Employing workers from overseas can give your business a real advantage, by introducing new ideas and technologies.

People who migrate to Australia are entitled to work here, but people visiting Australia may or may not have the right to work. You have an obligation to check a potential employee's work entitlements to ensure you do not face penalties due to employing illegal workers.

All immigration to Australia is controlled by the federal government through the Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC). There are numerous migrant work visas that have different selection criteria to qualify - you should seek information about the options from DIAC.

To help you find overseas workers, DIAC has a free online Skill Matching Database. The database holds information on potential workers from a variety of trades and professions, who are genuinely interested in living and working in Australia.