By SUNNY LIU 

International students in Australia are paying more than $5000 for a training program to secure an unpaid internship at an Australian firm.

The training program offers lessons on skills in using accounting software and interviewing strategies with a 12-week internship guaranteed at the end of the program. 

International students are flocking to the training institution to improve their professional skills and employability.

The tutors are mostly CPA-accredited accountants from a Chinese background.  

The students are primarily Chinese nationals who have trouble finding internship opportunities during or after their studies at Australian universities. 

Chinese student David Chen* said he was willing to pay for the training program because he couldn’t find an internship on his own. 

“The program gives me an intern position at a local Australian company which can be a great addition to my CV,” he said. 

“It’s very hard for international students to find internships because of our backgrounds and there are so many students studying the same course.”  

The Department of Immigration and Border Protection has authorised the Professional Year program, which introduces recent international graduates to their respective occupations and relevant professional training. 

Professional Year is a 10-month program, with seven months of training and three months of professional placement. 

To apply for permanent residency in Australia international graduates must have 60 points under the general skilled migration points test. An undergraduate degree from an Australian university is worth 15 points. 

Completing a professional year gains an international student five immigration points, making the program a popular choice for those hoping to stay in Australia permanently. 

Adelaide resident Yue Wu paid $7200 for the Professional Year program in 2014, which involved interning unpaid at an Adelaide accounting firm for three months.

“At that time I just wanted to get my permanent residency as soon as possible, but I was short on five points to apply so I went through the Professional Year program to help me get my residency,” she said.

“I think many other students wanted the experiences but my goal was to get my permanent residency first. 

“Some people pay more money to get an internship at a bigger company with the chance of getting a job after the internship.” 

Major internship provider Navitas Internships said the PY program could enhance professional skills and expand employment opportunities for international students.

“Internship placements in Australia are generally unpaid,” Navitas’ Melbourne office said.

“The primary goal of an internship is to receive training and gain practical experience.”

Completing an accounting PY program with Navitas Internships costs a student $12,950 and a program in computer science costs $13,180.

*David Chen is a pseudonym