If Covid-19 has taught us anything over the last two years, it’s that nothing is certain. No one could have imagined we would be subjected to a pandemic causing lockdowns, border closures and pretty much a standstill to everyday life. So, will 2022 be any different?
The last couple of months of 2021 saw things look up. International borders opened, international students as well as skilled and unskilled migrants were welcomed back into the country.
The federal government’s focus for 2022 is Covid-19 recovery and migration will play a big part in Australia’s economic recovery. It’s anticipated that by the end of March things will be close to normal again and migrant numbers are forecast to climb to approximately 180,000 in the 2022/23 period.
But as Covid-19 and in particular its more recent strain, Omicron has shown us, things can change in an instant! Omicron which reared its head in late 2021, has taken Australia by surprise. More contagious yet less severe, it has caused a spike in daily cases nationwide that had not yet been seen in Australia throughout the pandemic.
Looking at the rest of the world, countries that seemed to make it through to the other side of the pandemic and living life as if Covid-19 never existed have been plunged back into lockdown as they enter the third winter of the pandemic. With variants constantly emerging and pushing numbers up, it’s no surprise Australians are worried about what happens next.
The federal government is adamant that international borders will remain open which is a promising sign for migration and life in general. International students are here and ready to study and businesses are ready to employ the services of overseas workers.
Hopefully, state leaders will see to opening and keeping open domestic borders. Closed domestic borders can be frustrating for families wanting to visit but can also cause complications for businesses that need to move their employees around.
So far, with the high numbers reported daily, most freedoms are still able to be enjoyed. With some restrictions in place when it comes to density limits and dance floors, for the most part Aussies are free to do as they choose including travel internationally. It seems that the onus is now on individuals to be responsible and do their best to protect themselves from Covid-19. That said, will 2022 see Aussies living life like before in the hope that we get through this relatively unscathed?
We’d like to say we’ve seen the end of lockdowns and border closures and we hope that is the case but if this pandemic has taught us anything, it’s that things can change very quickly.
If you would like to learn more about any aspect of migration, contact the Visa Solutions teams on 1800 828 008 or send us an email.
