Crossing Borders

11/06/2026

Trivia Time:

Who became the first woman elected Prime Minister of the United Kingdom?

09/06/2026

If you're working while studying in Australia, you may soon see a boost in your pay packet. From 1 July 2026, both the National Minimum Wage and minimum award wages are increasing across the country.

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All employees working in Australia are entitled to a minimum wage. This is the minimum amount an employee can be paid for the work that they're doing.

Currently, the National Minimum Wage is $948 per week or $24.95 per hour. The increase takes the minimum wage for a worker on the modern award system to $1,004.90 per week or $26.44 per hour, based on a full-time 38-hour week. These new rates apply to employees not covered by an award or registered agreement.

The minimum award wages will also increase by 4.75%, effective from the first full pay period on or after 1 July 2026. Awards are legal documents that set minimum pay rates and conditions for various industries and occupations. If you’re unsure which award applies to you, use the Find My Award tool provided by the Fair Work Ombudsman.

The new National Minimum Wage will apply from the first full pay period on or after 1 July 2026. This means if your weekly pay period starts on Wednesday, the new rates will apply from Wednesday, 2 July 2026.

09/06/2026

Australian Labour Market for Migrants

The JSA Australian Labour Market for Migrants Report offers an overview of current labour market conditions in Australia. It is designed to inform individuals considering working in Australia on either a temporary or permanent basis, as well as organisations supporting migrants and visa applicants.

Key findings from the April 2026 report include:

- Female migrants continue to experience higher unemployment rates compared to male migrants, with the exception of Tasmania and the Northern Territory.
- For the 2024–25 period, Net Overseas Migration (NOM) was highest in New South Wales and Victoria, and lowest in Tasmania and the Northern Territory.
- Australia’s population growth is projected to slow to 1.3% in 2025–26, before gradually declining to 1.2% from 2026–27 onwards.

https://www.jobsandskills.gov.au/publications/australian-labour-market-migrants-april-2026

09/06/2026

Jobs and Skills Australia (JSA) Updates

2025 Skills in Demand (SID) Report

Jobs and Skills Australia (JSA) has released the 2025 Skills in Demand (SID) Report. This report provides JSA’s analysis of the labour market impacts associated with the three streams of Skills in Demand (Sc 482) visa, covering the period from December 2024 to 30 September 2025.

Discover our high-quality data sets, dashboards, and tools, to help better understand Australia’s skills and labour shortages.

09/06/2026

Registrations are now open for the Work and Holiday (subclass 462) visa ballot for Program Year 2026​-2027

Registrations for the China, India and Vietnam Work and Holiday (subclass 462) visa ballot for Program Year 2026-2027 will open on Thursday 04 June 2026 and will close on Thursday 25 June 2026.

To apply for a first Work an​d Holiday (462) visa during 2026-2027, register in your respective country’s visa ballot from 04 June to 25 June 2026.​

Find out about Australian visas, immigration and citizenship.

09/06/2026

Luxembourg WHM applicants no longer need a Letter of Support

From 03 June 2026, Luxembourg passport holders no longer need to provide a Letter of Support with their Work and Holiday (subclass 462) visa application.

This change reflects ongoing efforts to enhance mobility arrangements between Australia and Luxembourg.

09/06/2026

Western Australia - Goldfields DAMA transition

The Goldfields DAMA will end on 30 June 2026, with arrangements in place to transition to the Western Australian DAMA (WA DAMA). From 1 July 2026, employers in the Goldfields region will be able to access the WA DAMA.

Important dates to consider:

5 June 2026 – last day endorsements can be issued under the Goldfields DAMA by the City of Kalgoorlie-Boulder.
8 June 2026 – Goldfields employers submit new endorsement applications to the Department of Training and Workforce Development under the WA DAMA.
30 June 2026 – Goldfields DAMA ends.
1 July 2026 – applications for endorsement are assessed under the WA DAMA by the Department of Training and Workforce Development through Migration Services.

The Goldfields DAMA will end on 30 June 2026, with arrangements in place to transition to the Western Australian DAMA (WA DAMA).The WA DAMA will continue to provide a pathway for employers to access skilled migrant workers and support workforce needs across Western Australia.Important dates for Gold...

02/06/2026

Gold Migration is officially in liquidation. The Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) has appointed a case worker to manage the company's files and trust accounts.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-06-02/gold-migration-lawyers-in-liquidation/106748894?

If you have been affected. We are here to assist/support you as needed.

Gold Migration Lawyers went into liquidation yesterday, leaving customers out of pocket thousands of dollars and their visa applications unresolved.

29/05/2026

Big changes are coming to skilled migration in Australia 🇦🇺

If your business relies on visa workers under the Kimberley DAMA, here’s what you need to know:

📅 1 July 2026 — Salary thresholds increase to ~$79,499. Lodge before this date to lock in current rates.

📋 Kimberley DAMA expires March 2027

Labour Agreements approved before then can still run for up to 5 years. Start planning now to secure your occupations and concessions.

🔄 WA DAMA is coming — A statewide model will replace regional DAMAs across WA. Final details are still being confirmed.

Don’t wait until the deadline is on your doorstep. Get ahead of these changes and protect your workforce pipeline.

📩 Contact the Crossing Borders team for tailored guidance.

VisaUpdates KimberleyBusiness MigrationLaw HRStrategy SmallBusiness

26/05/2026

The Department of Home Affairs provides an online reporting service which allows members of the public to report suspicious or unlawful activity related to immigration, visas, customs, trade and maritime matters.

The Border Watch form includes a range of reporting categories, such as migration scams or unregistered migration agents, criminal or character concerns, domestic and family violence, employer or sponsor misconduct, visa overstayers, and vulnerable visa holders.

If you become aware of a person or business giving immigration advice or assistance without being a registered migration agent or Australian lawyer, you can report this conduct to the Australian Border Force (ABF) through Border Watch.

Reports can be made anonymously. While the ABF may review and investigate the information provided, people who make a report should be aware that they are unlikely to receive updates about the outcome of any investigation.

Home Affairs brings together Australia's federal law enforcement, national and transport security, criminal justice, emergency management, multicultural affairs, settlement services and immigration and border-related functions, working together to keep Australia safe.