For many Australian businesses, finding people with the right skills has become one of the greatest barriers to growth. Roles can remain vacant for months, existing employees are placed under pressure and businesses may be forced to delay projects or turn away opportunities.
Sponsoring skilled workers from overseas may offer a solution, but Australia’s migration system can be difficult for employers to navigate. Visa categories, eligibility requirements, sponsorship responsibilities and ongoing compliance obligations can quickly become overwhelming—particularly for businesses exploring international recruitment for the first time.
This September, Salaam Institute will present two practical masterclasses designed to help employers better understand the skilled worker sponsorship process.
Led by immigration lawyer Farhan Rehman, the sessions will be held in Sydney on Monday 14 September and Melbourne on Tuesday 15 September.
The masterclasses will examine how Australia’s employer-sponsored migration system works and what businesses should consider before recruiting workers internationally. Attendees will gain a clearer understanding of the available sponsorship pathways, the responsibilities placed on employers and the common issues that can cause applications to be delayed or refused.
The sessions will also explore the broader process of identifying workforce shortages, finding appropriately qualified candidates and determining whether sponsorship is a suitable option for a business.
Farhan Rehman is a founding partner of Rehman Sheriff Group, a nationally established immigration law firm with offices in Melbourne, Sydney, Wagga Wagga and Dubai. He also serves as Salaam Institute’s Director of Business Operations and Riverina Chapter Chair.
Drawing on more than a decade of experience in immigration law and workforce acquisition, Rehman will provide practical insights into employer-sponsored visas, skilled migration pathways and the compliance responsibilities businesses must manage throughout the sponsorship process.
The masterclasses come at a time when employers across sectors including healthcare, construction, automotive, hospitality, engineering and technical services continue to experience difficulty filling specialised roles.
Although overseas recruitment can provide access to a wider pool of talent, sponsorship is not simply a matter of offering someone a job. Employers may need to satisfy several legal and procedural requirements, including demonstrating a genuine need for the position, meeting salary and employment conditions, completing labour-market testing where required and maintaining accurate records.
Understanding these obligations from the outset can help businesses make informed decisions, reduce avoidable mistakes and build more sustainable workforce strategies.
The sessions will be particularly relevant to business owners, executives, human resources professionals, recruitment specialists and managers responsible for workforce planning. They will also provide useful context for professionals seeking to better understand how employer sponsorship decisions are made.
Rather than offering a general overview of migration, the masterclasses are designed to give employers practical knowledge they can apply when assessing their own staffing needs and considering the next steps.
The Sydney masterclass will take place at Rydges Bankstown on 14 September, with the Melbourne session to follow on 15 September.
Registrations are now open:
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