The job market in Australia for Filipino nurses and skilled workers is expanding fast, according to Raul V. Hernandez, honorary consul to Melbourne who visited Davao City last week.

Hernandez, said the state of Victoria alone would need some 10,000 nurses in the next three years.

The other five states and two territories of the vast commonwealth are New South Wales with Sydney as capital, Queensland (Brisbane), South Australia (Adelaide), Tasmania (Hobart), Western Australia (largest state with Perth as capital city), Northern Territory (Darwin) and Australian Capital Territory (ACT) with Canberra as capital.

Australia, Hernandez said, is also in need of more plumbers, welders and other skilled workers coming from the Philippines and other countries in Southeast Asia.

The demand for more workers, he said, has prompted Australia to introduce a visa called "457" which refers to a short term and long business visa.

"Technically, there is now a contract workers situation in Australia," Hernandez said, adding contract workers can now stay a minimum of three months to a maximum of four years, he said.

Under the new visa system, a qualified worker who has proven himself to be a good performer can apply for permanent residence after three years.

In his short visit to City Hall, Hernandez encouraged the city leadership and the local business community to promote the city to investors in Melbourne.

He said Australian businessmen are now looking for investment areas outside Manila.