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This is Australia Lawyers

This is Australia Lawyers is a dynamic and contemporary law firm based in Darwin, NT.

21/08/2026

DAMA pathways are not limited to trade and labour roles. A range of professional and office-based occupations may also be available, depending on the region and current occupation list.

If your background is in administration, management, finance, professional services or another skilled field, a DAMA may provide options worth exploring.

Our migration lawyers can review your occupation, experience and location to assess whether a DAMA pathway may be available to you.

📩 Contact our Darwin office for more information:
www.tia.au/contact-us

19/08/2026

Student visa requirements in Australia have changed significantly in recent times, making it more important than ever to understand the rules that apply to your circumstances.

Whether you are preparing a new application, considering further study, or reviewing your current visa options, our migration lawyers can assess your circumstances and explain the requirements that may apply.

Contact This is Australia Lawyers to discuss your student visa eligibility and the options available to you.

📩 Contact our Darwin office for more information:
www.tia.au/contact-us

17/08/2026

Mathew Perich is the Founder and Director of This Is Australia, and Founder and Lawyer for TIA Lawyers. Mathew has been assisting clients with all aspects of migration law and policy since 2002 and is well renowned among migration colleagues and the Department of Home Affairs.

He has managed thousands of migration applications, which has resulted in thousands of satisfied clients. His ample knowledge has added tremendous value to the firm’s success and development. For these reasons, This Is Australia now acts for and is on the panel for many national and multi-national corporate enterprises.

Along with providing Migration assistance and advice since 2002, Mathew holds a Bachelor of Laws with Honors and is a Migration Lawyer. He is also a member of the Migration Institute of Australia. Mathew also regularly writes news updates and legal briefs and delivers internal seminars on a broad range of topics associated with the migration industry. Mathew also lectures Immigration Law Policy at Bond University, Faculty of Law every year since 2014.

14/08/2026

Under Ministerial Direction 117, eligible applicants who were in Australia when they applied, and whose visa can be granted onshore, now receive priority over applicants outside Australia.

Within those groups, partner and dependent child applications remain ahead of parent and other family visa applications. The new priorities also apply to relevant applications lodged before 25 July 2026 that remain undecided.

Processing priority does not guarantee approval or a fixed processing timeframe.

📩 Contact our Darwin office for more information:
www.tia.au/contact-us

12/08/2026

Looking for more options when it comes to skilled migration in Australia?

Designated Area Migration Agreements (DAMAs) can provide access to a wider range of occupations, including roles that may not be available through standard skilled migration pathways.

Eligibility and requirements vary depending on the region, occupation and individual circumstances. Our migration lawyers can help you understand whether a DAMA pathway may suit your situation.

📩 Contact our Darwin office for more information:
www.tia.au/contact-us

10/08/2026

Prior to starting his own practice, Anthony was employed for many years with two highly regarded law firms – a multinational top-tier law firm where he was appointed an Associate and, earlier in his career, a lawyer for a highly regarded banking and finance law firm in Sydney.

Having years of experience in the banking and finance industry, he has acted for all the major Australian banks (including the big four) and has hands-on experience and knowledge in structuring and documenting complex commercial, corporate and project finance facilities. He has ample experience in mortgagee and debt recovery matters, including advising lenders in relation to their enforcement options and strategic plans for debt recovery.

As the team leader for the migration law, corporate and employer sponsorship section, he handles complex migration applications for a vast range of visa subclasses and heads a team of several members for this section. He is also a Registered Migration Advisor for New Zealand (No. 201200560) and has ample knowledge of most New Zealand visas. His predominant focus is on Skilled Migrant Category Visas (points test based); Essential Skills – Work Visas; Talent (Accredited Employer) Visas, Specific Purpose Work Visas and family related visas, including Partner, Retirement and Parent Visas.

Anthony also undertakes the duties of a Notary Public. He is admitted to practice as a Notary Public in the Northern Territory, New South Wales and Queensland.

07/08/2026

Australia has introduced new processing priorities for skilled and employer-sponsored visa applications.

Under Ministerial Direction 119, many onshore applicants now receive priority over offshore applicants. Onshore healthcare, teaching and construction applications also receive a higher processing priority.

The Direction applies to several major visa subclasses, including the Skills in Demand subclass 482, Employer Nomination Scheme subclass 186, Skilled Nominated subclass 190, Skilled Work Regional subclass 491 and subclass 494.

These changes also apply to relevant applications lodged before 25 July 2026 that remain undecided.

Processing priority does not guarantee approval or a specific processing timeframe.

📩Contact This is Australia Lawyers for advice about how these changes may affect your application.

www.tia.au/contact-us

06/08/2026

Australia has held its ground in the 2026 Henley Passport Index, staying in equal seventh place worldwide. That means Australians can travel to 183 destinations with visa-free or visa-on-arrival entry, keeping the passport firmly in the global top tier.

Singapore remains number one with access to 192 destinations, while Japan, South Korea and the United Arab Emirates are close behind. The index uses IATA Timatic travel rules to track how many places people can visit without arranging a visa in advance, and it also shows how travel access has expanded over time. Overall, it’s a strong result that confirms Australia’s ongoing travel freedom.

📩 Contact our Darwin office for more information:
www.tia.au/contact-us

05/08/2026

Work and Holiday visa applications are currently paused for passport holders from Argentina, Austria, Brazil, Chile, Czech Republic, Greece, Hungary, Indonesia, Israel, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Mongolia, Papua New Guinea, Poland, Portugal, Singapore, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Spain, Switzerland, Thailand and Uruguay.

This pause applies to first Work and Holiday visa subclass 462 applications. Paused caps may reopen later in the same program year, so applicants should check the Department of Home Affairs website regularly for updates.

📩 Contact us for more information:
www.tia.au/contact-us

02/08/2026

International students undertaking formal studies in Australia and their dependents (including spouses and children under 18) must have OSHC.

Your visa can be cancelled if you do not maintain OSHC for the duration of the intended Student Visa period.

This is Australia Lawyers has access to some of the most affordable OSHC options.

📩 Contact us for more information:
www.tia.au/contact-us

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