For partners 
Since March 1, the cost of a work visa for university graduates in Australia has doubled: the fee for the Temporary Graduate visa, Subclass 485 now amounts to $AUD 4,600. Such drastic changes have sparked a wave of criticism among the international education community.
The increase came unexpectedly, without prior notice — partly for this reason, the Council of Australian Postgraduate Associations called this step an unfair financial burden on young professionals. Experts believe that this change literally signals that international graduates are perceived solely as a source of revenue rather than a valuable resource for Australia's economy and society. Foreign students come to study in Australia in part to gain work experience, advance their careers, and build professional connections, but instead they face unplanned and excessive costs. A study by the CAPA organization among master's and doctoral students at the University of Melbourne showed that employment opportunities are one of the key priorities for international students. Nearly half of the respondents cited difficulties finding employment as their main concern.
Official representative of the organization Qiuming Zhang stated that such sudden changes in migration policy call into question Australia's reputation as a stable and reliable destination for foreign students. Over time, this may affect partnerships in international education, diplomatic relations, and long-term economic competitiveness.
