South Australia is now offering free schooling to the dependents of subclass 457 and 482 visa holders attending government schools in regional areas.
The exemption, which comes into effect from this school year, will apply to all eligible students attending schools in regional areas.
The fee waiver could prove to be a significant financial help to the foreign workers on temporary and other work visas.
Previously, skilled workers with a sub-class 457 and 482 visas were required to pay a student contribution fee which in 2019, could be up to $5,300 per primary school student and $6,400 per high school student.
South Australia's Education Minister John Gardner said the Government was focused on making a living and working in regional South Australia more attractive to migrants.
“This significant investment will support regional businesses to meet the skills shortages and attract the skilled workers they need to grow,” said Minister Gardner.
“Waiving this fee for children of migrant families attending a regional public school is an incentive for more foreign workers to settle or work in regional South Australia and contribute to the state’s growing economy.
South Australia expects this move will help grow business activity and employment in regional areas.
Melbourne based Migration expert Chaman Preet welcomes this announcement as a big support for skilled workers who put in a lot of hard work for a bright future for their families and themselves.
"In this cycle of migration that they are in, migration fee ( for migration services and immigration fee) is a huge expense which may or may not be borne by the employers. Any savings that they can make adds on. I am sure it’s a welcome step for most migrants and will make regional areas attractive," said Ms Chaman Preet.
