Wasted talent: Prominent Australians call for urgent skills recognition reforms to tackle workforce shortages 

20 March 2025

Fourteen of Australia’s most influential leaders have united to call for urgent reforms to unlock the skills of 620,000 permanent migrants in Australia as one in three professions face critical workforce shortages. 

Former Ambassador to the United States the Hon Arthur Sinodinos AO, public service mandarin Dr Martin Parkinson AC PSM, leading economist Dr Melinda Cilento, and world-renowned psychiatrist Professor Pat McGorry AO are among the prominent Australians to personally endorse the Activate Australia’s Skills campaign calling for an overhaul of Australia’s skills recognition system.  

This comes off the back of the Economic Inclusion Advisory Committee last week formally recommending to the federal government, in its 2025 report, that the system be reformed to prevent it from holding back skilled people – particularly migrants – from moving into work aligned with their skills.  

To get their skills recognised under the current system, qualified overseas-trained professionals face an endless maze of hurdles that are not related to their actual skills: outdated paperwork requirements, lengthy wait periods, assessments costing upwards of thousands of dollars, and excessive red tape. This is despite critical workforce shortages in healthcare, construction, and other key sectors. 

Research conducted by Deloitte Access Economics found that almost half (44 per cent) of permanent migrants in Australia work below their skill level, and that better harnessing their skills could inject $9 billion annually into Australia’s economy.  

The Activate Australia’s Skills campaign, which is convened by non-profit organisation SSI, is calling on the federal government to implement key skills recognition reforms:   

• Establish one national governance system for all overseas skills and qualifications recognition, including an Ombudsman with regulatory power to provide independent oversight and transparency.   

• Create a seamless process with greater national consistency and reduced red tape.  

• Provide financial support for individuals to remove cost barriers and an online portal with all the information so people know what they need to do.  

• Set up Migrant Employment Pathway Hubs with skills recognition navigators to get qualified people working in their professions again.  

Statements from leading Australians supporting the campaign (see below for full list of endorsers): 

Hon Arthur Sinodinos AO, Former Industry Minister; Former Australian Ambassador to the United States: 

“This is a matter of national interest. In a competitive global market for talent, Australia cannot afford systems that waste the skills we’ve already attracted. These reforms are about securing our economic future.” 

Dr Martin Parkinson AC PSM, Former Secretary of Treasury and the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet; Chair of the Migration System Review: 

“The complexity and inefficiency of our skills recognition system undermine Australia’s productivity and our ability to deliver the living standards Australians expect. Our migration program was intended to deliver us highly skilled migrants able to contribute to Australia. But the current process for skills recognition is immensely frustrating, time-consuming and costly for overseas-trained workers seeking to contribute their expertise. By preventing migrants from contributing to their fullest extent, it is holding back the country and all of us from reaping the full benefits of our skilled migration program.” 

Hass Dellal AO, Chair of the Australian Multicultural Foundation; Panel Chair of the Australian Multicultural Framework Review: 

“These reforms are about recognising the valuable skills and contributions migrants make to our society and economy. When we remove unnecessary barriers to skilled participation, we strengthen Australia’s multicultural success story while addressing critical workforce shortages across the nation. Australia is at its best when everyone can contribute their skills and expertise to the fullest, and right now many migrants are being blocked from doing that due to needless barriers that need to be addressed.” 

Professor Gillian Triggs AC, former President of the Australian Human Rights Commission:  

“Speedy recognition of the overseas skills and qualifications of migrants and refugees both benefits Australia and enables new arrivals to find protection and opportunities. Everyone would benefit from a faster and fairer system so people who started their careers and studies overseas can work in their fields and bring their full skillset to work.” 

Violet Roumeliotis AM, CEO of Settlement Services International:  

“Many governments have tinkered at the edges of Australia’s skills recognition progress, when what is really needed is wholesale reform to create a skills recognition system that is fairer, more affordable, and more effective at meeting our skill needs. If we get this right, it benefits everyone. Businesses can fill skills gaps. Qualified professionals get to work in their occupations again. More Australians will get the services they need – from healthcare to education to housing. If we activate Australia’s skills, everyone wins.” 

Prominent Australians endorsing the campaign include:  

• Hon Arthur Sinodinos AO – Former Industry Minister; Former Australian Ambassador to the United States

• Dr Martin Parkinson AC PSM – Former Secretary of Treasury and the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet; Chair of the Migration System Review 

• Prof Gillian Triggs AC – Former President of the Australian Human Rights Commission  

• Hass Dellal AO – Chair of the Australian Multicultural Foundation; Panel Chair of the Australian Multicultural Framework Review 

• Prof Pat McGorry AO – Leading psychiatrist; Executive Director of Orygen; former Australian of the Year  

• Melinda Cilento – CEO of CEDA; Deputy Chair of Australian Unity; former Chief Economist at the Business Council of Australia  

• Violet Roumeliotis AM – CEO of Settlement Services International 

• Daniel Hunter – CEO of Business NSW; Board Member at the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry 

• Lisa Annese – CEO of Chief Executive Women  

• Liz Ritchie – CEO of the Regional Australia Institute  

• David Borger – Executive Director of Business Western Sydney; Former NSW Housing Minister 

• Craig Foster AM – Human rights advocate, broadcaster, and former Socceroo  

• Dr Cassandra Goldie AO – CEO of the Australian Council of Social Service (ACOSS); Adjunct Professor, UNSW  

• Mary Ann Baquero Geronimo – CEO of the Federation of Ethnic Communities’ Councils of Australia (FECCA)