished and Southville International School and Colleges graduates will be the first to benefit from this.

Employees Adelaide is looking for

In addition, there are fantastic opportunities for Mid-Wives. While being shown round the School of Health Sciences, I heard much debate as to whether the dummy patients they were going to buy would be “Mid-Fi” or “Hi-Fi”. Apparently today’s “Hi-Fi” dummies are completely realistic, and by use of a remote control, can show the symptoms of all kinds of diseases and can respond realistically to the treatment given – but they cost about USD$70,000.00. I offered them my mother-in-law for half the price, but…….

Adelaide was also the place for our HRM and Culinary students at the world renowned International College of Hotel Management (ICHM) and the Regency College. Both HRM and Culinary programs from these institutions will be available in the Philippines at Southville Foreign University. After one year of fully paid internship in Australia combined with the completion of their Bachelors degree, students can then apply to remain in Australia either working or as residents.

However, the big news in Adelaide was the shortage of skilled professionals – particularly Engineers, Architects, Project Managers, Mining Engineers, Geologists, Metallurgists, Electrical Engineers, Nurses, Draftsmen, Mechanics, Mechanical Engineers, Civil Engineers, Gingineers, and a large range of construction skills. Wages are much higher than the Middle East (starting salaries of AUD$80,000.00/year), working conditions much better, and professionals are encouraged to bring their families where spouses can work and children can go to the excellent government schools, etc, etc. The opportunities are unbelievable and immediate. If you are one of the above, or if you’re skilled and experienced on 12D software, drop me an e-mail on roger@info.com.ph or a text on 0918-912-5191. Have I got news for you!

As I write this, I am in Brisbane in the depths of “winter”! The temperature is 18 – 21 degrees during the day and 12 – 15 in the evening. Blue sky and sunshine - absolutely beautiful. The street life is lively and features every nationality under the sun, the environment is clean and modern, and everywhere needs more people to come and work for them. Even the chambermaids (actually a 6’ 4” Chinese guy with 3 words of English) in my hotel earn AUD$15.00/hour! And just to put the icing on the cake, the opportunity has just opened up (today) for Philippine HRM graduates to take years of  (well) paid internship in four/five star hotels in Australia with a proper development training program and working across at least four major areas within the hotel.

What more can I say – Australia has got it all.  What you have to provide is the desire and determination for something much better out of life. Contact me to find out how to take advantage of what Australia has to offer. Email rogerb@inter-ed.com

Until the next upload, when I am going to be featuring ENGINEERING, this is Roger Bartholomew saying “G’Day” from a charming street Bistro and bottle of great Australian Wine.

Study Group – Brisbane; entry to QUT and Griffiths University	Brisbane Skyline