Regional and State/Territory Specific Schemes

Australian Government and State Government Responsibilities

Northern Territory Government Sponsorship for General Skilled Migration (GSM) Visas

Occupation assessments for TRA and VETASSESS

GSM pathways for CDU International Graduates

Employer Sponsored Visa options

GSM future directions - SkillSelect

Presentation Outline

Six States & Two Territories make up the Commonwealth of Australia.

The Commonwealth Government is responsible for making laws on some issues, while State/Territories Governments retain all other law-making rights.

The Commonwealth Government generally has responsibility for laws on matters affecting the whole of Australia. For example: money, postal & telephone services, international relations, immigration, quarantine, and defence.

State governments influence migration policy & facilitate migration by participating in state specific and regional migration programs.

Australia’s Government – Migration

The whole of the Northern Territory, including its capital Darwin, is regional for migration purposes.

The Northern Territory and Regional Migration

Regional and State/Territory Specific Schemes

Skilled – Sponsored or Skilled Regional Sponsored

The Northern Territory State Migration Plan enables the Northern Territory Government (Department of Business and Employment) to sponsor people whose skilled occupations are:

• Listed on the NT’s State Migration Plan or• An ‘off list’ nomination. To be eligible for an “off list” nomination an

applicant’s occupation must be on the SOL Schedule 2. A CDU student applicant seeking an “off list” nomination by the NT must demonstrate their employability in the NT.

Applicants for one of the General Skilled Migration (GSM) visas who have State Government sponsorship have 2nd highest priority for visa processing by the Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC).

Regional & State/Territory Specific Schemes

The NT Government will nominate all eligible students who have completed two years study at the CDU (and have positive skills assessments for either:

Skilled Sponsored; or

Skilled - Regional Sponsored (Provisional).

To be nominated by the NT Government applicants, including eligible CDU graduates, whose occupations are not on the DIAC endorsed NT State Migration Plan must show that they have positive employment prospects or are in employment (in their skilled occupation) in the Northern Territory.

Applicants sponsored by the NT Government must give an undertaking to live and work in the NT for no less than two years from

when their visa is granted.

Eligibility Criteria - Onshore General Skilled Migration

To be eligible to apply for one of the onshore General Skilled Migration visas applicants must:

• Successfully graduate with Diploma, Degree or higher qualification following two years of full time study while in an Australian campus

• Have a positive skills assessment by the relevant assessment body for an eligible occupation

• Be under 50 years of age at the time they lodge their visa application• Have an IELTS score of no less than 6 on each of the four IELTS

testing bands• Achieve no less than a score of 65 points on the General Skilled

Migration Points Test• If applying for a Skilled Sponsored or Skilled Regional Sponsored

visa have sponsorship from a State or Territory Government.

Factor Description Points

Age 18–24 25

25–32 30

33–39 25

40–44 15

45–49 0

English language * or equivalent standard in a specified test)

Competent English - IELTS 6* 0

Proficient English - IELTS 7* 10

Superior English - IELTS 8* 20

Australian or overseas skilled employment in nominated occupation or a closely related occupation undertaken in the past 10 years Note: Maximum points that can be awarded for any combination of Australian or overseas skilled employment is 20 points

One year in Australia 5

Three years in Australia 10

Five years in Australia 15

Eight years in Australia 20

Three years overseas 5

Five years overseas 10

Eight years overseas 15

General Skilled Migration – Points Test (1July 2011)

General Skilled Migration – Points Test (1July 2011)

Factor Description Points

Qualifications (Australian or recognised overseas)

Australian Diploma or trade qualification or other qualification recognised by a relevant Assessing Authority

10

At least a Bachelor degree 15

Doctorate 20

Australian study requirement Minimum two years full-time (Australian study requirement)

5

Study in a regional area Must meet the Australian Study Requirement while studying in a regional area

5

Professional Year Completion of a recognised Professional Year 5

Credentialed Community language NAATI accreditation 5

Partner skills Primary applicants partner meets threshold requirements for skilled migration visa

5

Nomination by state/territory government (subclass 176 or 886 visa)

Nomination by a state or territory government under a state migration plan

5

Designated area sponsorship or nominated by state/territory government (subclass 475 or 487 visa)

Sponsorship by an eligible relative living in a designated area or nomination by a state or territory government under a state migration plan

10

Occupational Assessment for International Students

Skills assessments for a large number of occupations changed from 1 July 2010.

Trade SkillsTrade Recognition Australia (TRA) now requires international graduates who are applying for permanent or provisional residency nominating a trade occupation to be ‘Job Ready’. The TRA Job Ready Program is a four step process

Professions assessed by VETASSESS International student graduates seeking assessments from VETASSESS must meet new assessment criteria including having a relevant Australian level qualification and no less than one year’s experience in the skilled occupation for which they are to be assessed

Other ProfessionsSome changes to assessments conducted by the professional bodies e.g. Accountants

Provisional Skills Assessment for Graduate Skilled (subclass 485) - can only be used for this visa subclass application.

Skills Testing for Trades Onshore Graduates

Must register online through the Job Ready Online Application.

Trade Recognition Australia’s Job Ready Program is a four step process:

Skills Testing for Trades Onshore Graduates

Step 1: Apply for a Provisional Skills Assessment. With this provisional skills assessment students can only apply for a Subclass 485 Skilled Graduate (18 month temporary visa)

Step 2: Complete the Job Ready Employment. A subclass 485 visa will give applicants 18 months to complete the 12 months of full time employment required to gain skills & Australian work experience  

Step 3: Complete a  Job Ready Workplace Assessment. Demonstrate the trade skills in the workplace to a TRA approved assessor.

Step 4: Apply for a Job Ready Final Assessment. Submit all the evidence required during Steps 1 to 3 to apply for a final assessment required to apply for permanent migration under one of the GSM visas

Recent International Student Graduates who intend to apply for a Skilled – Graduate (Temporary) visa (subclass 485)

General Professional Assessment by VETASSESS

For a VETASSESS assessment applicants are now required to have not less than 12 months employment in the occupation they nominate. VETASSESS offers a ‘qualifications only assessment’ for applicants applying for the Subclass 485 Skilled Graduate visa.

Step 1:Apply for a ‘qualifications only’ assessment. Applicants need a qualification which is comparable to the AQF Bachelor Degree in a field of study highly relevant to the occupation they nominate may only nominate managerial, administrative, or professional occupations on the Skilled Occupation List (SOL) from Group A or B.

Step 2: Apply for Subclass 485 visa to gain sufficient relevant employment experience to apply for a full Skills Assessment from VETASSESS

Step 3Apply to migrate under the General Skilled Migration (GSM) or Employer Nomination Scheme (ENS).

Group A Occupations: • AQF Bachelor degree (in a highly relevant field to the nominated occupation) and at least

one year in last five years skilled employment in closely related field. Group B Occupations:• AQF Bachelor degree (in a highly relevant field to the nominated occupation) and at least

one year in last five years skilled employment in closely related field. Either two or three years of relevant employment if the qualification/s has a shortfall in content relevance.

Applicants who have occupations in Group C and D cannot apply for assessments for the Subclass 485 visa

Group C Occupations: AQF Diploma, in a highly relevant field to the nominated occupation and at least one year in last five years skilled employment in closely related field. Two years of such employment is required if the qualification/s has a shortfall in content relevance.

Group D Occupations: AQF Certificate IV, in a highly relevant field and at least one year in last five years skilled employment in closely related field. Two years of such employment is required if the qualification/s has a shortfall in content relevance.

General Professional Assessment by VETASSESS

Recent Australian graduates can only apply for a Subclass 485 visa if they nominate an occupation on the Skilled Occupation List from Group A or B.

GROUP A OCCUPATIONS (Examples)

ANZSCO Occupation

221213 Accountant - Internal Auditor

234111 Agricultural Consultant

234112 Agricultural Scientist

411711 Community Worker234313 Environmental

Research Scientist242211 Vocational

Education Teacher232611 Urban and

Regional Planner

GROUP B OCCUPATIONS (Examples)

ANZSCO Occupation

225111 Advertising Specialist

225113 Marketing Specialist224711 Management

Consultant224999 Information and

Organisation Professionals nec

251311 Environmental Health Officer

232411 Graphic Designer141311 Hotel or Motel Manager

(Degree level)

VETASSESS PROFESSIONAL OCCUPATION GROUPS

GROUP C OCCUPATIONS (Examples)

ANZSCO Occupation

312111 Architectural

Draftsperson312112 Building

Associate312113 Building Inspector411214 Dental Therapist141311 Hotel or Motel

Manager (Diploma level)

512111 Office Manager

GROUP D OCCUPATIONS (Examples)ANZSCO Occupation

312999 Building and

Engineering Technicians nec

312212 Civil Engineering

Technician312912 Metallurgical and

Materials Technician

VETASSESS PROFESSIONAL OCCUPATION GROUPS

Transitional Arrangements

When the Commonwealth Minister for Immigration and Citizenship announced changes to the Skilled Occupation List and the GSM Points Test.

These transitional arrangements in place for international students who:

• Held a Graduate Skilled visa as at 8 February 2010 or• Had applied for a Graduate Skilled visa before 8 February 2010

The transitional arrangements will only apply to applicants who lodge their visa applications before 1 January 2013.

The Northern Territory State Migration Plan

• State/Territory sponsored applicants under the GSM will be given priority by the Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) for visa processing – Group 2 processing priority

• Overall the NT Government has approximately 1000 visa places available for nomination under NT SMP in 2011-12

• The NT SMP is reviewed with DIAC every six months

• Occupations on the NT SMP are revised each year in line with the release of the Northern Territory Occupation Shortage List – usually March/April

Eligible CDU students will continue to be able to apply for nomination from the NT Government for:

SKILLED SPONSORED. (Permanent Residence Visa)Occupations on the NT SMP or ‘off list’ occupations provided the applicant can demonstrate positive employment prospects in their skilled occupation.

SKILLED REGIONAL SPONSORED. (Provisional Visa leading to Permanent Residence) Occupations not on the NT SMP or demonstrated connections to the NT

EMPLOYMENT PROSPECTS. Many international students will need to show employment experience in their skilled occupation before they can gain a full occupation assessment.

There are good employment prospects for skilled graduates in many occupations in the NT.

The Northern Territory Advantage

Employer Sponsored Visa Options

Permanent Residence: Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme (RSMS):

This Employer Nomination visa applies to employers in regional Australia including the whole of the NT. RSMS provides concessions to regional employers to sponsor employees to full time employment where they cannot employ from within the local labour market.

The NT requires nominated applicants for RSMS to be paid market salary rates.

Temporary Residence subclass 457 visa: Employers can sponsor skilled overseas workers to meet skill shortages on

temporary work visas for periods between one month and four years.

SkillSelect

SkillSelect is scheduled for introduction by DIAC on 1 July 2012.

Under the SkillSelect model people wishing to migrate under the General Skilled Migration Program will:• lodge relevant information into the system• apply to State/Territory Governments for nomination

and then lodge their information into the DIAC system

Of all the potential migrants who lodge Expressions of Interest only those candidates who are invited by DIAC to lodge visa applications will be assessed for migration.

Please make an appointment if you want to discuss your case with the one of the Business and Skilled Migration team. Please note: We cannot predict future changes to migration policy. Therefore we will be unable to advise you on your eligibility until you have almost completed your studies

If you email, please include all the details relevant to your situation. To provide meaningful advice BSM officers need to have detailed personal and professional information.

The NT Government provides a migration information service. Students who have questions about their skills assessment will need to make contact with the relevant skills assessment bodies.

Seeking Assistance or Advice

Thank youwww.migration.nt.gov.au